What is Esophageal Cancer?
Anatomy – The esophagus is the tube connecting the throat to the stomach. The inner lining of the esophagus is made up of mucosa and submucosa, which is where esophageal cancers can develop.
This type of cancer occurs when cells lining the esophagus mutate and begin to grow out of control. The abnormal cells will create a tumor within the esophagus, metastasizing and invading other parts of the body.
Esophageal cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths1 and the eighth most common cancer worldwide2. It is treatable, but rarely curable.
1 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7141161/
2 – https://www.wcrf.org/cancer-trends/oesophageal-cancer-statistics/
Why Veterans are at Risk for Esophageal Cancer
For nearly 35 years, the water at Camp Lejeune contained very high levels of 2 chlorinated solvents: perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), among other chemicals, some of which have been linked to several types of cancer, including esophageal cancer. Military personnel, their families, and anyone living on the base during the years of 1953 through 1987 were exposed to these and other chemicals in the water on base.
Symptoms
- Difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing
- Hoarseness / Coughing
- Severe, unexplained weight loss
- Chest, throat or back pain/pressure
- Coughing up blood
- Vomiting, regurgitating
If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms but have not yet been diagnosed, it is suggested you contact a physician for an assessment. If you spent time at Camp Lejuene and have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, please contact us immediately for consultation with an attorney.
Connection to the chemicals found in the water at Camp Lejeune
According to ATSDR/ CDC3, at least one study evaluating contact with TCE and/or PCE determined esophageal cancer as a “health effect” of exposure to these chemicals. At Camp Lejeune, the levels were over a thousand times higher than the EPA maximum safe levels.
3- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry / Center for Disease Control
Why choose the Nations Law Firm
The Nations Law Firm is honored to fight for our Veterans who served at Marine Base Camp Lejeune, and for all those injured by its contaminated water supply. To read more about the different illnesses and chemicals that contaminated the water on base and their connection to serious health problems, please visit our Camp Lejeune page or call our office at 800-800-1102.