Zantac or ranitidine made waves for all the wrong reasons. The US Food and Drug Administration ordered the recall of Zantac products from the market in April 2020. This was because they contained unacceptable levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a chemical known to have the potential to cause cancer in humans.
The recall has also led to a surge in Zantac lawsuits, with many proponents and patients either suffering from cancer or fear of the risk after being prescribed Zantac for an extended period of time. Even if the question “Can Zantac lead to cancer?
Perhaps you are reading this article because you know someone who is now fighting cancer from Zantac, or you were recently diagnosed with the same problem. As daunting and traumatizing as this diagnosis is, remember that there is still hope. The most important thing is to know what you can do to properly treat your illness.
Understand the possible types of cancer that Zantac may cause. caused
Part of managing your condition has to do with tracking your history. You will need to review your medical history to establish a definitive link between your illness and the use of Zantac.
Remember, the main reason Zantac has been linked to cancer is because of the amount of NDMA in it. Here are some of the cancers that NDMA has been linked to:
- Stomach cancer, also known as stomach cancer
- Bladder cancer, which is usually characterized by symptoms such as painful urination and blood in the urine
- Cancer of the small and large intestines, is one of the rarest types of cancer
- Prostate cancer, which often leads to erectile dysfunction and painful urination
- Colon cancer that starts as polyps in the rectum or colon
Get the appropriate treatment
Once you've met with your oncologist and you are aware of your condition, your doctor will most likely discuss the appropriate treatment for you. There is currently no cure for cancer. At most, treatments can help control the disease enough to prevent it from progressing. The sooner you have the treatments set out by your doctor, the better the result may be.
The most common types of cancer treatment include the following:
- Surgery – The main goal of surgery is to remove as much cancer as possible before it spreads to other parts of the body.
- Immunotherapy – This type of treatment is also known as biological therapy. This uses the body's own immune system to fight the disease. The thing about cancer is that it can survive and thrive in your body simply because your immune system cannot recognize it as an invader. Through immunotherapy, the immune system will be able to recognize the cancer and fight it to prevent it from developing.
- Chemotherapy – This is possibly the most popular cancer treatment and treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
- Hormone therapy – This type of treatment removes or blocks some of the hormones in your body to prevent cancer cells from growing. The reason for this is that there are some hormones that can boost the growth of cells. This option is often used in prostate and breast cancer.
- Radiation therapy – This form of treatment uses powerful beams of energy to destroy cancer cells.
The above options are not exhaustive. Depending on the hospital or medical facility you are approaching and the stage and type of cancer, your oncologist may consider you a suitable candidate for other types of treatment.
Meet with a therapist regularly
The truth about cancer is that it's not just a battle for your physical health; it can also affect your mental and emotional wellbeing. Having cancer can trigger a seemingly endless cycle of fear, anxiety, and many other emotions. It is therefore common for patients to have days when they feel hopeless and depressed.
You will not be able to fight and overcome cancer if your mental health suffers too. For this reason, it is advisable to seek out a therapist who can help you keep your attitude positive. You don't have to let cancer take over your life. Talking to your therapist can give you a chance to express your otherwise hidden feelings so they don't ruin or negatively affect your way of thinking.
Enjoy the present moment
The future may seem unclear and ominous, there is no point in sticking to this idea too much. When you think about it, people who don't have cancer from Zantac or similar diseases also have an uncertain future. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow or even the next second.
So, if you are dealing with cancer every day, enjoying the present moment is good practice. Find peace in yourself, no matter how scary it all may be. And don't take for granted the time and wonderful memories that you can still build with your family and friends.
Visit your oncologist as often as needed
Even if you may have been cleared of cancer and are now considered to be in remission or a cancer survivor, it does not give you permission to neglect your health. Rather, you need to be more responsible than ever and see the oncologist regularly. That way, you can have a medical follow-up exam to make sure your body is really doing well.
Not going through doctor visits and medical checkups can increase the chances of the cancer returning without you being aware of it. With each visit, you'll learn about the healthy eating habits you need to develop and the lifestyle changes you need to make to maintain your health and keep cancer at bay.
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Now that you know some of the things to do after getting a cancer diagnosis, among other things to remember, the most important thing is to never self-medicate. Always check your options with a doctor, especially an oncologist, whom you can trust. Whatever form of treatment you want to try should be approved by your doctor. Zantac Cancer shouldn't be taken lightly, and this is not the time to experiment or seek solutions for yourself.