Miguel Ferrer, who starred on CBS’S NCIS: Los Angeles died of throat cancer on Thursday at the age of 61. Throat cancer is relatively uncommon to other cancers, but it has been linked to smoking and drinking.
There are several types of throat cancers, but the two primary types are:
Squamous cell carcinoma: Throat cancer of the flat cells lining the throat. It’s the most common throat cancer in the United States.
Adenocarcinoma: Throat cancer of the glandular cells. This type of laryngeal cancer is rare.
Common signs and symptoms of throat cancer can include:
-A change in your voice
-Trouble swallowing (dysphagia)
-Weight loss
-Sore throat
-Constant need to clear your throat
-Persistent cough (may cough up blood)
-Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
-Wheezing
-Ear pain
-Hoarseness
Certain lifestyle choices can increase the risk of developing cancer of the throat, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, vitamin A deficiency, exposure to asbestos, and poor dental hygiene. Men are more at risk than women and certain types of human papillomavirus infections (HPV) can also put you at risk.
Many turned to Twitter to offer Ferrer’s family condolences including his famous cousin. Ferrer was George Clooney’s cousin and the actor paid tribute to him: “Today history will mark giant changes in our world, and lost to most will be that on the same day Miguel Ferrer lost his battle to throat cancer. But not lost to his family. Miguel made the world brighter and funnier and his passing is felt so deeply in our family that events of the day, (monumental events), pale in comparison. We love you Miguel. We always will.”
In loving memory of Miguel Ferrer. He will be forever missed. pic.twitter.com/RRB8Kivo6J
— NCIS: LA (@NCISLA) January 19, 2017