There has been an outbreak of a rare childhood cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma in Waycross, Georgia, a small town located near a toxic waste dump that is overseen by CSX Railroad.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting rhabdomyosarcoma induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with cancer from toxic chemical exposure, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Toxic Chemical Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
What’s the problem?
Four children were diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma or a similar type of cancer (Ewing’s sarcoma) during a 60-day period in 2015 — and all of them were located near the small town of Waycross, Georgia. It is extremely unusual for so many children to be diagnosed with the same rare cancer. Experts are concerned that toxic pollution from a nearby rail yard may be causing these childhood cancers.
CSX Rail Yard Linked to Childhood Cancer Cases
In the middle of Waycross, Georgia is the Rice Yard complex, owned by the railroad company CSX Transportation. The railroad has been responsible for cleaning up the site since the mid-1980s, when inspectors found an extensive underground “plume” of toxic chemical.
Cancer Causing Chemicals Threaten Water Supply
The Rice Yard complex is contaminated with numerous cancer-causing chemicals, such as paint strippers and solvents that were buried in shallow pits. Inspectors who tested the toxic waste found dangerously high levels of cancer-causing trichloroethylene (TCE), and methylene chloride, a paint stripper that may cause cancer.
What is Rhabdomyosarcoma?
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare but life-threatening type of cancer that starts in the body’s soft tissues, such as muscles. The tumor is made up of cells that normally develop into skeletal muscles, which attach to bones and help the body move. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children.
Symptoms of Rhabdomyosarcoma
The symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma depend on where the tumor is growing in the body. The most common general symptoms include:
- Tumor or lump on the body that can be seen or felt
- Swelling (with or without pain)
- Bleeding from the nose, vagina, rectum, or throat
- Drooping eyelid or protrusion of the eye
Symptoms Depend on Where it is Located
Rhabdomyosarcoma in the head may cause symptoms like headaches, bulging of an eye, or a droopy eyelid. If it occurs in the urinary system, rhabdomyosarcoma may cause problems with urination and bowel movements, or bloody stools. If it occurs in a muscle and presses on a nerve, it may cause symptoms like tingling, numbness, or weakness in that part of the body.
Treatment of Rhabdomyosarcoma
Treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma usually involves a combination of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor. In some cases, radiation may also be used when surgery can’t remove the tumor. Chemotherapy is usually recommended for rhabdomyosarcoma.
Outlook for Children & Adults
Children are more likely to develop slow-growing versions of rhabdomyosarcoma, so they typically have a better long-term prognosis than adults. Adults are more likely to have fast-growing rhabdomyosarcoma and get it in parts of the body that are harder to treat. Because of this, treatment is usually challenging for adults.
Do I have a Rhabdomyosarcoma Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting rhabdomyosarcoma induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with cancer from toxic chemical exposure, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Toxic Chemical Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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