AFFF Testicular Cancer Lawsuit

This page examines AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits involving testicular cancer and their potential settlement value.

Aqueous film-forming foam (“AFFF”), commonly referred to as firefighting foam, has been used for a long time to extinguish fires fueled by gasoline and other chemicals. Firefighting foam contains high concentrations of PFAS, and new scientific evidence has linked PFAS exposure to certain cancer types.

Testicular cancer is one of the diseases that has been scientifically linked to occupational exposure to AFFF firefighting foam. Our lawyers like these cases. We think the link between testicular cancer and firefighting foam is overwhelming. Our attorneys also think these lawsuits have a strong chance of settling in 2025. If the defendants are going to target types of claims to settle, testicular cancer cases would be an excellent place to start.

If you have a claim, contact our AFFF lawyers today to get your case started. Call 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.

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More AFFF Lawsuit News & Updates

May 8, 2025: Bundling Cases Together for Trial

In a motion filed today, plaintiffs in five AFFF personal injury lawsuits heading for trial requested that the federal court overseeing the PFAS MDL consolidate their cases into a single bellwether trial.  Of the five, there are two testicular cancer lawsuits and three involving kidney cancer.

In the alternative, they propose grouping the testicular cancer cases for one trial and the kidney cancer cases for another. The plaintiffs assert that consolidation is appropriate under Rule 42 because each case arises from the same set of facts: long-term exposure to PFAS-contaminated drinking water in a specific Pennsylvania community. The cases involve the same AFFF products, the same group of defendants, are governed by the same state law, and rely on the same expert witnesses and scientific evidence. It is hard to imagine a more tailor-made case for consolidation.

This motion is rooted in principles of judicial efficiency and fairness. Rather than presenting identical testimony, documents, and scientific arguments in five separate trials, a consolidated trial would streamline the process for the court, the parties, and the witnesses. Courts are not tasked with evaluating whether consolidation benefits one party more than the other. Instead, they consider whether a joint trial would reduce duplication, save time, and promote consistent adjudication. In this instance, the shared legal and factual framework weighs heavily in favor of consolidation. Any potential for jury confusion can be addressed through clear instructions, special verdict forms, and other well-established procedural safeguards.  That part is not hard.

For individuals with testicular cancer linked to PFAS exposure, consolidation offers a significant opportunity. Presenting multiple, factually similar cases together can help jurors recognize broader patterns of harm and reinforce the causal link between exposure and disease. This approach shifts the focus away from the personal medical histories of individual plaintiffs and instead highlights the defendants’ conduct and the systemic nature of the contamination. Doing so strengthens the plaintiffs’ ability to establish liability and supports the overarching goals of the bellwether process in mass tort litigation.

February 5, 2025: More Suits Filed

After a brief slowdown in late 2023, the number of new cases in the AFFF firefighting foam MDL is rising once again. In October and November, the total number of pending cases actually decreased as water contamination claims that reached settlements were dismissed. But that trend quickly reversed.

In December, 270 new cases were added to the MDL, signaling a resurgence in filings. That momentum only grew in January, when 459 new cases were filed, pushing the total number of pending AFFF lawsuits to 8,092.

So why are more lawsuits being filed now? One likely reason is growing speculation about a potential global settlement. As AFFF settlement rumors swirl, many plaintiffs’ lawyers are racing to get claims filed before any deal is finalized. History has shown that once a mass tort settlement is reached, it often includes deadlines that cut off the ability to participate in payouts.

February 1, 2025: New AFFF Lawsuit From Flagstaff, Arizona 

In a new 2025 AFFF lawsuit, a firefighter from Flagstaff, Arizona, and his wife have alleged injuries stemming from decades of exposure to PFAS-containing firefighting foams (AFFFs). The plaintiff, who began his firefighting career in 2002 with the Flagstaff Fire Department, routinely used these foams during training and emergency operations. He recalls extensive skin contact with the foam during drills and equipment maintenance, often unaware of the health risks. The plaintiff alleges that manufacturers and distributors failed to warn about the carcinogenic risks associated with PFAS.

The lawsuit highlights the plaintiff’s medical history, including an initial diagnosis of testicular cancer at age 21 before his firefighting career. After more than a decade of exposure to AFFFs, he was diagnosed with the disease again, requiring surgery and chemotherapy. The recurrence was described by his doctor as extremely rare in a nonsmoker with no additional risk factors.

The claims include design defect, failure to warn, and negligence, asserting that the defendants knowingly sold a dangerous product without proper safeguards or warnings. The plaintiffs seek damages for personal injuries, medical expenses, and loss of consortium.

