Appendix cancer has been linked to exposure to contaminated drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Over one million people may have been exposed. If you were one of them and developed this form of cancer, you may be entitled to compensation via a Camp Lejeune appendix cancer lawsuit.
The period of contamination lasted from 1953 to 1987. The toxic water affected those who stayed and worked on the base, including marines, their families, hospital patients, service members, and civilian workers. For years, the government did nothing to fix the situation or share this information with the public.
Former Camp Lejeune residents living with cancer are now filing civil claims under a law passed by Congress called the Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) of 2022. The CLJA gives exposure victims the long-awaited right to sue the U.S. government for compensation for their injuries.
Marc Whitehead & Associates handles Camp Lejeune appendix cancer lawsuits and settlements nationwide. If you spent time at Camp Lejeune and now struggle with appendiceal cancer, please contact us by calling 800-562-9830 or submitting the secure form on this page. An experienced Camp Lejeune appendix cancer lawyer can help you immediately.
Did the Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune Cause Appendix Cancer?
The medical field is still trying to determine thecauses of appendix cancer in general.The following factors are considered among the reasons:
- Increasing age
- Personal or family history of specific cancers
- Chemical exposure
- Genetic mutation
- Smoking
Over many decades, military and non-military individuals have been exposed to high levels of industrial solvents while serving or working at Camp Lejeune. Industrial solvents are typically liquid agents used in cleaning, degreasing, paint thinning, and more.
The solvents and chemicals polluting Camp Lejeune’s water supply included extremely high levels of the following volatile organic compounds (VOCs):
- Trichloroethylene (TCE) isused as a solvent in dry cleaning and cleaning metal machinery. It is also a cleaning agent found in paint removers and carpet cleaners.
- Tetrachloroethylene, a.k.a. Perchloroethylene (PCE), is used as a solvent for cleaning and degreasing, and in lubricants, adhesives, and sealants.
- Vinyl chloride is used to make PVC plastic and vinyl products and as a chemical intermediate and solvent.
- Benzene Is primarily used to manufacture other chemicals, including degreasers, plastics, resins, lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, and pesticides. Benzene has also been used as a gasoline additive and an industrial solvent.
Various VOCs serve various purposes, such as enhancing product performance or providing fragrance. The VOCs mentioned above are carcinogens, which can cause cancer.
The VOCs were first detected in the Camp Lejeune water supply in the 1980s. Since then, scientific studies have concluded that exposure to these and other chemicals in the base’s water can potentially result in diverse cancers and illnesses, including appendiceal cancer.
But not all health conditions are given the same level of certainty.
Camp Lejeune claims and settlements will be organized into three tiers, or levels, of claims according to the strength of evidence that connects the disease to the contaminated water.
- Tier 1 cancers and diseases are those with the most robust, most compelling causation evidence connecting the condition to the base’s contaminated water;
- Tier 2 level cancers and diseases have less conclusive evidence linking them to the VOCs in Camp Lejeune’s water.
- Tier 3 Camp Lejeune diseases include those diagnosed in former Camp Lejeune residents; however, evidence connecting these diseases to the Camp Lejeune water supply remains unconfirmed. Even so, there is a reasonable probability that the water has likely caused these cancers. Your Camp Lejeune appendix cancer lawsuit will likely fall into this group.
The above groupings of Camp Lejeune diseases form a starting point. As more research occurs, we will likely see many conditions gain the causal evidence needed to conclude that exposure causes a specific cancer or other disease.
Symptoms of Appendix Cancer
Appendix cancer develops when healthy cells in the appendix mutate, grow out of control, and become cancerous. The malignant cells build up, forming a mass or tumor.
Cancer of the appendix is rare. The National Cancer Institute reports that appendix cancer affects an estimated 1 or 2 people per 1 million population annually. However, a recent study showed that the overall occurrence of malignant appendiceal tumors grew by 232% in the United States from 2000 to 2016.
There are two main types of appendix cancer:
- Epithelial appendiceal cancer (also called adenocarcinoma) and
- Neuroendocrine appendiceal cancer (also called carcinoid tumors).
If you spent time at Camp Lejeune, the following are symptoms to watch for regarding a Camp Lejeune appendix cancer lawsuit:
- Abdominal bloating, distention, increased abdominal girth
- Acute appendicitis
- Acute or chronic abdominal pain
- Discomfort in the lower right abdomen
- Pelvic discomfort
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Unable to eat a full meal or feeling too full after eating small portions
- Bowel obstruction, changes in bowel movements
- Nausea
- Ovarian masses
- Sensation of abdominal pressure
Cancer of the appendix can be hard to detect. Many cases of appendiceal cancer are detected incidentally during appendectomies. Cancers caused by the water at Camp Lejeune are often latent. Victims will not experience initial symptoms for many years. Furthermore, with appendix cancer, symptoms often are not noticeable until the cancer reaches an advanced stage and has metastasized (spread) to other body areas.
Am I eligible for a Camp Lejeune Appendix Cancer Lawsuit?
A diagnosis of appendix cancer, or any other disease associated with the VOCs that polluted the Camp Lejeune drinking water, will qualify for a CLJA lawsuit when the following criteria are met:
- You lived, served, worked, or were otherwise exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. This includes military service members, military family members, contractors, or civilians staying or working on the base, including in-utero exposure.
- You must show that your exposure to Camp Lejeune water occurred at any time beginning August 1, 1953, and ending on December 31, 1987;
- You must have had at least 30 days of exposure to the contaminated water. The 30 days do not need to be consecutive.
We know you have questions about filing a CLJA claim, whether you really need a lawyer’s help, and if your condition qualifies for a Camp Lejeune appendix cancer lawsuit. Our firm has extensive experience in litigating toxic exposure cases. In a free consultation, a disability lawsuit attorney will answer all your questions and help you take the following steps to obtain justice.
How to File a Camp Lejeune Lawsuit for Appendix Cancer
Your claim must adhere to the following CLJA filing process:
- First, you file an administrative claim with the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit
- The Navy has six months to respond to your claim. JAG will either accept that your cancer claim is valid and offer you a settlement – or – it will deny your administrative claim.
- If JAG denies your claim, you have six months to file a Camp Lejeune appendix cancer lawsuit under the Act.
- All CLJA lawsuits will be filed in the Federal Courts of the Eastern District of North Carolina.
- There is a two-year statute of limitations on Camp Lejeune claims. This means you cannot file a lawsuit after August 10, 2024 – or – six months after your administrative claim is denied, whichever is later.
The importance of having an experienced litigation lawyer handle and oversee your CLJA claim, skillfully manage settlement proceedings, and conduct a potential lawsuit cannot be understated. You want an attorney who will demand a compensation amount that is fair and just relative to your appendiceal diagnosis and damages.
Compensation for a Camp Lejeune Appendix Cancer Injury Claim
Damages the U.S. government can award in a Camp Lejeune appendix cancer lawsuit include compensation for:
- Past, current, and future medical costs
- Loss of income and earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and anxiety
- Compensation for loss of life enjoyment
- If a loved one suffered terminal appendix cancer, you may be able to bring a wrongful death claim and recover wrongful death compensation.
Legal counsel from injury attorneys experienced in toxic exposure can position your claim for maximum compensation.
Contact Us about a Camp Lejeune Appendix Cancer Lawsuit
While scientific studies are ongoing, CLJA appendiceal cancer claims may be challenging to prove for causation. We urge you to contact us immediately if you were harmed by the military base’s poisoned water supply. Our attorneys are here to help you and your family win your claim for reparations from the United States government.
