Benzene Leukemia Law Blog : Benzene and Leukemia Lawyer & Attorney : Burke & Eisner Law Firm : Benzene Exposure, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

This article discusses recent studies on the success of azacitidine (Vidaza®) treatment in reducing transfusion dependency, and increasing overall survival in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.

Data presented at the 14th Congress of the European Society of Hematology demonstrate that treatment with azacitidine (Vidaza®) significantly extends overall survival and helps patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) become or remain red blood cell transfusion independent. Patients who benefited included those with higher-risk MDS or acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with 20-30% blasts, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“The presentations at EHA this year continue to support the clinical benefit associated with Vidaza in MDS, including significantly extended overall survival...

Read the full article at ecancermedicalscience.com.

 

 

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Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a cancer of the blood that can have a strong impact on the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Research continues to be done on the illness and doctors are now better fine tuning the risk factors that are associated with myelodysplastic syndrome

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Among the most common risk factors that have been discovered are smoking, environmental exposures, cancer treatments and congenital diseases. In some cases, people have developed MDS with no apparent causes able to be linked; however, in the majority of cases, these risk factors have been associated with myelodysplastic syndrome.

A Detailed Look at Myelodysplastic Syndrome Risk Factors

Smoking- Researchers have concluded that the only lifestyle-related myelodysplastic syndrome risk factor is smoking. Although it’s old news that smoking is responsible for many types of cancer, including mouth, throat and lung cancer, not many realize that it can affect cells that don’t come into direct contact with smoke. 


Environmental Exposures: Environmental risk factors, most notably exposure to benzene, have been found to be the cause of MDS in many cases. When people are exposed over an extended period of time to benzene and other toxic chemicals, their chances of developing MDS and other life-altering diseases are increased.

Cancer Treatment: Cancer patients who have been treated with certain chemotherapy drugs have been found to be more likely to develop MDS. And combining these medications with radiation therapy only increases this risk further.

Congenital Diseases: Fanconi anemia is an inherited disorder that’s associated with an increased risk of developing leukemia or MDS as a child or young adult.


 

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Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) can oftentimes be a difficult illness to diagnose since there are many other health conditions that can have similar symptoms. Diseases like aplastic anemia, different leukemias and even HIV can be mistaken for MDS. As a result many patients are misdiagnosed when they actually are suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome.

In fact, with common symptoms like excessive bleeding, bruising and fatigue, patients typically have to be examined by a hematologist or hematopathologist to be accurately diagnosed as having myelodysplastic syndrome.

How Do Physicians Diagnose Myelodysplastic Syndrome?

Physicians are able to perform a number of tests to help them properly diagnose a patient. These tests are able to:

 

• Help determine if there are changes in the amounts of the patient’s blood cells
• Whether or not the cells have an abnormal appearance when they are analyzed in through a microscope.
• Show whether or not these changes are affecting the person’s bone marrow
• Lead to the discovery of any other factors that can be effective in determining the course of treatment for the patient

 

The Importance of Blood and Bone Marrow Tests

There are several types of blood tests that can help determine whether the patient’s blood level is within the normal range considered to be healthy. With MDS, the red blood cells could be low, which causes anemia. Platelets may also be low, which could be responsible for bleeding and bruising. And if the white blood cells are low, this means cells levels could be diminished and infections could be caused on a continuous basis.

Bone marrow tests are also helpful in making a proper myelodysplastic syndrome diagnosis. With a bone marrow transplant, a sample of the person’s bone marrow is taken to determine the number of blasts that are occurring with abnormal cells within the marrow. Physicians use a hollow needle that they insert into the hipbone in order to remove a piece of the marrow for a thorough examination.
 

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A couple living in Arizona recently filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas claiming wrongful exposure to benzene. The suit filed states that the plaintiff, Brian Foray, was wrongly exposed to the toxic chemical benzene while working for 17 years as a mechanic and maintenance worker. Twelve years after his exposure, Foray has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, which is a sometimes fatal condition that is linked to benzene exposure.

 

After receiving his diagnosis, Foray and his wife, Francesca, have chosen to take action on their behalf and in the name of so many others who may have suffered as the result of employer negligence. The suit has been filed against Safety-Kleen Systems Inc., which is a corporation based out of Plano, Texas.

 

Benzene Details and Its Link to MDS

 

Benzene is a colorless liquid that has been labeled a known carcinogen since research has shown its obvious link to various cancers like leukemia and lung cancer. The chemical is often used as an additive in gasoline, soda, and is contained in cigarettes. Myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS, are known as a group of diseases that affect the bone marrow. Although MDS is a somewhat rare disease, in a majority of cases it has been found to be associated with benzene exposure.

 

Foray says that while working for the defendant, he cleaned parts and heavy equipment with substances containing benzene. The complaint also states that Safety-Kleen manufactured and sold parts that were washed in benzene, which as a result exposed the workers to the toxin. The suit states the defendant acted with negligence and is to blame for Foray's current health condition.
 

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LyondellBasdell Industries is based in Houston and manufactures products “essential to the quality of life and the mobility of people.” However, the safety and environmental care with which the company runs their business is currently being questioned by the city. Houston’s mayor, Bill White, has requested that a regulatory permit be implemented at the Houston refinery and has voiced his concern for benzene emissions.

