Cancer Causing Weed Killer Lawsuits
Update – Fall 2023 – We are accepting cases
Cancer causing weed killer lawsuits have been filed and won in the US. Many weed killer products contain glyphosate, which is found in Roundup, Ranger, Honcho and many others. Glyphosate has been linked to cancer for decades. The manufacturer of glyphosate, Monsanto, failed to warn of known cancer risks, amidst overwhelming research and studies that link glyphosate-based herbicides to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers, lymphomas and leukemias. Plaintiffs have won verdicts in the amounts of $80 Million, $289.2 Million and $2,055 Billion. Note that most verdicts are appealed and remanded, reversed and settled for much lower amounts. However, the verdicts prove the successes plaintiffs have in this litigation.
Roundup Verdicts
$80 Million: Hardeman v. Monsanto
Edward Hardeman, a California man who was diagnosed with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma after decades of usage of Roundup weed killer, won a jury verdict against the manufacturers of Roundup. The jury awarded him $5 million in compensatory damages and $75 million in punitive damages.
$289.2 Million: Johnson v. Monsanto
On 8/10/18, Dewayne Johnson, a California school maintenance worker, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after decades of usage of Roundup herbicide at his job, won a jury verdict against the manufacturers. The California jury ordered Monsanto to pay Mr. Johnson $39.2 million in compensatory damages and $250 million in punitive damages.
$2.055 Billion: Pilliod v. Monsanto
On 5/13/19, Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a California couple who were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma after decades of usage of Roundup, won a jury verdict against the manufacturers of the weed killer. The California jury ordered Monsanto to pay $55 million compensatory damages, $2 billion in punitive damages.
What Cancers Have Been Linked to Glyphosate?
- non-Hodgkin Lymphoma,
- Hairy Cell Leukemia,
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia,
- Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma,
- Angioimmunoblastic Lymphoma,
- Blastic NK-Cell Lymphoma,
- Burkitt’s Lymphoma,
- Burkitt-like Lymphoma (Small Non-Cleaved Cell Lymphoma),
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma,
- Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma,
- Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma,
- Enteropathy-Type T-Cell Lymphoma,
- Follicular Lymphoma,
- Hepatosplenic GammaDelta T-Cell Lymphoma,
- Lymphoblastic Lymphoma,
- Mantle Cell Lymphoma,
- Marginal Zone Lymphoma,
- Nasal T-Cell Lymphoma,
- Pediatric Lymphoma,
- Peripheral T-Cell Lymphomas,
- Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma,
- T-Cell Leukemias,
- Transformed Lymphomas,
- Treatment-Related T-Cell Lymphomas, and
- Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
What is non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
With early diagnosis and advanced treatment methods, non-Hodgkin lymphoma has a high survival rate. If the cancer is confined to a single region, it has about an 83% survival rate. Even the most advanced stage of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has a survival rate greater than 60%.
B-cell Lymphoma
B-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin that originates in the B-cells. It is the most common type of lymphoma and about 85% of all lymphomas in the United States are B-cell. Common symptoms associated with lymphoma include painless enlargement of one or more lymph node areas, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
Types of B-cell lymphoma
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of B-cell lymphoma. DLBCL typically affects older people and accounts for one out of three cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This type of B-cell lymphoma usually begins as a mass in a lymph node, but can also form in particular sites such as bone, intestine, the spinal cord or brain.
Standard treatment for DLBCL generally involves months of conventional chemotherapy, and overall cure rates in the last 15 years have been about 70%.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma has long been treated as a single disease, but it is now categorized into many different subtypes based on their molecular features. There are two large subtypes:, Germinal center B-cell (GCB) and Activated B-cell (ABC).
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma can also be categorized based on where it develops. Site-specific forms include:
Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (located within the chest, behind the sternum) has distinctive clinical and molecular features. It is significantly different than other types of DLBCL and, biologically, has more in common with classic Hodgkin lymphoma.
Primary central nervous system lymphoma is rare in general, but is more likely to develop in older populations, as well as those with compromised immune systems. It is almost always DLBCL, particularly the ABC subtype. It can sometimes present in tissues surrounding the eye or spinal cord, but is mostly found throughout the brain and spinal cord.
