By Treven Pyles
Posted on September 04th, 2024
Recently, a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences established a connection between PFAS and the occurrence of testicular cancer in military personnel. Researchers found high levels of toxic PFAS in the blood samples of thousands of US Air Force personnel who also served as firefighters.
Aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, commonly used for firefighting, contains carcinogenic PFAS. PFAS is a large group of synthetic chemicals that do not degrade easily in nature. Once in the environment, these chemicals remain forever and are, therefore, termed forever chemicals. Like in nature, PFAS accumulates in our bodies, causing severe health issues.
Alarming statistics on firefighters' testicular cancer risk
Research shows that firefighters are at two times greater risk of developing testicular cancer than the general population. The Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch researchers, for the first time, studied 530 cases of testicular cancer diagnosed during active-duty servicemen and an equal number of control cases. It was found that firefighters had higher levels of PFOS, a type of PFAS, in their blood. A study published in the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association stated that the average relative increase in cancer risk per 10 ng/mL increase in serum PFOA is 3% for testicular cancer.
Male veterans and firefighters should be proactive and do self-exams every month to identify early signs of testicular cancer. Here is a list of symptoms of testicular cancer that veterans should watch out for:
- a swelling or lump in either testicle
- a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
- discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum
- a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin
- sudden swelling in the scrotum
- enlargement of the breast tissue
Testicular cancer has a latency period of about 15 years when it is related to PFAS exposure. If you are a civilian or military firefighter and developed testicular cancer due to the use of AFFF, you are likely to be entitled to compensation.
File an AFFF claim for testicular cancer with the help of our knowledgeable attorneys
Our attorneys have assisted thousands of veterans over the past three decades with pursuing financial compensation claims for their toxic exposure. We encourage you to get in touch with our legal team as soon as you receive a diagnosis of testicular cancer. All that we need is your medical records and your military service records.
Upon review, if we find that you are eligible to file a claim, we will continue with further steps and ensure you receive the maximum possible financial compensation you rightly deserve.
