Were you stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina between 1953 – 1987? Did you or a family member live on base or work an on-site contracted position during that time period? The recently passed PACT Act could apply to you. Over the years since 1987, the truth about the water at Camp Lejeune has come out, and many veterans, employees from the base, and their families are coming to terms with the fact that a myriad of health conditions related to tainted water could have been prevented.
During the aforementioned span of years, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from cleaners, dry-cleaning solvents, and approximately 70 other hazardous chemicals were being released into the water at Camp Lejeune. Those who were living and/or working on the base were exposed to these dangerous toxins every time they took a drink, brushed their teeth, showered, or simply washed their hands. Over time, exposure to these chemicals has been linked to:
- Leukemia (including Acute Myeloid Leukemia or AML)
- Bladder Cancer
- Brain Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Central Nervous System Cancer (CNS)
- Cervical Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Lymphoma
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Myelodysplastic Syndromes
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Ovarian Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Rectal Cancer
- Cardiac defect
- Epilepsy
- Fatty Liver Disease (Hepatic Steatosis)
- Female Infertility
- Kidney Damage
- Immune Disorders
- Nerve Damage
- Miscarriage
- Neurobehavioral effects
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Renal Toxicity
- Scleroderma
and possibly even more serious (and sometimes fatal) health conditions. Unfortunately, families have gone for years without compensation or assistance for their suffering at the hands of those who failed to do their part in protecting the servicemen/servicewomen and others who lived on base. Because there was little to no recognition of what was happening on base, a huge number of victims have suffered in silence, assuming their poor health was unrelated to anything in their past. These victims are now coming out to let others know the importance of paying attention to the signs and symptoms your body is giving, and know what to watch for if you spent time at Camp Lejeune during the water contamination period. If you notice:
- frequent headaches
- unexplained fatigue
- skin rashes or lesions that won’t go away and/or don’t respond to treatment
- unexplained pain
- tingling or numbness in limbs and extremities
- issues with vision, speech, and/or movement
- shortness of breath and/or weakness
- frequent infections
- unexplained weight loss
- persistent fever
- nausea and loss of appetite
or any other unexplained “symptoms” that are out of the norm for you, call your doctor ASAP. If you know you were exposed to toxic water, any of these can be signs that something is seriously wrong and could be a red flag for any of the serious health conditions listed above. The attorneys at Brooks Law Group are committed to helping those who have served our country. You took care of us and made sacrifices to protect our freedom, and now it’s our turn to help you get the assistance you need as you live with the effects of your service. If you have questions about this new legislation or if you think you or someone you love are eligible to file a claim, call us! Your initial, no-obligation consultation is FREE.
When you’ve been injured because of someone’s negligence or irresponsibility, Look to Brooks!