Follicular lymphoma
The cells of this type of B-cell lymphoma grow in circular structures (follicles), generally within lymph nodes. Follicular lymphomas typically grow slowly, but carry a risk of transformation to the fast-growing GCB-type DLBCL. In some cases, care starts with active surveillance, where the patient is closely monitored for signs of disease progression but is not given any treatments. Most patients are treated initially, though. Standard treatments include targeted therapy without chemotherapy. Around 80% of patients achieve many years of disease-free survival.
Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)/Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
The cancer cells in SLL and CLL are identical. The diseases differ based on where these cells are located. SLL cancer cells are mostly in the spleen and lymph nodes, while CLL cancer cells are found mainly in the blood and bone marrow. SLL/CLL predominantly affects older patients and progresses slowly. It can transform into an aggressive disease called Richter’s transformation. Several targeted therapies tested at MD Anderson are now approved or are being evaluated, and can provide years of disease-free survival.
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
Mantle cell lymphoma usually affects the lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow at the time of diagnosis, and is highly variable in its rate of progression. MCL is more likely to affect men and people older than 60. Several targeted therapies tested at MD Anderson are now approved or are being evaluated, and provide chemotherapy-free treatment options for many patients.
Marginal zone lymphoma
Marginal zone lymphomas are typically slow-growing B-cell lymphomas that comprise 5-10% of lymphoma cases. There are three distinct types, largely based on initial sites of involvement:
MALT lymphoma (extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma)
This is the most common type of MZL. MALT lymphoma originates outside the lymph nodes, often in the stomach. This type of B-cell lymphoma can also start in the skin, lungs or tissues in the mouth and around the eye. Bacterial and viral infections have been shown to cause MALT lymphomas.
Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma
This slow-growing form of MZL is rare and primarily affects older women. It’s typically found in the lymph nodes and occasionally in bone marrow.
Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma
This rare B-cell lymphoma is found almost exclusively in the spleen and bone marrow. It is more common in older men and has been associated with the hepatitis C virus. It is not unusual for an enlarged spleen, common with this type of B-cell lymphoma, to cause fatigue and discomfort.
Burkitt lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma is a fast-growing B-cell lymphoma that accounts for 1-2% of all lymphomas. Occasionally found in adults, it is much more common in children, especially in boys.
The first-described type of Burkitt lymphoma, endemic to Africa, often presents as a facial tumor and is linked to infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. The variety of Burkitt lymphoma more often seen in the U.S. typically lacks a viral link. It often starts as a large abdominal tumor, less frequently in the testicles or ovaries, and can spread to cerebrospinal fluid.
Burkitt lymphoma is now better classified on the basis of molecular features. It can include some cases that may be confused with DLBCL, but do better with more aggressive chemotherapy.
Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia is a rare B-cell neoplasm that has features between lymphoma and multiple myeloma. It is most often found in the bone marrow, and typically becomes apparent from symptoms attributable to high blood levels of tumor-produced IgM immunoglobulin, or “macroglobulinemia”.
Hairy cell leukemia
Despite the “leukemia” name, hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is sometimes considered a type of lymphoma, as the cells are B lymphocytes. It is slow-growing, and initial treatment (if any) may include splenectomy for symptoms due to splenic enlargement. Rates of long-term survival or cure are high.
B-cell lymphoma treatment
Treatment for B-cell lymphoma is similar to treatment for other types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These options include chemotherapy, radiation, proton therapy, immunotherapy and stem cell transplant.
What are the parts of the lymphatic system?
The lymphatic system carries disease-fighting white blood cells throughout the body. It includes:
Lymph: Fluid that carries lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, through the body in a network of lymph vessels, which are like tiny veins. Lymph helps fight against infection and cancer.
Lymph nodes: Tiny, bean-shaped masses in the underarm, pelvis, neck, abdomen and groin. They filter lymph and store white blood cells to help the body fight disease.
Spleen: An organ on the left side of the abdomen that makes lymphocytes, stores blood cells and gets rid of old blood cells.
Thymus: Located in the chest, this tiny organ stores lymphocytes.
Tonsils: These are nodes in back of throat that produce lymphocytes.
Bone marrow: This is material in bones that produces blood cells.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation
Contact us at 1-800-814-4540 if you have regularly been exposed to Roundup or another weed killer product and developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma or other leukemias or lymphoma. There are time limits so don’t delay.