Symptoms of Cancer From Contaminated Water From Camp Lejeune

Located in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Camp Lejeune is a military training facility built in 1941. It is still an active Marine Corps base. Between 1953 and 1987, approximately one million active-duty Marines and their family members who lived at Camp Lejeune were subjected to toxic chemicals in the water on base. These chemicals included trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and benzene. In addition to causing various types of cancer, these chemicals have caused infertility, kidney problems, Parkinson's disease, miscarriage, and neurobehavioral problems.

If you served between 1953 and 1987 at Camp Lejeune and you are experiencing medical symptoms, we recommend undergoing a thorough medical examination. It is also important to be aware that these toxic chemicals commonly cause cancer symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should receive medical treatment as soon as possible. Generally, the earlier a cancer is treated, the more favorable the outcome.

Significant research links certain types of cancer to exposure to the toxic chemicals in Camp Lejeune water. The Department of Veterans Affairs has created a list of certain medical conditions and diseases presumptively caused by contaminated water. As a result, if you were stationed at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and you have been diagnosed with one of the following types of cancer, the VA will assume that the contaminated water caused your cancer, and you can receive a disability rating. Some of these diseases include the following:

• Aplastic anemia;
• Adult leukemia;
• Bladder cancer;
• Kidney cancer;
• Liver cancer;
• Multiple myeloma;
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;
• Parkinson's disease.

A veteran or family member who lived at Camp Lejeune during the specified period could be eligible for cost-free healthcare from the VA if they have any of the following conditions:

• Kidney cancer;
• Breast cancer;
• Esophageal cancer;
• Multiple myeloma;
• Renal toxicity;
• Scleroderma;
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma;
• Bladder cancer;
• Lung cancer.

Many medical conditions, including multiple types of cancer, can be caused by exposure to toxic water. For example, exposure to high levels of trichloroethylene, also called TCH, can lead to the following immediate symptoms:

• Decreased dexterity;
• Slowed reaction times;
• Decreased memories;
• Headaches, particularly at high volumes;
• Fatigue and drowsiness;
• Gastrointestinal (GI) distress, including vomiting and diarrhea from TCE ingestion.

These types of short-term symptoms can resolve quickly after a person is exposed. Marines and their family members who served in the 1950s through 1980s may not be currently experiencing these symptoms. However, if you remember experiencing these symptoms while stationed at Camp Lejeune, you may have been exposed to toxic chemicals. Long-term and chronic exposure to TCE can cause the following symptoms:

• Ongoing vertigo or headaches;
• Decreased appetite;
• Problems with short-term memory;
• Insomnia and other sleep disturbances;
• Ongoing digestive problems, including vomiting or chronic nausea.

Long-term exposure to TCE can cause health impacts that remain long after chronic exposure ends. Veterans and family members exposed to high levels of Camp Lejeune water can develop kidney or liver cancer, heart problems, prostate cancer, and kidney disease.

High levels of vinyl chloride found in the water at Camp Lejeune has been known to cause symptoms over an extended period that may not be initially apparent. Exposure can result in a cancer diagnosis decades after acute exposure. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms of cancer or other chronic medical conditions, you must see your medical doctor for an examination:

• Fatigue;
• Changes in bladder or bowel habits;
• Lump or area of thickening felt under the skin;
• Difficulty swallowing;
• Skin changes, such as darkening, readiness, sores that won’t heal, changes to existing moles;
• Persistent discomfort or indigestion after eating;
• Persistent, unexplained fevers or muscle or joint pain;
• Unexplained bruising or bleeding.

Even if you have a medical condition or symptoms not explicitly mentioned in the list above, you could still be entitled to medical benefits and compensation through a lawsuit against the federal government. Recent changes in the law make it easier for Camp Lejeune water contamination victims to bring a lawsuit against the federal government. However, you only have a limited amount of time to pursue a claim, so you must reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today to schedule a free case evaluation.