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Were You Diagnosed With Cancer After Being Exposed to Roundup Weedkiller?

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The use of pesticides is a controversial topic because of the risk of health conditions and the dangers to the environment. Monsanto is a leading manufacturer of pesticides for use on crops and gardens, especially the well-known weed killer, Roundup. This product and it’s manufacturer have been involved in legal cases where people have suffered physical injury due to exposure to the chemicals in the product.

The Class Action Lawsuit

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Monsanto by a group of individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer and are alleging the cause of the medical conditions stem from exposure to the Monsanto product, Roundup. The lawsuit is not about the ingredients used in the weed killer, but about the fact that the company supposedly tried to avoid any connection with the product and cancer. The company is accused of publishing incorrect research to prevent consumers and others from recognizing the risk of cancer from using the product.

Accusations have been made against the company, claiming it wanted to avoid any negative information being linked to Roundup which would influence consumers not to buy the product. Supposedly, the fear for Monsanto was that revealing the truth would cause a loss to the company’s profit margin on the product. Documents in the case indicate that Monsanto created false data from their supposed research to support their claims of the safety of Roundup. There are even allegations that the company interacted with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny any connections between the weed killer and cancer.

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A federal court ordered Monsanto to produce documents that were previously sealed, including company emails. These documents bring to light concern for the safety of the product and the research conducted by the manufacturer. In return, Monsanto filed a lawsuit in California to prevent the state from adding glyphosate to the list of carcinogens or cancer-causing products. In March of 2017, California added glyphosate to the list of known carcinogens, becoming the first state to do so.

Roundup – An Important Discovery

Roundup is not a new product. In fact, it has been around for consumers to buy since 1974. It was a significant discovery for farmers and others involved in agriculture who had to fight with weeds in their crops. The product successfully decimated acres of weeds without damaging crops. Within only a few years, it was the one of the top-selling herbicides in use.

Monsanto quickly saw profits from the weed killer as more farms began using it until it is in use on almost every farm in the United States today. This one product nets billions of dollars each year to Monsanto. The company has even used some of the profits to study the product and learn of its potential for harm. Monsanto began declaring that the weed killer was even safer than table salt. According to their research, they declared it was non-toxic to both people and pets by the 1990s.

Around 150 million pounds of glyphosate are used on lawns, driveways, sidewalks, in nurseries, parks and golf courses as well as on farm crops every year. From the 1970s to today, the use of herbicides containing glyphosate has increased by 10,000 percent.

The Controversy

One of the primary ingredients in Roundup is glyphosate, which is also the center of the controversy for this product. Research conducted by Monsanto deemed the product to be safe while independent research conducted by other organizations found that the ingredient glyphosate was linked to notable increases in the risk for development of specific types of cancers.

Monsanto continued to stand by its product, saying that Roundup is safe even when the World Health Organization stated that glyphosate was likely carcinogenic or cancer causing. In fact, Roundup was declared as one of the most toxic herbicides that have been tested.

The cancers linked to glyphosate include Non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronicic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Patients with any of these diagnoses are more likely to suffer from kidney disease and failure. Studies into the effects of the chemical indicate that it may react with a person’s DNA to create mutations which are cancerous. It may also kill off other enzymes which protect the immune system of people.

While glyphosate is found in many products, it is the concentration that can cause serious problems. Agricultural workers are exposed to a larger amount of the chemical which enters the system, which can then compromise the immune system of the person.

Some Roundup products contain a higher percentage of glyphosate than others. For instance, Roundup Pro contains about 50 percent of the chemical. A research group from Sweden conducted a study in 2008 which showed that glyphosate had a major impact on the risk of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. People who worked in landscaping, at garden centers and on farms appeared to have a higher number who suffered from cancer than the general population. Even spending as little as eight years in that environment showed the potential to double the risk for cancer.

Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include swollen lymph nodes, difficulty breathing, unexplained weight loss, bruising, swelling in the chest or stomach or pain in those areas, bone pain or unexplained nosebleeds. This condition is the most common result of exposure to glyphosate, and a person who exhibits these symptoms should seek treatment right away. If you are diagnosed with the condition and have spent time around Roundup, you may be entitled to compensation for damages.

Monsanto

Monsanto is an agricultural biotechnology and agrochemical company, which is based out of Creve Coeur, in greater St. Louis, in Missouri. In addition to Roundup, the company is a major producer of genetically manufactured or GMO seeds. The company agreed to a purchase offer by Bayer for $66 billion.

