Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma:
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in the United States, accounting for about 4%, or more than 74,000 cases, of all cancers diagnosed every year. About 20,000 people will die from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma every year. This disease has been in the news quite a bit lately because of its link to Roundup weedkiller.Manufactured by Monsanto, Roundup is the most common weedkiller in the world and has been on the market since the 1970's. In August of 2018, a jury awarded a school groundskeeper $289 million after years of exposure to Roundup led to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Since then, juries have awarded plaintiffs billions of dollars in compensation and punitive damages in Roundup-related lawsuits. Thousands more lawsuits are pending against Monsanto. In this article, we’ll discuss what non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is, what causes it, and how Roundup is related.
What is Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that begins in white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are part of your lymphatic system and important to your immune system and help protect you from infections and germs. Normally, lymphocytes have a life cycle where old cells die, and your body replaces them. In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, your old cells fail to die off and continue to abnormally reproduce and divide. These abnormal, cancerous lymphocytes can crowd into your lymph nodes, causing swelling and limiting the body’s ability to fight infection. The disease can also spread to other parts of your lymphatic system, including your tonsils, lymphatic vessels, adenoids, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow.Symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
- pain and swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin
- abdominal pain or swelling
- unexplained weight loss
- night sweats
- fevers
- fatigue
- chest pain
- coughing or trouble breathing
What Causes Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
In many cases, doctors don’t know what causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It can occur at any age, but the risk of developing this cancer increases with age. More than half of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients are over the age of 65. It can be related to a weakened immune system and some environmental factors seem to increase the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. If you have a family history of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, you may be at higher risk of developing the disease as well. Those who are white, male, and from developed countries are also more likely to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Additional risk factors include:
- Exposure to certain chemicals like benzene and glyphosate herbicides like Roundup
- Use of some chemotherapy drugs
- Use of drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis
- Radiation exposure
- Having a weakened immune system, including those who have undergone organ transplants or have contracted HIV
- Having an autoimmune disease
- Having certain infections, like Epstein-Barr virus, that can weaken your immune system
- Having breast implants
One of the most troubling links to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is exposure to glyphosate herbicides like Roundup. In March of 2019, in the first case in federal court regarding Roundup, a jury awarded a plaintiff with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma more than $80 million. The jury found that Roundup didn’t sufficiently warn of the dangers of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from using the product and Monsanto was negligent. Shortly after, in May of 2019, a jury awarded more than $2 billion to a couple who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after decades of using Roundup on their properties, noting that Roundup was a “substantial cause” of their cancers.Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can take years to appear, sometimes as long as a decade, making it likely that many people at risk of contracting the disease through exposure to glyphosate weed killers like Roundup aren’t yet exhibiting symptoms of the disease. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with cancer after using Roundup, contact us for a free consultation. We can assess your case, protect your legal rights, and fight for you. Call us at 888-910-6376.
