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Hairy Cell Leukemia Overview
A rare type of cancer known as hairy cell leukemia may be linked to exposure to Roundup herbicide, a popular weed killer used across the world in the growth of commercial crops and home gardens.
Hairy cell leukemia causes small white blood cells to grow spiky projections that make them appear to be growing hair when they are viewed under a microscope. These cells are often found in the bone marrow, blood, or spleen, and the condition is usually diagnosed upon discovering low blood cell counts or an enlarged spleen.
The cancer is slow growing, and treatment is often effective at managing the disease, however, the condition is chronic and will not completely go away even with medical intervention. Appropriate medical treatment may put the condition into remission for years, but may be ongoing in some cases.
Hair cell leukemia is more common in men than in women, and is most likely to affect adults in middle-age or older. It may also affect children, although it is uncommon.
Is Hairy Cell Leukemia a Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in the lymphocytes, or white blood cells, that are part of the body’s immune system. The lymphatic system helps to fight off infections and diseases, and helps to move fluids through the body. Lymph tissue is found in the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, adenoids, tonsils, and digestive tract. Lymphoma may begin in any of these places, and once the condition progresses, the cancer may also affect other organs.
There are two main types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). These two types affect different kinds of white blood cell lymphocytes. The first and more common kind is B-cell lymphoma. This type of cancer affects B cells, which protect the body from germs, bacteria, and viruses by creating antibodies to resist and destroy them. The other type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is T-cell lymphoma. These cells destroy germs and other abnormal cells throughout the body, and help to speed up or slow down the activity of other cells in the immune system.
Hairy cell leukemia is a type of B-cell lymphoma. This cancer generally affects small B-cell lymphocytes in the bone marrow, spleen, and blood. Approximately one percent of all adult leukemia cases are hairy cell leukemia. It affects approximately 6,000 people in the U.S., with 600-800 new cases diagnosed each year.
What Are Some Hairy Cell Leukemia Symptoms?
Symptoms of hairy cell leukemia may be nonspecific, and some patients may not experience any noticeable symptoms. Common symptoms of the condition may include weakness, fatigue, malaise or a general feeling of being unwell, weight loss, and fever. Other hairy cell leukemia symptoms may include abdominal pain due to an enlarged spleen, or susceptibility to bruising and infections due to an enlarged liver.
What Causes Hairy Cell Leukemia?
It is unknown what exactly may cause hairy cell leukemia or other types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. These cancers may be caused by an already weakened immune system, or they may occur when your body begins producing too many abnormal white blood cells. Risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing the condition may include immune-suppressing medications, infections including HIV or Epstein-Barr, old age, or exposure to chemicals including pesticides.
How Is Hairy Cell Leukemia Linked to Roundup Herbicide?
Roundup herbicide is a popular type of weed killer that is used by commercial crop growers and home gardeners across the world. The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate, a chemical that kills weeds and other undesirable plants by inhibiting their enzymes. It was created in the 1970s, and is the most widely used weed killer in the world.
Roundup can be sprayed directly onto crops and weeds. Although commercial users of Roundup may wear protective gear while using the chemical, many home gardeners, landscapers, farmers, or parks and recreation workers may be unaware of the potential dangers of glyphosate. The chemical may be dangerous to human health if ingested, or if it gets into the eyes or onto the skin. As the chemical is often sprayed onto plants in a liquid form, it may be easy for the herbicide to be accidentally swallowed or inhaled.
Studies have linked Roundup and glyphosate exposure with an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Often, this exposure needs to take place over several years or decades before the slow-growing cancer develops. Unfortunately, many people who have developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from exposure to Roundup have not had their condition diagnosed until the condition was in its later stages, and could not be treated.
Hairy Cell Lymphoma Legal Issues and Lawsuits
Bayer, the owner of Roundup, has recently agreed to pay more than $10 billion in order to settle thousands of claims from consumers who believe the herbicide resulted in their development of cancer. Several plaintiffs in previous Roundup lawsuits have been awarded millions of dollars to compensate them for their medical expenses and pain and suffering. In one case from 2019, a couple in their 70s who claimed that they had both developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup for approximately 30 years was initially awarded $2 billion in punitive damages against Bayer, as well as $55 million for medical expenses and pain and suffering. Although this award was later reduced to $86 million, it was still a substantial win for victims who claim that Bayer’s product is dangerous to human health.
In another case from 2018, a groundskeeper who claimed that part of his job duties included mixing and spraying hundreds of gallons of Roundup, was awarded $289 million by a court who agreed that the chemical likely caused his cancer. His award was also reduced, from $289 million to $39 million.
The most recent $10 billion settlement allows Bayer to resolve the claims pending against the company without admitting any guilt or wrongdoing. Bayer has continued to claim that Roundup is safe, and does not cause cancer.
