Monsanto is facing dozens of lawsuits alleging that its Roundup herbicide caused cancers like small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), a slow-growing form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that attacks the immune system.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using or being exposed to Roundup, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against Monsanto and our lawyers can help.
What’s the problem?
In March 2015, the The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published a report in The Lancet Oncology which called glyphosate — the active ingredient in Roundup and hundreds of other herbicides used around the world — “probably carcinogenic.” The researchers found that many forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including small lymphocytic lymphoma, are the types of cancer most often associated with glyphosate exposure.
What is Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma?
Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that occurs when abnormal white blood cells called B-cell lymphocytes grow out of control. SLL is the same disease as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), except that it occurs primarily in the lymph nodes rather than the blood or bone marrow.
Lymphoma Cancer Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of small lymphocytic lymphoma include:
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Night sweats
- Fever or chills
- Unexplained weight loss
- Infections
- General feeling of discomfort, illness or uneasiness (malaise)
- Fatigue
- Bleeding
- Easy bruising
- Shortness of breath
- Pale skin
SLL Treatment
Treatment for patients diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma typically involve one or more of the following:
- Watchful waiting (no treatment given) in which the patient is closely monitored to see if/when treatment should be started;
- Drug therapy (chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, and targeted or biologic therapies)
- Stem cell transplantation
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy)
Prognosis and Survival Rate
Not everyone with small lymphocytic lymphoma requires treatment. When it is not causing symptoms, a “wait and see” approach is usually preferred. SLL is not usually curable because it is slow-growing. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are not very effective. The good news is that people often survive for many years with SLL or go into remission.
Roundup Litigation Status
Since Roundup was first approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 1974, Monsanto has denied claims that the herbicide may cause cancer. However, studies have found that glyphosate is carcinogenic to humans, and that Monsanto has downplayed and even hidden the risks of Roundup in an effort to maximize profits.
Outraged by Monsanto’s deception, farmers, gardeners and agricultural workers are filing lawsuits alleging that Roundup causes small lymphocytic lymphoma and other cancers. In October 2016, these lawsuits were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2741) for pretrial handling in the Northern District of California.
Do I Have a Roundup Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Roundup cancer lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new small lymphocytic lymphoma cases in all 50 states.
Free Case Evaluation: Again, if you got cancer from Roundup herbicide, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.