Ask anyone in the United States about the havoc created by polluted waters, and they will name Camp Lejeune without any qualms. Such has been the impact of the murky waters in this region that affected those who stayed and worked here between 1953 and 1987. The majority of veterans and their family members have been diagnosed with specific cancers that have reduced their lifespan and affected their quality of life.
Camp Lejeune’s drinking water was contaminated with several industrial chemicals that are known to cause cancer, such as benzene, vinyl chloride, and TCE. Several service members in the Navy and Marines, along with civilians, were exposed to toxic chemicals by drinking the water, washing their hands, or inhaling the shower steam.
These toxins caused cancers of a certain kind, which led to increased medical expenses and poor quality of life. In this article, we will delve into the new types of cancers that are linked to the muddy waters of Camp Lejeune and how to seek legal recourse.
What Did Earlier Studies Reveal?
The studies done previously stated that people who were affected by the tainted waters had a chance of dying because of organ and blood cancers. More than 70% of the veterans had a chance to suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, there have been concerns related to infertility and birth defects in people who are exposed to this toxic water.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came up with new research that highlighted people can develop cancer even 10 years after leaving the base. In 2023, this study stirred unrest at the court. It is because a federal judge asked lawyers of Camp Lejeune victims to coax the government to release the findings of the study.
The Link Between Toxic Chemicals to Cancers
In January 2024, CNN.com reported that the DOJ (Department of Justice) had officially identified 9 health conditions linked with the poisonous waters at Camp Lejeune. These include:
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Leukemias
- Multiple myeloma
- Kidney disease
- Systemic sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
This list is an outcome of ATSDR research on the side effects of chemicals that get dumped in the water supply of Camp Lejeune. The research has also been used by the US Department of Veterans Affairs for deciding the qualification criteria for health care and multiple other advantages.
If you keep an eye on the ongoing Camp Lejeune lawsuit update, you will notice that advocates of people who resided in this region during the contamination period felt that the government must expand its ailment list related to the toxic chemicals in the water.
Other than male breast cancer, the study found various cancers that earlier weren’t considered to be an outcome of Camp Lejeune’s polluted water contamination. It is composed of myeloid cancers, which include:
- Polycythemia vera, which is one type of blood cancer
- Myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic syndromes, which is a kind of blood cell disorder
- Cancers of the voice box, esophagus, and thyroid
- Marginal B-cell lymphoma
The study highlights varied risks for the civilians, mostly because there was lesser overall cancer in the group and their varying degrees of exposure. The people who were staying in this region while the study was being conducted had a 20% higher chance of developing myeloid cancers which include polycythemia vera, female ductal breast cancer, and certain types of lung cancer.
Additionally, the trend for acute myelogenous leukemia, thyroid cancer, oral cancers, B-cell lymphomas, and ‘non-papillary transitional cell bladder carcinoma’ is also noticed. These are the new types of cancers caused by the polluted waters of Camp Lejeune that were discovered recently.
Taking Legal Action
If you develop cancer that doesn’t come under the list of 9 types, it is first necessary to seek medical aid. It will include medical exams and a correct diagnosis that will ensure whether you can file a lawsuit or not. To get this done, you need to get in touch with a lawyer who will help you navigate the legal journey with ease.
TorHoerman Law states that it is necessary for veterans who have suffered to file a legal case. However, they need to hire a lawyer who can help them arrange this and provide the necessary guidelines to navigate their legal journey. The victims in turn can provide the lawyer with every piece of evidence necessary to build a strong case which ensures victims get the compensation they deserve.
In conclusion, the tainted waters at Camp Lejeune have taken the lives of many and have caused severe ailments as well. It is necessary to know the types of cancer this toxic water can cause and get a medical exam done when your health exhibits wayward symptoms. Once that is done and it is established that your suffering is because of the harmful waters, it gives you the evidence to file a lawsuit and get compensated.
