Were you diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after living or working at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base between 1953 and 1987? If so, contact Marc Whitehead & Associates for a free Camp Lejeune non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuit review. You may be entitled to financial compensation that has only recently become available to former Camp Lejeune military personnel, non-military workers, and residents.
For 34 years, highly toxic chemicals identified as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contaminated the public water at the North Carolina Marine Corps base. As a result, marines and their families, civilian workers, and others drank, cooked, and bathed with water polluted by industrial solvents, dry cleaning solvents, metal degreasers, and other chemicals.
Medical evidence now links exposure to the toxic VOCs in Camp Lejeune’s water to various forms of cancer, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).
This cancer affects the lymphatic system, which helps fight infections and diseases. While usually originating in lymph nodes or lymph tissue, NHL sometimes attacks the skin. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma affects both adults and children.
You May Qualify for a Camp Lejeune Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Lawsuit under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act
The Camp Lejeune Justice Act (CLJA) is a law that Congress enacted explicitly to provide a source of financial recovery for victims of Camp Lejeune’s water contamination. The CLJA is part of a more extensive law, the Honoring our PACT Act — signed into law on August 2, 2022, by President Biden.
Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, anyone stationed or who spent time on the marine base can now sue for damages for injuries and illness caused by exposure to pollutants in the water. The entity being sued is the U.S. government.
You or a loved one may be eligible to pursue a Camp Lejeune non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuit if you can prove a few essential factors:
- You spent a minimum of 30 days at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987;
- You later developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or other serious illness linked to the contaminated water;
- You were not dishonorably discharged from military service.
To see if you qualify, or to ask questions about your case, speak with a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuit lawyer at Marc Whitehead & Associates. We are here to help you throughout this legal process and to ensure you recover appropriate damages.
Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can trigger diverse signs and symptoms, depending on the type of lymphoma and where it is in the body. Some cases of NHL may occur without symptoms until the cancer grows significantly.
NHL signs and symptoms include:
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Chest pressure or pain
- Coughing, trouble breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Skin itching, lumps or bumps beneath the skin
- Swollen belly, abdominal pain, nausea
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Weakened immune system
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Headache, trouble thinking, facial numbness
Many factors affect the outlook of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases. Factors include the type of NHL, whether it has spread to organs beyond the lymphatic system, and one’s age and general health.
There are three primary groups of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma:
- B-cell lymphoma – approximately 90% of people in western countries with lymphoma have B-cell lymphoma.
- T-cell lymphoma – only about 10% of people with lymphoma have T-cell lymphoma.
- NK-cell lymphoma – under 1% of people with lymphoma have NK-cell lymphoma.
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is also defined by how quickly the cancer is growing.
- Indolent NHL grows slowly
- Aggressive NHL may develop rapidly
An experienced disability attorney with Marc Whitehead & Associates can help you navigate your non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuit or settlement and ultimately get the justice you deserve.
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Benzene Exposure
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the EPA all confirm that benzene exposure is carcinogenic to humans.
Furthermore, the National Library of Medicine reports that studies show a causal link between benzene exposure and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Benzene was one of the primary toxic VOCs polluting the water supply at Camp Lejeune. Children can be affected by benzene exposure in the same ways as adults, and benzene can pass from the mother’s blood to a fetus.
Benzene is produced by both natural and artificial processes. It is a natural component of crude oil and gasoline. It is a colorless, flammable liquid that evaporates quickly and slightly dissolves in water. Benzene is one of the most common chemicals used in the U.S. for producing plastics, resins, nylon, rubber, lubricants, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.
Did Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune Cause Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuits are considered Tier 1 Camp Lejeune cases, meaning that scientific evidence linking the cancer to the toxins in Camp Lejeune water is very strong.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted epidemiological studies to determine if Marines, Navy personnel, and civilians living and working on the Marine Corps base were at increased risk for specific health effects due to exposure to the contaminated tap water.
“Health effects” are actual changes in one’s health resulting from exposure to a source. In Camp Lejeune’s case, the contamination sources were various VOCS in the water supply.
Among the numerous VOCs detected in the water, five primary contaminants were studied in this ATSDR Assessment:
- trichloroethylene (TCE)
- perchloroethylene (PCE)
- benzene
- 1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE)
- vinyl chloride
The health effects under study focused on specific cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
ATSDR found the health effects to be sufficient evidence for the causation of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in people exposed occupationally or environmentally to the following chemicals detected in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune:
- benzene
- trichloroethylene (TCE)
In addition, ATSDR found health effects to be equipoise and above for causation of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in people exposed occupationally or environmentally to the following VOC detected:
- tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
Evidence that Camp Lejeune Water Caused Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
How do you prove your exposure to the contaminated water caused your cancer?
Important documentation is necessary for a Camp Lejeune non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma claim to be successful. Evidence for a Camp Lejeune non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma claim includes:
- Your medical records of NHL diagnosis and treatment, often going back decades
- Your Camp Lejeune housing records or work history
- Your military service documentation if you actively served between 1953 and 1987
- Certain aspects of your case may require the testimony of expert witnesses
How to File a Claim for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Potentially Caused by Camp Lejeune Water
The first step is to file an administrative claim with the Navy’s Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG). Before filing a lawsuit, you must wait for a settlement or a denial of your claim.
If the claim is denied or not settled, you may then file a civil lawsuit against the United States federal government with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Claims filed after August 2024 will not be accepted, so do not wait. Instead, speak with a Camp Lejeune disability lawyer today to begin your claim.
How Can Marc Whitehead & Associates Help You?
Our Camp Lejeune lawyers will take care of all legal matters. We seek out and prepare the records, testimony, and other supporting evidence to develop a successful claim.
Our attorneys will ensure your claim demonstrates the connection between exposure to contaminated water and the harm you suffered. We consider every aspect of your case and assess how non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, wrongful death, or other harm from exposure to benzene, TCE, and PCE and other possible contaminants in Camp Lejeune’s water have affected you over many years.
Call on Marc Whitehead & Associates to prepare yournon-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuit. We also represent victims’ families who wish to file a claim for a deceased loved one and secure long-overdue financial support.
Veterans: Filing a Camp Lejeune non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuit will not affect your current VA disability benefits and VA health care. If you are awarded damages from a CLJA lawsuit, your VA benefits will not be reduced, and your eligibility for other VA benefits or services will not be affected.
Our accredited VA attorneys and Camp Lejeune litigation attorneys can help you with every aspect of your case.