January 3, 2025: MDL Adds 270 New Cases

From August to November last year, the AFFF firefighting foam MDL was shedding cases. This was primarily due to the dismissal of municipal water contamination cases that were resolved in the global settlement deal that was reached in 2023. In December, however, this trend reversed as the MDLreported  270 new cases. There are now 7,633 pending cases in the multidistrict litigation.

December 2, 2024: AFFF MDL Shrinks Considerably 

The number of cases pending in the AFFF firefighting foam MDL continues to shrink as municipal water contamination cases covered by last year’s settlement get voluntarily dismissed. Between August and November, the MDL shed nearly 3,000 pending cases.

November 22, 2024: Military Faces Growing Scrutiny Over Role In PFAS Contamination

A large portion of our clients with testicular cancer were in the military.  The military is facing growing scrutiny over its role in PFAS contamination. Recent reports reveal that about 80% of its bases are known or suspected to have elevated PFAS levels in soil and water. These “forever chemicals,” linked to testicular cancer and other serious health issues, have seeped into surrounding communities, raising questions about accountability and the pace of cleanup efforts. We need a solution.

A Department of Defense policy memo from September prioritizes cleanup only at sites with contamination three times the EPA’s new limits, covering just 7% of affected bases. Critics argue that this approach, combined with inadequate funding and the lack of a clear timeline, leaves many communities without relief. Environmental groups like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have labeled the military’s efforts as insufficient, pointing out that PFAS pollution doesn’t stop at base boundaries.

While the DoD acknowledges the problem and has begun switching to PFAS-free firefighting foam, accidents involving legacy foam continue, highlighting the risks of further contamination. Some states have taken legal action against the military, demanding compensation for groundwater cleanup and faster remediation.

November 1, 2024: AFFF MFL Drops Over 2,000 Pending Cases

The AFFF firefighting foam class action MDL dropped over 2,000 pending cases during the month of October. This decrease is the result of water contamination cases getting dismissed a year after the global settlement from last year.

October 7, 2024: Illinois Cancer Center Demonstrates Link Between PFAS Exposure And Testicular Germ Cell Tumors 

A study published in April 2024 by researchers from the University of Illinois Cancer Center demonstrated a link between PFAS exposure and the growth of testicular germ cell tumors. PFAS, found in products like non-stick cookware, food packaging, and firefighting foams, are persistent in the environment and the human body. The study revealed that certain PFAS chemicals, such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), increased tumor growth in mice. Additionally, changes in gene expression associated with epigenetic markers were observed, suggesting that PFAS may influence tumor development through epigenetic modifications.

September 1, 2024: New Evidence Confirms Military Facilities’ Use Of AFFF Caused Significant Pollution Of Local Water Supplies 

New evidence has emerged confirming that the use of AFFF firefighting foam at military facilities over the last few decades has caused significant pollution of local water supplies. The study focused on an area in Washington state near an Air Force base where AFFF was widely used in training exercises. A research team from the University of Arizona performed blood testing on people who had lived in the area for many years and found that they displayed abnormally high levels of PFAS in the bloodstream.

August 2, 2024: Over 9,000 Cases Pending In AFFF MDL 

There are currently a total of 9,198 lawsuits pending in the AFFF firefighting foam class action MDL. That is actually a decrease of over 300 cases compared to the previous month. This decrease is most likely the result of dismissals of water contamination cases following finalized settlements.

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Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer originates in the testicles (or testes), the male reproductive glands within the scrotum. These glands produce sperm and male sex hormones.

Testicular cancer is relatively rare compared to other types of cancer. However, it stands as the most common cancer among males aged 15 to 35 in many Western countries. Despite its incidence in this age group, it boasts a high cure rate, especially if detected early.

Primary factors that may increase the risk of testicular cancer include having an undescended testicle (cryptorchidism), a family history of the disease, and age—particularly those between 15 and 35. Additionally, white men seem to be at a higher risk compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

Fortunately, testicular cancer ranks among the most treatable cancer forms. Its early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes. Even in cases where the cancer has metastasized or spread, effective treatments are available.

Testicular cancer treatments vary depending on the type and stage of cancer. Surgery to remove the affected testicle is a primary treatment for nearly all stages. Radiation therapy, which utilizes high-powered energy beams, may be employed in certain instances. Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to target cancer cells, is another option. After the primary treatment, surveillance in the form of regular check-ups ensures the cancer doesn’t make a comeback.

AFFF

Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) is a type of firefighting foam primarily used for extinguishing fuel fires, particularly in military, aviation, and industrial settings. AFFF effectively suppresses flammable liquid fires by forming a thin, water-based layer that cools the fire and prevents its contact with oxygen.

