Monsanto, Roundup, and Cancer: How a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Can Help You Win Your Case
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
If you have used the popular market weed-killer Roundup, you’re not alone. It has been one of the most popular lawn care products on the market for decades and is used by landscapers and homeowners looking to get rid of pesky weeds from yards. However, in recent years, thousands of long-time users of the product have filed lawsuits against Monsanto’s parent company Bayer, claiming the key ingredient, glyphosate, causes cancer. A medical malpractice attorney can help you determine if your recently diagnosed cancer is also a personal injury resulting from using Roundup.
Most people who are suing Monsanto and Bayer have developed a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Juries are awarding those who have sued Monsanto with multi-million-dollar awards to send a message to large companies that their products need to come with safety warnings when they know a chemical in their products has been labeled dangerous by medical professionals.
What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a blood disease that begins in the lymph nodes. There are two kinds of NHL: Indolent and aggressive, and they can begin in either the B-cells or T-cells, also known as lymphocytes. The lymph system is supposed to help filter out toxins and fight infections in the body.
Indolent lymphomas are slow-growing, and often are just watched carefully. Eventually, they will need treatment, but they are not always immediately life-threatening when discovered. Unfortunately, because of their slow growth, they are not always discovered until they have already spread to other areas of the lymph system or body.
Aggressive lymphomas, on the other hand, spread very quickly. However, they are usually still within the lymph system when they are discovered. Both lymphomas can eventually spread throughout the entire lymph system and metastasize into areas such as bone marrow, liver, brain, lungs, and intestines.
What is the prognosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
The prognosis of NHL depends on many different factors: The age of the patient, the type of lymphoma, the contributing risk factors, and when the lymphoma was discovered.
The American Cancer Society classifies the initial diagnosis of cancer into three stages: Localized, regional, and distant. Localized NHL is limited to one particular area when it is diagnosed. It is the equivalent of stage 1 cancer, which is the terminology many doctors use instead.
Regional NHL is found in one lymph node and an organ nearby, or in more than one lymph node on one side of the body. This is the equivalent of stage 2. Distant NHL is when cancer has metastasized beyond the lymph system and into other organs, or in areas of the lymph system that are distant from one another.
If B-cell aggressive lymphomas are found in the localized stage, after successful treatment, there is a 72% 5-year relative survival rate. Follicular indolent lymphomas, on the other hand, have a 95% 5-year relative survival rate if found in the localized stages.
Treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be treated in many ways, including through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and immunotherapy methods. Treatment cycles can be quite effective, and the prognosis of NHL patients is higher than in other cancers.
However, any form of cancer treatment can be emotionally and physically taxing.
Chemotherapy is the primary treatment method for NHL patients, and it’s usually used in conjunction with other methods of treatment. Side effects from chemotherapy can include loss of hair, digestive system upset, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and sores in the mouth.
What if Roundup caused my non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
If you or a family member have used Roundup consistently over the years and you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a medical lawyer can help you win your case against Bayer and Monsanto in a medical malpractice case.
Your Medical Malpractice attorney will first look at all your medical records and history, and they will take an extensive history from you, including chemicals and other hazards you may have been exposed to through your job and other activities. They will consult with their team of medical experts to determine if your non-Hodgkin lymphoma lines up with similar cases deemed to be caused by long-term exposure to the glyphosate found in Roundup.
If your personal injury lawyer feels you have a good case to bring forward to court, you may be eligible to join a class-action lawsuit against these companies. Currently, almost 10,000 cases are moving through the court system against Monsanto. Most allege that not only did Monsanto know about the potentially harmful effects of glyphosate, but that they allegedly purposefully did not put warning labels on their products.
You may be eligible to be awarded damages for your medical bills, pain and suffering, anticipated future care, and punitive damages. Despite the fact that multiple scientific studies were presented to Monsanto on the detrimental and dangerous effects of glyphosate, they continued to ignore the warnings. If they put your health in danger, contact a medical attorney team at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. by calling 1-866-MICH-LAW to begin working on your case.
There is no obligation for a case evaluation, and no fee is charged unless a recovery is made.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.
