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Possible cause and what to do next

Hi all, hope everyone is doing ok,

I read an article today from a reporter from my local paper. The reporter has leukaemia ( I do not know what type )and writes articles on her progress etc. She wrote in this particular piece that she had asked her consultant what may have caused it, and she was asked if she had ever worked in the soft drinks industry, ( she hadn't ) the reason being that there is evidence that Benzene , found in low levels in many soft drinks was known to cause Leukaemia.
Benzene is formed when the preservative Sodium Benzoate is mixed with Vitamin C. The reason I know this is because I worked in the Soft Drinks industry for eight years, and was around at times when these were being mixed. Having looked on-line at a few articles , the company I worked for is mentioned almost every time giving quotes on how their drinks were perfectly safe etc. I was diagnosed in June 2005 after being with the company for 7 years. I was made redundant in November last year.
I am very seriously considering seeking legal advice about this, does anyone have any thoughts ?

Craig

Dear Craig,
I'm sure we all wonder why we've got CML, I'm sure I've got it because I've got a field straight in front of my house & the farmer treats it with pesticides etc. a couple of times a year, he wears a mask while treating his field, I get a house full of chemicals, but I don't think I'd be able to prove this if I decided to take legal action. It's the same for you & others who've been exposed to potentially dangerous products. Why is it just you with CML & not all your workmates? Imagine if it was as simple as that a much larger number of people who worked with such products or who lived in the countryside would develop leukaemia. I know we need to be able to blame someone, but I honestly think that you'd be wasting a lot of time & energy trying to prove that Benzene in your workplace was the cause.
I hope my reply hasn't offended you,
Barbara

"I know we need to be able to blame someone, but I honestly think that you'd be wasting a lot of time & energy trying to prove that Benzene in your workplace was the cause."

Barbs, that isn't necessarily true. Craig would have to prove that he was subject to dangerous levels of Benzine, or that enough care was taken to protect him from it. I don't know if that's the case and possibly he doesn't.

If you're really bothered by it Craig, then take some legal advice. Some solicitors will give you guidance for free. In my case I took legal advice via a trade union and that was free.

Thanks for your comments guys, I think I was looking at it with my ' revenge' glasses on as this company made me redundant at the end of last year after 9 years employment and it is still very raw with me. However I am currently taking my case to an Industrial tribunal as I feel I was unfairly treated due to me having CML, having read your comments and thinking about it, I tend to agree with you both. Anyway, I have had good new on the PCR front, my last 3 results 0.05 then up a bit to 0.35 , my latest back down to 0.03

Craig A