What is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma? Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (also known as NHL or Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) is a form of cancer that starts in white blood cells.
NHL develops when a person’s body produces too many mutated lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. With NHL, a person’s mutated lymphocytes do not die. The body keeps creating new ones, which cause tumors and inhibits the immune system from guarding against infection.
The American Cancer Society has stated “regardless of how quickly they grow, all non-Hodgkin lymphomas can spread to other parts of the lymph system if not treated. Eventually, they can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, brain, and bone marrow.”
The major sites of the lymphatic system where NHL can be found are:
- Lymph Nodes
- Spleen
- Bone Marrow
- Thymus
- Adenoids and Tonsils
- Digestive Tract
Types of NHL and Rate of Growth
NHL has two main types of lymphocytes: B-cell and T-cell. Most types of NHL start in B-cells. There are more than 60 subtypes of NHL. The subtypes can describe aggressive, fast-growing NHL and the indolent slow-growing NHL.
NHL’s Connection to Toxins Found in the Camp Lejeune Water Supply
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) analyzed multiple studies and its own epidemiological studies to examine potential correlations between the toxic chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune and increased risks for certain health effects.
ATSDR determined there is sufficient evidence to conclude that a causal relationship exists between TCE and benzene exposure to NHL development.
The studies had mixed findings regarding PCE’s relation to NHL. However, even the mixed findings showed strong enough epidemiological evidence for PCE and NHL for ATSDR to classify the causal association between PCE and NHL as “at least equipoise” (at least as likely as not).
Given the multiple exposure routes to the body from TCE, PCE and benzene–contaminated groundwater, countless Marines and civilians were exposed to the toxic water in the Camp Lejeune water supply – even if they never drank or bathed in the water.
The Nations Law Firm is honored to fight for our Veterans. To read more about the different chemicals that contaminated the water at Marine Base Camp Lejeune and their connection to serious health problems, please visit our Camp Lejeune page, or call our office at 800-800-1102.