If you or a loved one were diagnosed with esophageal cancer after taking Zantac (Ranitidine), you may be entitled to compensation from a Zantac esophageal cancer lawsuit or settlement.
A team of heartburn drug injury lawyers and class action attorneys is investigating potential lawsuit and settlement cases of individuals who were diagnosed with esophageal cancer after taking Zantac.
Esophageal cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the lining of the esophagus (a hollow muscular tube that carries food and liquids from the throat or pharynx to the stomach) when cells begin to grow out of control and become maligant and form a tumor.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 19,000 esophageal cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed annually in the U.S. and about 15,000 esophagus cancer deaths are expected.
Zantac Esophageal Cancer Lawsuit Cases
Zantac esophageal cancer lawsuit and settlement cases potentially being investigated include claims of individuals who took Zantac (ranitidine) and suffered serious injuries, side-effects or complications after taking such antacid medications including, a diagnosis of esophageal cancer:
- Esophageal cancer
- Cancer of the esophagus
- Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC)
- Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)
- Lymphoma of the esophagus
- Melanoma of the esophagus
- Sarcoma of the esophagus
- Esophageal tumor
- Metastatic esophageal cancer
According to a study published in the journal Cancers in December, individuals who used ranitidine were more likely develop esophageal cancer than those using other heartburn medications.
Zantac Esophagus Cancer Injury Claims
Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common types of cancers of the esophagus. Adenocarcinomas of the esophagus start in gland cells (the cells that make mucus) and are usually found in the lower parts of the esophagus (lower thoracic esophagus). Squamous cell carcinomas form in the inner layer (epithelial cells) of the esophagus (mucosa) and are commonly found in the neck area (cervical esophagus) and in the upper chest cavity (upper and middle thoracic esophagus).
Esophagus Cancer Signs & Symptoms
Esophagus cancer signs and symptoms can potentially include:
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Painful swallowing (odynophagia)
- Opening to esophagus contracts and becomes smaller
- Feeling like food is stuck in the throat or chest
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Hoarseness
- Chronic cough
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Bone pain
- Bleeding into the esophagus
- Black stool
- Anemia (low red blood cell levels)
- Fatigue or tired
Procedures and tests used to diagnose cancer of the esophagus can include a barium swallow study (esophagram), endoscopy (a scope to examine the esophagus), a biopsy of esophagus tissue, endoscopic ultrasound, bronchoscopy, imaging tests (such as MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, etc.), and lab tests (to test for PD-L1 and high microsatellite instability MSI-H or human epidermal growth receptor 2 HER2).
Esophageal Cancer Treatment
Esophageal cancer treatment can include surgery to remove part of the esophagus (esophagectomy), surgery to remove part of the esophagus and part of the upper part of the stomach and/or lymph nodes (esophagogastrectomy), surgery to remove small tumors, photodynamic therapy (PDT), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy, among others.
According to the American Cancer Society, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for individuals with esophageal cancer is 20%.
Esophageal Cancer Stages
There are five esophageal cancer stages. In stage 0 esophageal cancer, the cancer is only in the top layer of cells that line the inside of the esophagus (epithelium). In stage I esophageal cancer, the cancer may have grown into the lamina propria, muscularis mucosa (tissue under the epithelium), submucosa or the muscularis propria (a thick muscle layer). In stage 2 esophageal cancer, the cancer may have grown into the lamina propria, muscularis propria, muscularis mucosa, submucosa, or a few lymph nodes or the cancer may have spread to the outer layer of the esophagus or adventitia. In stage 3 esophageal cancer, the cancer may have spread into the pleura (the tissue covering the lungs), the pericardium (the thin sac that surrounds the heart), the diaphragm and/or more lymph nodes. In stage 4 esophageal cancer, the cancer may have metastatized to other areas of the body, such as the trachea, the aorta, spine, liver, brain, lungs, stomach, pancreas and/or more lymph nodes.
If you or someone you love took Zantac and suffered from esophagus cancer, you may be entitled to compensation from a Zantac esophageal cancer lawsuit case or settlement claim. Contact a drug injury lawyer to request a free case review.
Note: In addition, if you were diagnosed with esophageal cancer after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may also be able to recover compensation from a Camp Lejeune lawsuit.
*If you or a loved one are experiencing health issues, side effects or complications after taking a prescription drug or medication, we urge you to promptly consult with your doctor or physician for an evaluation.
**The listing of a company (e.g., Sandoz, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Apotex, Perrigo, Lannett or Novitium) or product (e.g., Zantac or Ranitidine) is not meant to state or imply that the company acted illegally or improperly or that the product is unsafe or defective; rather only that an investigation may be, is or was being conducted to determine whether legal rights have been violated.
***The use of any trademarks, tradenames or service marks is solely for product identification and/or informational purposes.
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