Firefighters put their lives at risk when they march into a site on fire. They do the same during their training exercises. AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) is what firefighters use to address liquid flammable fires, and it has been sold for decades. Since it contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), firefighters are often at risk of developing cancer and other chronic injuries.
PFAS has ‘forever chemicals’ that don’t break down and persist in nature and the human body. Hence, it causes harm to both. It has made firefighters and others exposed to the foam develop pancreatic, kidney, testicular, and prostate cancer. But there are other fatal ailments that people suffer from as well.
A firefighter sometime back lost his life to angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. This article will delve into this and share how to seek legal recourse when affected by AFFF exposure.
How AFFF Caused T-cell Lymphoma?
In March 2024, AboutLawsuits.com shared the story of a firefighter’s untimely death because of AFFF exposure. His wife, Elizabeth Hernandez, filed a firefighting foam lawsuit, stating that her husband was affected by this foam during his working days. She revealed her husband wasn’t even aware of the fatal health hazards because of AFFF exposure during his career.
The deceased victim worked at Kenton County Airport in Kentucky, where he took part in firefighting and routine training activities. It was in November 2021 that Elizabeth said that her husband was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. After his cancer diagnosis, he had to undergo chemotherapy until the last day of his life.
Once he was diagnosed with this fatal disease, he lived for slightly less than two years. It was only on May 4, 2023, that deceased Hernandez found out that the AFFF and other allied products caused his cancer. However, today Elizabeth’s complaint is part of several other AFFF exposure lawsuits filed by firefighters or their family members. That aside, people who stayed close to airports and military bases have also suffered because of PFAS exposure.
The Symptoms of T-cell Lymphoma
Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a rare kind of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. It has been considered another type of NHL (non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Typically, lymphomas are categorized as blood cancers that adversely impact white blood cells or lymphocytes.
The lymphocytes are a section of the immune system composed of lymph nodes, tonsils, bone marrow, thymus, and spleen. This system helps to eliminate bacteria and waste from the body. It also helps to drain extra fluid from the tissues. This disease surfaces in elders who are 70 years of age or older.
That means firefighters who suffer from this cancer can notice the symptoms once they leave their job. We aren’t yet certain of deceased Hernandez’s age. But some might overlook the symptoms even if it shows up early.
Hence, if you are a firefighter, you need to be aware of the bodily changes that you face. Since there is a possibility of AITL, you need to be careful of the following symptoms of the disease:
- Swollen lymph nodes present in the armpits, groin, and neck.
- Tendency to develop infections.
- Raised or flat nodules or lesions on the skin that become scaly or itchy.
- Other autoimmune disorders, such as immune thrombocytopenia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
- B symptoms such as drenching night sweats, unexplained weight loss, and fever can suggest AITL has reached an advanced stage.
A few other symptoms can include chest pain and abdominal issues. You should also note fatigue because of anemia and any persistent joint pain. It is necessary to get a medical diagnosis as soon as you face one or many of these symptoms. If your medical reports suggest that AFFF exposure could be the reason for these complications, it’s time to seek legal recourse.
Walking the Legal Path
As of June 2024, 250 fresh cases were added to the AFFF class action lawsuits. Even though the numbers are lower than last month, in total 8,270 cases are pending in MDL. Also, last year Judge Gergel came up with a bellwether process to put some lawsuits under pretrial motions and case-specific discovery. It is done to understand how juries might respond to particular evidence repeated across the litigation.
There have been several lawsuits brought by individual firefighters. Hence, TorHoerman Law states that if you have been affected by AFFF exposure, take legal action. Get in touch with a lawyer who can help you with the legal procedures. Share your case details for them to decide whether you are eligible for a lawsuit.
They will use valid proof and develop a strong case so that you get fair compensation. Settlement payout will vary, as it is case-specific and depends on your degree of suffering. Follow the guidelines shared by your lawyer so that your compensation doesn’t get canceled.
All in all, AFFF exposure has been making firefighters across the globe suffer immensely. There have been many cases of testicular, kidney, and pancreatic cancer. Elizabeth’s story throws light on the link between firefighting foam and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
Therefore, if you suspect you might have it too because of PFAS exposure, get a medical diagnosis. If your doubt is true and you have medical documents supporting it, seek legal aid as well.