What kinds of Cancer Does Zantac Cause?

If you took Zantac, you may have heard about the medication recall and lawsuits concerning Zantac and cancer. If you have concerns you are not alone. Until the manufacturers recalled the product, millions of people took Zantac, also known generically as ranitidine, for stomach and intestinal issues, including heartburn, ulcers, acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Zantac and its generic versions were synonymous with heartburn relief for decades. However, Zantac has been removed from store shelves in the U.S., meaning that you can no longer purchase the medication.

Zantac has been found to include NDMA, which has been classified as a possible human carcinogen that could cause cancer when inhaled or consumed in large amounts over long periods of time.

What types of cancers have been linked to Zantac?

The types of cancer possibly linked to Zantac include:

• Bladder Cancer: Bladder cancer most often begins in the cells that line the inside of your bladder and is mostly diagnosed in the early stages. Symptoms may include blood in urine, frequent urination, painful urination, and back pain. You should see a doctor if you notice you have discolored urine and are concerned that it could contain blood.
• Breast Cancer: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, although it can present in both men and women. Symptoms may include a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue, change in size or appearance of breast, changes to the skin over the breast, a newly inverted nipple, redness or pitting of the skin like the skin of an orange. You should see a doctor if you find a lump or other change in your breast.
• Colorectal Cancer: Colorectal cancer typically begins in the large intestine. This type of cancer usually affects older adults, although it can occur at any age. It begins in noncancerous polyps that form on the inside of the colon. Symptoms may include a persistent change in your bowel habits, rectal bleeding or blood in your stool, persistent abdominal discomfort, weakness or fatigue, or unexplained weight loss.
• Esophageal Cancer: Esophageal cancer occurs in the esophagus and usually begins in the cells that line the esophagus. It can occur anywhere along the esophagus. More men than women get esophageal cancer. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, weight loss without trying, chest pain, worsening indigestion or heartburn, hoarseness, or coughing. Early esophageal cancer typically causes no signs or symptoms.
• Stomach Cancer: Stomach cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that begins in the stomach and can affect any part of the stomach. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, feeling bloated after eating, feeling full after eating small amounts of food, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, stomach pain, weight loss without trying, vomiting.
• Kidney Cancer: Kidney cancer is cancer that starts in your kidneys. The most common type found in adults is renal cell carcinoma. Symptoms include blood in your urine, pain in your back or side that does not go away, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, tiredness, fever.
• Liver Cancer: Liver cancer begins in the cells of your liver. The most common type of liver cancer is called hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer that spreads to the liver is more common than cancer beginning in the liver. Symptoms include losing weight without trying, loss of appetite, upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, general weakness and fatigue, abdominal swelling, jaundice, white chalky stools.
• Lung Cancer: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. People who smoke have the greatest risk of developing lung cancer, although lung cancer can occur in people who have never smoked. Symptoms include a new cough that does not go away, coughing up blood (even a small amount), shortness of breath, chest pain, hoarseness, losing weight without trying, bone pain, headaches.
• Pancreatic Cancer: Pancreatic cancer begins in the tissue of your pancreas – the organ that releases enzymes that aid digestion and produces hormones such as insulin that help your body manage blood sugar. Pancreatic cancer is seldom detected at its early stages when it is most curable because it often doesn’t cause symptoms until the cancer spreads to other organs. Symptoms include abdominal pain that radiates to your back, loss of appetite or weight loss without trying, jaundice, light colored stool, dark colored urine, itchy skin, new diagnosis of diabetes or existing diabetes that’s becoming more difficult to control, blood clots, fatigue.
• Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and stay in the prostate gland. However, some types can be aggressive. Symptoms may include trouble urinating, decreased force in the stream of urine, blood in the urine, blood in semen, bone pain, erectile dysfunction, losing weight without trying.

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One challenge that you may face when filing a Zantac lawsuit is showing that your cancer is linked to Zantac use. This challenge could increase if you are looking to bring a lawsuit on behalf of a deceased loved one. If you think you may have a case related to the use of Zantac, contact the Zantac lawyers at Van Law Firm today. The consultation is free and we can assist you to determine if your case qualifies to join the lawsuit.