Local cancer patients who have used the drugs Taxol, Paclitaxel or Onxol may be entitled to a cash recovery but claims must be filed soon, according to the American Cancer Society.

In April the state Attorney General's office entered into a settlement with Bristol Myers-Squibb to resolve claims that the company manipulated the federal patent process to extend its monopoly on its cancer-fighting drug Taxol, a news release said. Taxol is used to treat breast and ovarian cancers, lung cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma, the release said. Paclitaxel is the generic version of Taxol and is also sold under the trade name Onxol.

As part of the settlement, Bristol Myers-Squibb has paid $12.5 million into a consumer fund to make payments to eligible cancer patients, or the representatives of deceased cancer patients, who were treated with Taxol, Paclitaxel or Onxol from Jan. 1, 1999, through Feb. 28, 2003, the release said.

Anyone who paid for all or part of the treatments out of pocket may file a claim, the release said.

Consumers can go to the settlement Website www.taxolsettlement.com and download a claim form or they can call 1-800-659-7609. The deadline for submitting all claims is Nov. 14.

The settlement has been advertised nationally but the number of consumer claims is low, the release said. As a result, the attorneys general from all 50 states are trying to make people aware of the settlement through statewide cancer organizations, state cancer treatment centers and state cancer survivors and family support groups.