When doctors dismiss swollen lymph nodes as a viral infection or attribute night sweats to stress, veterans may face life-threatening delays in cancer treatment.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is frequently mistaken for common illnesses like the flu, mononucleosis, or simple infections, leading to months of incorrect treatment while cancer spreads throughout the body.
PFAS contamination at military installations puts veterans at higher risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but healthcare providers often fail to recognize the relationship. Since this disease accounts for about 4% of all cancers nationwide, proper diagnosis becomes crucial for veterans whose chemical exposure may have caused their illness. Misdiagnosis not only delays essential treatment but can also prove fatal when aggressive forms of the disease go undetected.
Any veteran experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, especially if they have a history of chemical exposure:
Healthcare providers commonly misdiagnose non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as influenza, Hodgkin's lymphoma, cat scratch fever, HIV, various infections, and mononucleosis. Many doctors overlook non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and fail to recommend blood and urine tests that could rule out other illnesses. Even when biopsies are performed, pathologists sometimes misinterpret results, causing further delays.
The diagnostic challenge is compounded because many healthcare institutions don't immediately connect service-related chemical exposure to current health problems. Symptoms may not appear until 10 years after PFAS exposure.
More than 700 military sites across the country are contaminated with PFAS, primarily from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used to extinguish jet fuel and petroleum fires. Several groups face particularly high exposure risks of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma:
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma includes dozens of subtypes, making it an extremely complex disease to diagnose accurately. Veterans should be aware that their diagnosis might include terms that seem unrelated at first glance. Common subtypes that may develop following PFAS exposure include:
A non-Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis?can be devastating for veterans. With over 30 years of experience in toxic exposure cases, Atraxia Law has the expertise to evaluate whether you qualify for compensation. If you served at a PFAS-contaminated military base and developed a related illness, we encourage you to contact us.
The process requires minimal effort from you; just send us your military records and medical documentation. Our qualified clients are connected with a specialized attorney dedicated to securing the compensation they deserve. Contact Atraxia Law today for a free case evaluation.