Angiosarcoma: Rare But Deadly Liver Cancer Caused by PVC Exposure

Angiosarcoma is a rare but deadly form of cancer that can affect the blood vessels of the liver. Workers and others who have been exposed for long periods of time to the toxic plastic substance Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) may be at a much higher risk of developing angiosarcoma. Because the symptoms of angiosarcoma can closely mirror those of other, less-serious conditions, the cancer may progress undiagnosed for years. Many patients receive a correct angiosarcoma diagnosis when the cancer has already reached an advanced state and treatment options are limited.

Types of Angiosarcoma

Angiosarcoma can target blood vessels in soft tissues virtually anywhere in the body, but the disease most commonly begins in the following bodily organs and tissue:

  • Liver
  • Skin of the head, face, neck, arms and back
  • Breast
  • Bone
  • Heart

Angiosarcoma Causes

A leading known cause of angiosarcoma is exposure to PVC, a toxic chemical that has been widely used for decades in countless consumer products and plastic building materials. Most angiosarcoma victims are exposed to Polyvinyl Chloride at work after inhaling chemical fumes or particles. Factory workers, automobile repair technicians, and construction workers are the most at risk. In most cases, workers must be exposed to Polyvinyl Chloride for many years before they develop angiosarcoma or another condition associated with exposure to the chemical.

While angiosarcoma is a relatively rare form of cancer – affecting only three out of every one million Americans each year – workers who have been exposed to Polyvinyl Chloride develop the disease at the greatly increased rate of about 2.5 cases per 1,000 cases each year.

Angiosarcoma can also be found in patients who have had certain conditions or who underwent particular medical treatments, including but not limited to:

  • Radical mastectomy surgery
  • Radiation treatment, particularly for gynecological problems and abdominal wall masses
  • Edema (swelling), especially in the arms and legs

What is PVC?

Polyvinyl Chloride is one of the most commonly used plastic products in the world. It is widely used in the construction industry as a building material and has also been used in the manufacturing of vinyl siding, magnetic stripe cards, window trim, vinyl music albums, hoses, tubing, plumbing fixtures, and countless other household products. Many hairsprays and other beauty products have also used PVC in the accelerant for spray bottles.

Legal Advice for Angiosarcoma Patients

If you or someone you love has developed angiosarcoma after being exposed to toxic PVC, you may have legal rights. You and your family may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact Mark & Associates, P.C., today for a free consultation and evaluation of your case. Call 1-866-50-RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448) or fill out the form at the right.

Other News

  • Avandia to be removed from Pharmacies

    Avandia the widely prescribed type 2 diabetes drug has been linked to increased cardiovascular risks and the debate has carried on for nearly four years about whether or not the drug should be taken off the market, according to a recent WebMD news report. The FDA issued a safety alert about a possible association between Avandia and increased cardiovascular risks back in 2007. Starting November 2011, the type 2 diabetes drugs Avandia, Avandamet, and Avandaryl will no longer be available [...]

    Read more →

  • Metal Hip Manufactures Asked to Provide Patient Data

    Not too long ago, DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, recalled two popular hip replacements systems the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR XL Acetabular System. Depuy said the products were recalled because a high percentage of patients required revision surgery after experiencing pain. Depuy said that it sold 93,000 of these systems before they decided to stop selling them last year. Additionally, dozens of other patients who have had other hip replacements from other manufacturers, such [...]

    Read more →

  • Jury Orders Allergan to Pay $212 Million in Botox Case

    A Virginia man who claimed that injections of the wrinkle-diminishing Botox left him with brain damage has been awarded $212 million by manufacturer Allergan Inc. Douglas Ray Jr. said he was receiving the injections to relieve a hand tremor and writer’s cramp, a report in the Richmond-Times Dispatch said. Ray said that that Allergan failed to warn him that injections could trigger an autoimmune response leading to brain damage. Botox is a purified form of the poison botulinum and is [...]

    Read more →

  • Drug Manufacturers to Discontinue Infant Drops of Key Medicine

    According to a recently released Associated Press news report, Johnson & Johnson and other drug makers of cold and fever medications said that they will discontinue infant drops of medicines containing acetaminophen in an effort to avoid confusion that can lead to dangerous overdoses. The industry association for over-the-counter medicine companies said its members will begin phasing out the liquid drops later this year. After the transition is complete, companies will only sell a single formula for all children under [...]

    Read more →

  • Bisphosphonates Linked to Bone Fractures: Study

    Findings from a new Swedish study reveal that osteoporosis drugs known as bisphosphonates increase the risk of getting unusual thigh bone fractures, as experts have suspected, according to a recent WebMD news article. But these fractures are infrequent and the risk is small the study shows. When correctly prescribed, the overall benefit of the drugs preventing all types of fractures outweighs the risk of getting the unusual fractures, says study researcher Per Aspenberg, MD, PhD, a professor of orthopaedic surgery [...]

    Read more →

  • Babies Heart Defect linked to Crude Oil Chemical Exposure

    According to an April 30, 2001, AFP news report, babies exposed before birth to ethyl benzene, a toxic component in crude oil, may have a higher risk of developing congenital heart disease, US researchers announced. Another chemical used as an industrial metal degreasing agent, trichloroethylene (TCE), also boosted heart risks, said the research to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Denver, Colorado. Congenital heart disease occurs when the heart is malformed before birth, and is the [...]

    Read more →

  • Toyota Announces New Floor Mat Interference Recall

    Once again, Toyota owners are being affected by a new recall due to floor mat interference. Presently, Toyota Motor Corp. is facing hundreds of lawsuits in the United States form vehicle owners or families who suffered personal injuries, wrongful deaths, or suffered financial losses, as a result of sticky gas pedals and floor mat interference, which may causes sudden unexpected acceleration. Since the end of 2009, Toyota has recalled nearly 4 million vehicles in the United States due to sticky [...]

    Read more →

  • Lawsuit over Seat Belts Can Proceed

    According to a recent Reuters news report, The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal regulations setting vehicle safety standards do not bar lawsuits seeking damages from automakers for installing lap-only seat belts. The unanimous ruling held that a California lawsuit against Mazda Motor Corp over a fatal 2002 collision involving a 1993 Mazda minivan can proceed. A passenger sitting in a rear seat and wearing a lap-only seat belt was killed. The lawsuit by the family of the passenger claimed [...]

    Read more →