If you or a loved one were diagnosed with leukemia after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, you may be entitled to recover compensation from a Camp Lejeune leukemia lawsuit case or settlement claim.
A team of Camp Lejeune injury attorneys and class action lawyers is investigating potential lawsuit cases and settlement claims of individuals who were diagnosed with leukemia after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base.
Leukemia is a form of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow when abnormal blood cells (usually white blood cells) grow out of control. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society estimates that almost 397,000 people in the U.S. are living with leukemia, with more than 61,000 new leukemia cases diagnosed each year and more than 23,000 leukemia deaths.
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune may be associated with an increased risk of developing leukemia.
Camp Lejeune Leukemia Lawsuit Claims
Camp Lejeune leukemia lawsuit and settlement cases potentially being investigated include claims of individuals who were diagnosed with leukemia after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987:
- Leukemia
- Chronic leukemia
- Acute leukemia
- Myeloid leukemia (myelogenous)
- Lymphocytic leukemia (lymphoid)
- Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
- Other blood cancer cases
- Other Camp Lejeune cancer injury cases
Camp Lejeune Leukemia Injury Cases
Various studies have reported a potential link between the contaminants found in the water at Camp Lejeune and leukemia.
According to the ATSDR, epidemiological evidence indicates that benzene (one of the contaminants found in the water at Camp Lejeune) causes all types of leukemia, including acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia.
An IARC 2012 review of benzene found that: “Benzene causes acute myeloid leukaemia/acute nonlymphocytic leukaemia. Also, a positive association has been observed between exposure to benzene and acute lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.”
In addition, the ATSDR also concluded that there was sufficient epidemiological evidence that TCE or trichloroethylene (another one of the toxic volatile organic compounds found in the water at Camp Lejeune) may cause all types of adult leukemias.
Leukemia Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of leukemia can include:
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Joint pain or tenderness
- Pain under left side of ribs
- Swollen lymph nodes in neck
- Swollen lymph nodes under the arm
- Swollen lymph nodes in groin
- Swollen lymph nodes in stomach
- Bruising and/or bleeding easily
- Tiny red spots in skin (petechiae)
- Purple or dark skin patches
- Unintended weight loss
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Infections
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Other leukemia symptoms
Tools and procedures used by doctors (such as a hematologist or oncologist) to diagnose leukemia can include a physical exam, medical/family history, complete blood count CBC (to test the blood for abnormal levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and/or platelets), blood cell examination (to check for certain blood markers specific to leukemia), spinal tap or lumpar puncture (to check to see whether leukemia spread to brain or spinal cord) and biopsy of the bone marrow (to check for leukemia cells), among others.
Leukemia Complications
Leukemia complications can potentially include disseminated intravascular coagulation or DIC (where proteins that control blood clotting become overactive, leading to thrombosis and/or hemorrhage), complications from treatments (such as infection, tumor lysis syndrome TLS, etc.), other types of cancers and/or death, among others.
According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the 5 year overall relative survival rate of people diagnosed with leukemia is 66.4%, but varies based on the type of leukemia (e.g., 72.1% for acute lymphocytic leukemia, 29.8% for acute myelogenous leukemia, 88.6% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and 71.7% for chronic myelogenous leukemia).
Leukemia Treatment
Leukemia treatment can include chemotherapy (i.e., using medicine to kill the leukemia cells), radiation therapy (i.e., using energy beams or X-rays to destroy leukemia cells), immunotherapy (i.e., using medication to boost the body’s immune system to fight leukemia), targeted therapy (i.e., using drugs to attack specific parts of a leukemia cell to prevent the cells from spreading) and/or a hematopoietic cell transplant or bone marrow transplant, among others.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with leukemia after being exposed to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, you may be entitled to recover compensation from a Camp Lejeune leukemia lawsuit case or settlement claim. Contact an injury lawyer to request a free case review.
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