Roundup: What is it?
Roundup is an herbicide which is commonly used by farmers and gardeners to kill weeds and other unwanted plants. It is manufactured by chemical giant Monsanto, a company best know for engineering and producing various agricultural products.
Why is it so dangerous?
Lawsuits have already been filed in a couple of states that have accused Monsanto of knowing that glyphosate, Roundup’s primary ingredient, was hazardous to the health of humans. It has even been declared a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organization. Lawyers who have recently filed these lawsuits against Monsanto and the Roundup product have found strong evidence that glyphosate is linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer. There are two types of lymphoma—Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is linked to Roundup, doesn’t involve Reed-Sternberg cells, where Hodgkin lymphoma does.
Lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that protect the body from disease, either divide faster or live longer than normal cells in those who have developed Lymphoma cancer. These lymphocytes can develop in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, blood or other organs. There are at least 61 types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma according to the World Health Organization.
Symptoms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma:
- Swelling of the lymph nodes
- Fever
- Lack of energy
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
Treatment
There are a few different treatment options for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but often treatment often depends on the type and stage of the disease.
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Stem cell transplantation
- Novel targeted agents
- Newer versions of established agents
Who is at high risk?
Those who work with and are exposed to Roundup regularly, such as farmers, are at higher risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.