Roundup is not the first controversial product from the manufacturer. In the past, it was also involved in the manufacture of Agent Orange, DDT insecticide, PCBs and a bovine growth hormone. Even the model for seed patenting has received a great deal of criticism.

The company has been embroiled in many controversial cases, not only in the US but also in other countries. Many countries have banned the use of glyphosate since concern has been raised of its connection with cancer. Monsanto is also involved in government through lobbying and as a member on various boards and groups.

Taking Legal Action

Anyone who has been exposed to high levels of glyphosate due to interaction with Roundup may seek damages through a lawsuit against Monsanto. People in the following occupations are most likely to qualify:

  • Farm workers
  • Nursery workers
  • Landscapers
  • Garden centers

If they suffer from Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Leukemia, or b-cell lymphoma, the person may be entitled to damages through the class-action lawsuit.

No cases have been settled at this time with Monsanto and the potential victims. Usually, a few cases are tried before the jury with individual decisions rendered. At that point, the company is better able to determine the financial implications and may decide to settle outside of court.

When the case goes to court, you may seek damages for any losses you have experienced as a result of the cancer. This includes the following:

  • Medical expenses for treatment of the cancer, including those you have already incurred and any future treatments that are expected
  • Pain and suffering from the past and future caused by the cancer
  • Loss of income if you are unable to work
  • Economic losses stemming from the cancer
  • Punitive damages

Your first step should be to contact an attorney who can help you determine if you have a case. They will be able to advise you on your next step and if you should move forward with a lawsuit against Monsanto. You may need to prove documents showing your diagnosis and treatment to support the claim.

If you hire an attorney to represent you in a case against Monsanto, they will help build a case based on the facts of your situation. The attorney may use published information regarding the dangers of glyphosate and your exposure to Roundup to build a case against the manufacturer. They will also look at your case to determine the amount of compensation to which you may be entitled. This includes any expected costs you may incur because of your condition.

As the case progresses, Monsanto may be willing to offer a settlement, which would be divided between all participants in the class action. For this reason, it’s important to get involved early even if it will take some time to receive any settlement.

Why You Need an Attorney

You cannot fight a large manufacturing company like Monsanto on your own. However, when groups of people come together in a single case, it calls attention to the concerns they have. The company will be more likely to pay out for the expenses of the victims if it sees individual cases being won in court.

You can incur thousands of dollars of debt from medical expenses and even receive permanent damage which will alter your future. Cancer is an expensive, long-term illness. You may need to seek aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy or radiology which is often costly with medical expenses adding up quickly.

Even if you are able to recover from the cancer, you may have to go through a series of treatments and miss work. You may suffer from permanent damage even if the cancer goes into remission. Depending on your current occupation, you could even lose your job and find it difficult to replace that income.

Cancer takes its toll on a patient, often leaving them unable to do all of the things they once enjoyed. They may need help with daily responsibilities and tasks and miss out on the quality of life they once enjoyed. A person may need help to remain at home or take care of their family.

A single medical issue can cost hundreds of dollars. With a condition as invasive as cancer, you may incur costs over a long period of time. Surgery may be required, and you may need seek out treatments which could last for weeks. During this time and afterwards, you may need care and assistance.

Many people cannot afford the kind of extensive treatments required to beat cancer even with health insurance. Often, their insurance has co-pays, deductibles and even limits, leaving the patient with a major financial burden. It can cause the person to struggle to pay their bills, especially if they are unable to work for part or all of the time they are receiving treatment.

The financial burden and stress of having a major illness like cancer can cause other problems in the person’s life as well. It impacts relationships and the ability for the person to enjoy life and be productive. Their life may never be the same even if they are able to recover from the condition.

Because Monsanto did not put labels on their products warning of the potential to cause cancer, the company may be held liable for the illnesses caused by the use of the product. In essence, it would be responsible for the costs of those illnesses.

If you have suffered from one of the cancers related to the use of Roundup, you may be entitled to receive compensation for damages. You need to contact an attorney to find out if you have a case and if you can be included in the class-action lawsuit. While it won’t give you your old life back, it can help you recover from the financial expenses of treatment and the emotional challenges you have faced because of your condition.

Don’t wait if you think you may have a case. Call for a free consultation and to determine if you may qualify. It can help you move on with your life and have a future to look forward to while holding the company responsible for its negligence to the users of its products.

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