Every year, over 81,000 people receive a kidney cancer diagnosis nationwide. Often, the disease is caused by kidney disease, smoking, or high blood pressure. Still, kidney cancer can also be the result of toxic exposure. Civilian and military firefighters who used the fire suppressant AFFF are now at high risk of developing kidney cancer, as they have been exposed to PFAS, a group of highly toxic chemicals. Out of these substances, PFOA and PFOS have the strongest connection with kidney cancer, as exposure can increase the risk of developing the disease by up to 50%.
A higher kidney cancer incidence and mortality have been observed among people with significant PFOA exposure. Furthermore, in a study, participants with the highest concentrations of PFOA in their blood were more than twice as likely to develop kidney cancer in comparison to those with the lowest concentrations. If you are or were a civilian or military firefighter who used AFFF, you should keep a close eye on your health and seek medical assistance if you experience the following symptoms, as they might indicate kidney cancer:
PFAS might be associated with poorer overall kidney health, marked by a significant link between exposure to a lower glomerular filtration rate and a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease. People with kidney disease have a greater risk for kidney cancer – in fact, they might be five times more likely to develop it. It is worth noting that, when it is caused by AFFF exposure, kidney cancer usually develops within 15 years or sooner if the disease is aggressive.
Exposure to PFAS might lead to alterations in renal function, kidney damage, and alterations in uric acid levels, making firefighters more susceptible to cancer. Since AFFF contains between 50% and 98% of these harmful chemicals, civilian and military firefighters who used the fire suppressant were heavily exposed to PFAS, even if they wore protective gear. In the regrettable event that you are a firefighter struggling with kidney cancer due to AFFF exposure, we strongly encourage you to contact our expert team to find out if you are entitled to compensation.
With over 35 years of experience in evaluating toxic exposure and personal injury claims, our expert team will gladly help you determine whether you are eligible to file a claim for AFFF exposure as a civilian or military firefighter with kidney cancer. We will only request your employment or military records and your medical records to review your case. Eligible individuals will promptly be put in touch with a specialized attorney so they can have their claims filed as soon as possible.