White wants to reduce the amount of emissions at the refinery by 41 percent, but LyondellBasell doesn’t feel such a regulation is necessary. A spokesperson for the refinery says that “While we do not agree with the assumptions made in the city's filing, we are encouraged that the city has finally elected to utilize the regulatory process developed through legislative authority rather than the extralegal procedures previously pursued.”

The Dangers of Benzene

The debate regarding a permit has become heated due to the severity of the topic at hand. Benzene is a toxic chemical and known carcinogen that has been causing more harm than good in the city of Houston in recent years. Benzene is often used as an additive in gasoline and is also typically used in the production of synthetic rubbers and various dyes.

When people are exposed to benzene over an extended period of time, they are put at risk of developing life-threatening illnesses like leukemia, MDS, and lung cancer. The problem is, which coincides with White’s concerns for Houston residents and the refinery’s workers, many people are exposed to the substance without their knowledge. In these cases they develop somewhat common symptoms like easy bruising and infections before being diagnosed with something more severe than the common cold.

 

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JCI Jones Chemicals Inc. is continuing their ongoing investigation of the soil, groundwater and soil gas in Los Angeles. According to reports, chlorinated solvents and benzene were found near the supply plant and the company is now working with the U.S Environmental Protection Agency to protect the environment and local residents that could potentially be affected.

 

Jones is still in operation and is located next to what was formerly the Montrose Chemical dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane ( DDT ) manufacturing plant.  A spokesman person for the company says the Montrose Corporation of California is working on studies pertaining to the chemical problems at the site. They are also working to create a cleanup plan to prevent employees and locals from suffering the side effects of benzene exposure.

 

State Implements Cleanup Agreement

 

 

Under the new cleanup agreement proposed by the state, Jones will be supplementing the Montrose work by further investigating the contamination at the site, which is part of the Montrose Chemical Superfund Site. The site was added as a Superfund Site in 1989 by the EPA.

 

“We’re ordering JCI Jones Chemicals to take the steps needed to prevent hazardous chemicals from spreading into drinking water wells or entering into the air and nearby buildings,” explains Mike Montgomery, the Assistant Director for Superfund, Region 9, EPA. “This work gives a boost to our continuing efforts to identify and address all of the contamination.”

 

Previous sampling of the groundwater and soil at the site confirmed that the JCI Jones Chemicals plant is contaminated with benzene and other carcinogenic chemicals. This obviously causes concern among health officials and workers at the plant since exposure to benzene has been linked to various forms of cancer, including leukemia and MDS.

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A charity car show is set to be held for two brother battling Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in North Carolina. The community is joining together to raise money for the family who are going through a great deal of emotional and financial stress due to the illness.

Nicholas Cooper is five-years-old and living with myelodysplastic syndrome, the cancer formerly known as “pre-leukemia.” His brother Nathan, who is only three-years-old, is also suffering from MDS.

This type of cancer is rare among siblings, especially as young as Nicholas and Nathan and doctors across the country have been involved in trying to find the most effective treatment for them.

Higher Rollers Charity Car Show

The High Rollers Charity Car Show is going to be held September 27 in the parking lots of Gaston College. Everyone is doing their part to chip in for the boys and their family and the show will include a bake sale, barbeque, silent auction, and special Kids Corner.
All proceeds from the event will help to raise money for the boys to get the necessary bone-marrow or stem-cell transplant they will need in order to live happy, healthy lives.

 

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In Cave City, Scotland Pam Hunt, now 60 years old, has never let her diagnosis of Aplastic Anemia get her down or limit her activity. She was diagnosed originally with leukemia but after a bone marrow test was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia. At that time she was 15 years old. Her treatment was to get transfusions every two weeks.

She was told to limit her activities, not to play sports, not to become pregnant because of the risks of injury and internal bleeding. She ignored the warnings and is a living example of how one's attitude can play a part in how to deal with a diagnosis like hers. After her daughter was born she played softball, went fishing and boat riding. Even today she can put in a 12-hour day but is ready for bed when she gets home.

“The specialists and all the doctors told me that, with aplastic anemia, the top age of an adult would probably just be 35 to 40 years old,” Hunt said. “I never paid any attention to all that and that’s been the success to my survival. I don’t think about years or minutes or days or hours. I just wake up and do my thing and thank God that I’m here to do it.”

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I found this interesting blog post on Myelodysplastic Syndromes.  It discusses whether MDS will always lead to cancer.  It has a lot of good information.

Primary MDS represents a family of diseases, most prevalent in those over the age of 50 to 60, that involve unwanted variations in the function of the bone marrow in its role as the storehouse and processing center of the stem cells that ultimately turn into blood cells. These MD syndromes are called primary because they do not develop after a patients has been treated aggressively for cancer by radiation or chemotherapy which are known to cause MDS as a secondary, or side-effect. Nor do primary MDS patients have a known long-term exposure to hematologically carcinogenic chemicals like benzene, which can bring on MDS and leukemia.

Source:  http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/dbio/2008/01/the-myelodyspla.html

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