Every year, approximately 21,560 people receive a diagnosis of esophageal cancer across the country. For men, the risk of developing the disease is 1 in 125, while for women, it is 1 in 417. The causes of esophageal cancer include smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and chronic heartburn. However, the disease can also be the consequence of toxic exposure, as is the case of many Camp Lejeune veterans and family members who drank toxic water at the military base during the last century.
With a survival rate of only 20%, esophageal cancer has a grim prognosis. A study from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health examined 36 patients with esophageal cancer. Most of these people were men and smokers, but they had also been exposed to solvents in occupational settings. Seven patients had regularly been exposed to benzene by handling fuel with occupational work tasks, four patients reported using chlorinated solvents during cleaning and degreasing operations, with one using these chemicals in the textile industry. The majority of the participants developed adenocarcinoma, 13 had squamous cell cancer, and two developed other types of esophageal cancer. Most of these cancers were localized in the lower third of the esophagus.
If you are a Camp Lejeune veteran or a family member of one who drank contaminated water at the military base between 1953 and 1987 and worry you might have esophageal cancer, these are the symptoms you should look out for and for which you should seek medical assistance right away:
A risk factor for esophageal cancer is exposure to trichloroethylene, which was present in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. Large-scale studies have shown that exposure to the solvent can cause esophageal cancer. Benzene exposure might also contribute to the development of esophageal cancer in former Marines and family members exposed to toxic water at the military base. Scientific evidence suggests that exposure to gasoline and its components, such as benzene, places people at a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer. At Camp Lejeune, benzene was not only lurking in the drinking water but also in the environment as a result of 800,000 gallons of fuel that leaked from the base's fuel farm.
If you spent time at Camp Lejeune and now suffer from esophageal cancer, either as a veteran or a family member of one, we encourage you to contact our expert team, who can easily help you determine whether you are eligible to file a claim and obtain the compensation you deserve. Because we understand how overwhelming struggling with cancer can be, we will go to great lengths to simplify the process so that it will require minimal involvement from you.
Our team of professionals has over 35 years of experience in assessing toxic exposure claims and is ready to offer you the assistance you need if you were stationed at Camp Lejeune and now have esophageal cancer. The only documents we will need to evaluate your case are your military records or proof of your stay at the military base and your medical records. Eligible individuals will be put in touch with a reputable, top-notch attorney.