The chemical benzene is present in many industries in the U.S. It is used to make plastics, resins, and other synthetic materials, and is a component in petroleum, solvents, degreasers, and dyes.
Its presence in so many areas of manufacture means that potentially hundreds of thousands of workers are at risk of developing a benzene-related disease, such as acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with AML or another blood disease that you believe may be related to benzene exposure, contact the toxic chemical attorneys at Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers. For decades, our legal team has successfully pursued Benzene Exposure Lawsuits on behalf of injured clients.
If you believe you may have a Benzene Exposure Lawsuit, contact Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers by calling 1-800-718-4658 for a free consultation. There are time limits to make a claim, so call today. You may also contact us by completing the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page, or by clicking here.
What Is AML?
Acute myelogenous leukemia is a form of cancer that begins in bone marrow. Known also as acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia, and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, AML strikes immature and defective cells of the bone marrow. AML is not inherited, but rather results from exposure to one of numerous substances, including benzene. While it can be difficult to determine a link between exposure to a specific substance and AML, workers who have regular exposure to benzene are most prone to the disease.
While a person of any age can develop AML, is it more common in adults over the age of 60. This may be due to prolonged exposure to the substance in the workplace or at home. Approximately 12,000 individuals are diagnosed with AML annually.
What Does AML Do to the Sufferer?
When healthy, the bone marrow manufactures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In essence, AML attacks the marrow and prevents development of healthy white blood cells. With AML, the bone marrow produces blood cells that do not develop normally.
Symptoms of AML
Common symptoms of AML are:
- Significant weight loss
- Fatigue
- Bone pain
- Bleeding from the nose and/or gums
- Skin rash
- Shortness of breath
- Bruising
- Fever
- Pale appearance
- Swelling of Lymph Nodes, Spleen or Liver
Diagnosing AML
To determine if a patient has AML, a doctor will first review a patient’s blood cell count to check for anemia. Next, a doctor will perform a bone marrow biopsy or bone marrow aspiration procedure to evaluate the health of the bone marrow. A bone marrow biopsy requires removal of bone marrow for evaluation; whereas, bone marrow aspiration consists of withdrawing fluid from bone marrow for analysis. These tests will help determine whether the patient has AML, another type of leukemia, or another medical condition.
AML Treatment and Prognosis
Treatment of AML usually involves chemotherapy. Chemotherapy side effects can be severe, as these drugs attack healthy cells along with cancer cells. Antibiotics may also be prescribed if an infection is present. In some cases, a bone marrow transplant may be performed following the first administration of chemotherapy. If a patient responds positively to chemotherapy and other treatment, the cancer can go into remission. Once a patient is cancer-free for five years, he or she is considered cured.
How to Pursue a Benzene Exposure Lawsuit
First, you will want to contact a Chemical Exposure Attorney that specializes in Benzene exposure claims. The Benzene Exposure attorneys of Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers have over 65 years combined experience representing Benzene Exposure victims. Our Benzene Legal Team has the resources to take on the largest manufacturers of Benzene-containing products. Through our years of experience, our attorneys know how to successfully pursue a Benzene exposure lawsuit and obtain maximum compensation for victims.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with AML or another Benzene-Related illness, immediately call 1-800-718-4658 to speak with a toxic chemical exposure attorney at Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers. Our attorneys will provide you with a free consultation, and advise you of your rights to pursue a Benzene Exposure Lawsuit. We never collect a fee for our services, unless a recovery is made. Do not wait, call today.
