Today, almost everyone, including firefighters and Air Force personnel, knows the harmful effects of AFFF, or firefighter foam. Various studies have pointed out major issues concerning firefighting cancer risks. It revealed that the side effects of the foam are likely to make people develop cancer and lose their lives from chronic diseases.
In January 2023, AboutLawsuits.com reported that occupational health hazards for firefighters are much more than one can imagine. They are at risk of dying from cancer three times more than any other individuals. In a report published in “Occupational Medicine”, researchers studied data from 672 firefighters in Scotland, between the age bracket of 30 and 74, ranging from years 2000 to 2020.
They examined the deaths and medical records because of cancer or any other disease. They compared the outcome of the data about the general Scottish population. The findings revealed that firefighters were 60% more likely to die from cancer compared to any other demographic.
Firefighters were most likely to suffer from malignant neoplasms, almost four times more from prostate cancer, twice from esophagus, bladder, and kidney cancer, and three times from myeloid leukemia. Even pancreatic cancer has been one of the prominent diseases that firefighters have suffered from.
In this article, we will discuss the link between pancreatic cancer and AFFF exposure and also share how to seek legal compensation to cover the damages and suffering one has to endure.
AFFF Exposure Leads to Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer
In February 2023, the City of Hope highlighted a firefighter’s story about getting affected by pancreatic cancer because of AFFF exposure. For nearly 33 years, Larry Jarvis was employed at the Los Angeles Fire Department and even worked as a captain. He recalls a few challenging situations where he had to manage endless fires. He also remembers fertilizer blazes that used to fill the sky with yellow, green, and purple smoke and emit toxic foam.
When Larry was 58 years old, he was treated for prostate cancer. In 2010, he retired and there weren’t any visible issues with his health. His wife Petra and he wanted to have a good life, and the plan worked fine until June 2021. During this time, Larry was 72 years old and started to lose weight abruptly. One morning, he woke up with jaundice and felt there was something wrong with his health.
Upon medical intervention, Larry was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. It is difficult to detect this cancer in its initial stages, as the symptoms don’t surface until the cancer has progressed and spread across the body.
For treatment, the majority of stage 4 cancer patients undergo chemotherapy. However, Larry initially had to undergo intestinal bypass surgery because a tumor blocked his digestive system. After this, he started a routine of irinotecan, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin. These are three standard chemotherapy drugs that are used for pancreatic cancer. Even though he lost ample hair and witnessed neuropathy, he mostly managed the treatment well.
In hindsight, one can only attribute his pancreatic cancer diagnosis to the exposure to firefighter foam during his work tenure. Today, many like Larry have faced similar predicaments and have filed an AFFF lawsuit to report the harm they have witnessed and get compensated for their loss and suffering.
If you have developed pancreatic cancer because of AFFF exposure, you must take the required medical aid and have medical documents to support your claim. Once that is done, proceed towards a legal remedy.
How To File a Lawsuit?
TorHoerman Law states that you must contact a lawyer to determine whether you are eligible to file a lawsuit. Almost every month, more cases are added to the existing number of claims. Therefore, you can opt for a free consultation with a lawyer to determine whether you stand a chance to seek legal compensation.
Once you are eligible to file a lawsuit, the lawyer will ask you to arrange for the necessary evidence that will enable them to prepare a compelling case and present it in court. It will ensure that the verdict is in your favor. Your lawyer will also let you know about the probable payout so that you have a practical expectation of it.
In conclusion, AFFF exposure has affected several firefighters to date. Pancreatic cancer is one of the health hazards among the many life-threatening diseases that this toxic foam has caused. Hence, if you or anyone you know has faced a similar predicament, you should file a lawsuit after having all the medical documents and proof to back up your claim.
