What Cancers Are Included In The Roundup Lawsuit? 6 Types

What Cancers Are Included in the Roundup Lawsuit?

Product liability law imposes strict liability on manufacturers for injuries caused by defective products. This means that a manufacturer’s mindset is irrelevant in determining liability. Instead, the plaintiff’s lawyer only needs to prove the product was defective and that the defective product caused the plaintiff’s injury or medical condition.

Plaintiffs have filed tens of thousands of lawsuits against Bayer, the parent company of Monsanto, asserting that Roundup caused their cancer diagnoses. These cases have focused on non-Hodgkin lymphoma but have also used scientific research to include other cancers, such as:

• Multiple myeloma
• Liver cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Hemangiosarcoma
• Leukemia

Plaintiffs have also asserted Roundup lawsuit cancer types outside of these accepted categories, including skin cancer and lung cancer, from touching or inhaling Roundup.

When a plaintiff asserts cancer in a Roundup lawsuit, they must overcome three obstacles. First, they must find an expert witness who has scientific evidence linking the plaintiff’s type of cancer to glyphosate. Product liability lawyers often work with scientists and other lawyers who can help them find the right experts for their cases.

Second, Bayer’s attorneys will try to have the expert disqualified from testifying. The plaintiff’s attorney must show that the witness relied on rigorous scientific techniques, rather than mere speculation, to reach their conclusions.

Third, the plaintiff’s lawyer must persuade a jury of the link between the victim’s cancer and Roundup. The evidence will include the expert’s testimony. The lawyer will also show that the plaintiff had lengthy exposure to Roundup and that their cancer developed after that exposure.

What Does Causation Mean in Product Liability Lawsuits?

A key issue in any product liability lawsuit is a causal link between the product and the alleged injury. Causation is a straightforward, logical exercise in most states. You must show that the injury was the natural and logical result of the use or foreseeable misuse of the product.

When an injury results from physical products, like power tools, causation is relatively easy. If the blade guard is broken and the victim is missing a finger, you can infer that the product’s defect led to the amputation.

However, chemical products raise complex questions about causation because scientists cannot see them damage cells. Instead, they must rely on surveys and statistics. With repeated studies, researchers can gather enough evidence to establish a high probability of causation.

Product manufacturers take advantage of this inherent uncertainty in court. They can find their own specialist witnesses to counter every expert the injured plaintiff presents. These experts can muddy the waters enough to deprive the plaintiff of fair compensation for the injuries that likely resulted from the manufacturer’s products.

What Type of Cancer Does Roundup Cause?

Based on this standard, scientific research suggests glyphosate may cause the following types of cancer:

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

The strongest evidence for a link between cancer and Roundup involves non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Studies suggest that glyphosate usage increases the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma by up to 41%.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma affects the lymphatic system. A mutation in the immune cells causes them to multiply uncontrollably, leading to tumors in the lymph nodes, bone marrow or elsewhere in the lymphatic system.

NHL Subtypes Linked to Roundup

Roundup can cause a number of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cancer types, with perhaps the most prominent being B-cell lymphoma. This cancer impacts the B cells that create antibodies, causing night sweats, extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss and enlarged lymph nodes. You can also suffer from these subtypes:

• Follicular Lymphoma: This is a slow-growing type of lymphoma that can take years to show symptoms, such as fever and fatigue, allowing it to progress unchecked.
• Burkitt Lymphoma: Burkitt lymphoma is a rare type of cancer that is particularly aggressive and tends to occur most often in children, presenting with enlarged lymph nodes, fever, sweating and fatigue.
• Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: This is another aggressive form of lymphoma that impacts children the most and begins in T-cells, resulting in enlarged lymph nodes, night sweats, fever and fatigue.
• Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare type of cancer that begins in your lymph nodes’ white blood cells and causes fever, weight loss, fatigue, nausea and bloating.
• T-Cell Lymphoma: T-cell lymphoma often impacts skin or lymph nodes, causing the rapid development of symptoms like fatigue, fever, unexplained weight loss and persistent skin problems, such as dryness.
• Marginal Zone Lymphoma: This type of lymphoma tends to impact people over 60, and it begins in the lymphoid tissues, resulting in swollen lymph nodes, fatigue and symptoms related to the zone involved.

If you have suffered any of these Roundup side effects, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim against the manufacturer and those who exposed you to the chemical.

Multiple Myeloma

Research has also linked glyphosate to multiple myeloma. Scientists exposed mice to glyphosate. The mice developed a precursor condition called MGUS that precedes “virtually all” cases of multiple myeloma in humans.

Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell cancer. Mutated plasma cells accumulate in the bone marrow. Rather than producing normal antibodies, these mutated cells make proteins that damage the patient’s organs. Moreover, the lack of antibodies suppresses the patient’s ability to fight illness and infection.

Liver Cancer and Leukemia

A researcher looking at children raised on farms found evidence of a link between glyphosate use and childhood liver damage. This damage may lead to metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, and liver cancer later in life. A study using a similar approach found a purported link between glyphosate and childhood leukemia.

Other Cancer Risks

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is operated by the World Health Organization. It has classified glyphosate as a likely carcinogen. The IARC found that kidney cancer and hemangiosarcoma risks increased with exposure to glyphosate.

This classification is an important element of the legal cases against Bayer and Monsanto. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) broke with the IARC and classified glyphosate as non-carcinogenic.

As a result, Roundup’s manufacturer defended itself by arguing that it does not need to include cancer warnings on the product. Roundup plaintiffs have countered that the IARC’s designation gave Monsanto and Bayer notice of the cancer risks posed by its product.

Leukemia Types Linked to Roundup

If you have developed leukemia as a result of exposure to Roundup, you may be able to obtain damages, but what type of leukemia specifically qualifies for a personal injury lawsuit?

Hairy cell leukemia is one of these. It is a slow-progressing condition that impacts B-cells. The main characteristic of this type of leukemia is that cells tend to look hairy under the microscope. You can experience extreme fatigue, frequent infection and weakness with this condition.

T-cell leukemia is another cancer that can occur from exposure to Roundup. It’s an aggressive cancer that affects bone marrow, lymph nodes and your skin, resulting in night sweats, fatigue, fever and swollen lymph nodes.

Small lymphocytic leukemia is a slow-growing cancer that involves the accumulation of abnormal B-lymphocytes in the lymph nodes and the spleen. It typically impacts older adults and often causes fatigue, night sweats, weight loss and a tender abdomen.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is generally the slowest-growing of all leukemia types. It tends to impact older adults and occurs when your body produces too many B-cell lymphocytes. Unfortunately, this cancer is difficult to catch early because it often doesn’t present with many symptoms.

Contact ConsumerShield to Learn More About Roundup Cancer Types

Several juries have held Monsanto and Bayer liable for cancer cases. However, since the scientific conclusions are mixed, plaintiffs likely need lawyers with experience handling complex product liability cases and connections with qualified expert witnesses.

ConsumerShield helps injured people understand the law and their legal options. We can assess your situation and connect you with a Roundup lawsuit lawyer for representation. Contact us for a free case review and a lawyer referral.