What Cancers Are Associated With Camp Lejeune?
“What cancers are associated with Camp Lejeune?” Professionals from Accident Attorneys of America answer this question and others. Contact us for a consultation.
Do the Chemicals Found in the Water at Camp Lejeune Cause Cancer?
From the early 1950s to the late 1980s, the drinking water at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina was heavily contaminated with carcinogenic and toxic substances.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these substances have been linked with different types of cancers and health conditions. In addition, several studies found a high cancer death risk for Camp Lejeune marines and other people living or working there at the time.
Contaminated water at Camp Lejeune has been connected to blood and organ cancers, including breast cancer, kidney cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and leukemia.
How Did the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Occur?
Contaminated water at the United States Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune has been linked to an off-base dry cleaner business nearby. There were also other on-base sources of contamination, such as spills and leaks from underground storage tanks.
Toxic substances and industrial solvents known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) seeped into the underground storage water tanks before being collected by two water treatment plants on the base — Hadnot Point and Tarawa Terrace.
In addition to VOCs, contaminated water supplies contained other chemical contaminants such as perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride.
Military personnel, civilians, and their families who worked and lived at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 were exposed to many chemicals considered to cause cancer.
What Cancers Did Camp Lejeune Water Cause?
Typically, the effects of exposure to any chemical will depend on several factors, such as how long the exposure lasted or at what time in your life you were exposed to it.
Studies conducted at Camp Lejeune showed that exposure to contaminated water is associated with certain diseases and health problems, though not everyone develops health problems as a result.
At the moment, it is considered that more than 15 diseases can be linked to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water. However, evidence supporting causation is not the same for every disease.
There is strong evidence that exposure at Camp Lejeune has led to the following diseases:
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Bladder cancer
A number of non-cancer diseases have also been linked to contaminant exposure at Camp Lejeune, including Parkinson’s disease, scleroderma, end-stage renal disease, and cardiac defects.
Is Breast Cancer Related to Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune?
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, more health effects have been linked to Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water exposure. Although the evidence is not as strong, studies have positively linked these health effects and exposures.
They include:
- Prostate cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Rectal cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Lung cancer
- Brain (central nervous system) cancer
- Multiple myeloma (cancer related to blood)
Camp Lejeune contaminated water can also be connected to malformations or congenital disabilities such as neural tube defects, low birth weight, fetal death, and miscarriage.
Who Qualifies for Camp Lejeune Cancer Lawsuit?
To qualify, a victim has to prove they were living or serving at the base on active duty for at least 30 days between 1953 and 1987 at Camp Lejeune. In addition, medical records should show that they have one or more qualifying cancers or diseases diagnosed. Family members filing for disability compensation will also have to prove how they are related to the veteran who served at Camp Lejeune.
Remember that the list of Camp Lejeune medical issues and diseases is not exhaustive and may be updated if new findings come to light. In other words, many additional health conditions may be linked to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune in the future.
As a result of the enactment of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act in 2022, the victims can take legal action and pursue compensation for being exposed to contaminated water even if their claims were denied in the past or even if they were diagnosed decades ago.
What Are Camp Lejeune Survivor Benefits?
Qualifying veterans and their family members, reservists, veterans, and National Guard members who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and later developed one of the qualifying diseases, such as adult leukemia, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, kidney cancer, or liver cancer, may obtain benefits or out-of-pocket health care costs from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
For example, certain cancers and conditions qualify veterans for out-of-pocket health care cost reimbursement. This includes lung, bladder, and breast cancer, as well as myelodysplastic syndromes, renal toxicity, and neurobehavioral effects.
How Can a Victim File a Claim Under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022?
A victim fulfilling the qualifying criteria listed above can file a claim for medical expenses incurred with the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy’s Tort Claims Unit in Norfolk, Virginia.
You or your loved ones have to email the completed claims form to [email protected]. You may also refer to the additional guidelines for submitting the claims form.
Alternatively, you can also send the claims form via post to the following address:
Department of the Navy Office of the Judge Advocate General Tort Claims Unit Norfolk Attention – Camp Lejeune Claims 9620 Maryland Avenue, Suite 205 Norfolk, VA 23511-2949.
In order to ensure your claim adequately describes your condition, consider hiring an experienced lawyer to handle the legal process and gather the necessary evidence.
How Can an Attorney Help in a Camp Lejeune Case?
Those potentially exposed to water contaminated at Camp Lejeune and diagnosed with qualifying cancers or other diseases may need skilled legal assistance to obtain the compensation they deserve.
However, although many types of cancers and health conditions have been linked with exposure, these cases can be tricky, and many issues may arise. A water contamination cancer lawyer may be able to provide the help and representation you need.
For more questions about cancers associated with Camp Lejeune, contact an attorney at Accident Attorneys of America and schedule a consultation today!
