Tobacco smoking related pharyngeal cancer claims

Yearly, over 53,000 people in the US receive a pharyngeal cancer diagnosis, mostly the result of tobacco smoking

Also known as oropharyngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer occurs in approximately 53,000 people annually throughout the country and is, in the majority of cases, caused by tobacco smoking. Over 90% of pharyngeal cancer cases involve squamous cell carcinoma, which arises from the flat surface cells that line your mouth and throat. However, your oropharynx refers to the back part of your tongue, your tonsils, your soft palate, and the sides and walls of your throat, and cancer can develop anywhere along it. The average age of diagnosis is 62, as only 25% of pharyngeal cancer cases are diagnosed in people under the age of 55. Some of the most common symptoms of pharyngeal cancer are the following:

• a persistent sore throat
• pain or difficulty with swallowing
• trouble opening up your mouth fully or moving your tongue
• unexplained weight loss
• voice changes
• recurring ear pain
• a lump in the back of your throat or mouth
• a lump in your neck
• coughing up blood
• a white patch on your tongue or lining of your mouth

If you experience one or more of the above symptoms, we strongly encourage you to seek medical attention as soon as possible, as you may have developed pharyngeal cancer as a consequence of tobacco smoking. It is worthy of note that, even if you quit smoking a long time ago, the risk of developing a serious disease as a result still exists. In the regrettable case that you receive pharyngeal cancer or throat cancer diagnosis, please reach out to our law firm, as we specialize in helping people in your situation.