A primary concern with AFFF is its historical contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of synthetic chemicals. PFAS are used in many industrial applications due to their resistance to water, grease, and stains. These persistent chemicals don’t break down easily in the environment or the human body. As a result, they’ve become prevalent contaminants in water systems, especially near areas where AFFF has been extensively used, like military bases and airports.

Scientists are still trying to fully understand how PFAS chemicals affect the human body. Most of what we know about PFAS toxicity comes from animal studies, especially in rodents. In those studies, PFAS has been shown to affect genes that control processes such as how the body metabolizes fat and fights infections. These changes too often lead to problems with the liver, immune system, and development. But humans react differently from rodents, so the results do not always apply directly to us.

Even though the exact way PFAS harms humans is not completely clear, research has linked PFAS exposure to several health problems. These include lower fertility, liver issues, weaker immune responses to vaccines, and higher cholesterol. Most important for many people, PFAS exposure—especially over a long time—has been linked to certain cancers. Among those, testicular cancer and kidney cancer have the strongest scientific support. Some studies also suggest possible links to prostate, bladder, and ovarian cancer, but the evidence is not as strong as it is for testicular cancer, which is why our lawyers think they will have the higher settlement amounts in this litigation.

AFFF and Testicular Cancer

The scientific community increasingly accepts that PFAS chemicals have the potential to cause cancer. Expert medical testimony has, for example, pointed directly to exposure to C-8, a specific type of PFAS, as the cause of a man’s testicular cancer. The court found that testimony credible and allowed it to be used in a negligence case, further supporting the growing consensus that PFAS can cause serious harm. In fact, a federal appeals court acknowledged that testicular cancer is one of the cancers most strongly linked to PFAS exposure, based on detailed findings from a panel of epidemiologists.

Powerful 2023 Study

In a recent study released in Environmental Health Perspectives in July 2023, researchers identified a clear correlation between exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)—a variant of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)—and the incidence of testicular cancer among military members.

This research, a collaborative effort between the National Cancer Institute and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, analyzed data from over 1,000 Air Force members. The team picked 530 servicemen with testicular cancer and 530 without it and checked blood samples from before they got sick. They found that high PFAS levels in the blood often came from jobs like firefighting or from being at a base where the water had lots of PFAS.

Moreover, the risk of developing testicular cancer seemed to intensify, as you would expect, based on the duration of exposure, indicating the cumulative effects of this substance over extended periods.

Why Are Firefighters at Higher Risk for Testicular Cancer?

Firefighters face a significantly higher risk of developing certain types of cancer—particularly testicular cancer—because of long-term exposure to toxic chemicals in firefighting foam. This is not speculation. Multiple studies have found elevated rates of testicular cancer in firefighters, and many of those studies specifically point to PFAS chemicals as a likely cause.

AFFF firefighting foam, used for decades in training and real-life fires, contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These “forever chemicals”, such an appropriate name for them, do not break down easily in the environment or the body. For firefighters who repeatedly handled this foam, often without any warning about potential health risks, the result is decades of cumulative exposure to known carcinogens.

The link between PFAS and testicular cancer has become one of the most compelling arguments in support of holding AFFF manufacturers accountable.  We think they will have the highest settlement amounts in the MDL. Firefighters who developed testicular cancer after using this foam have some of the strongest claims in the ongoing litigation. The testicular cancer lawsuits we are seeing now are not limited to structural firefighters. Airport personnel, industrial workers, and military firefighters have also brought forward PFAS testicular cancer claims.

If you are a firefighter who has been diagnosed with testicular cancer, you may qualify to file a testicular cancer lawsuit against the manufacturers of AFFF. These claims are already consolidated in federal court and could be headed for a major settlement in the near future. The sooner you act, the more likely you are to be included in any eventual compensation payout.

AFFF Testicular Cancer Lawsuits

The scientific evidence linking AFFF firefighting foam exposure to testicular cancer is very strong. In fact, the recent study on testicular cancer and PFAS makes the causation evidence for testicular cancer one of the strongest of all the cancer types linked to AFFF. Anyone who was regularly exposed to AFFF firefighting foam either on the job or elsewhere and subsequently developed testicular cancer may be eligible to file an AFFF lawsuit and get compensation from the companies that manufactured firefighting foam.

Thousands of AFFF firefighting foam cancer lawsuits have already been filed across the country and are being consolidated into a class action multidistrict litigation (MDL) in federal court in South Carolina.

The AFFF MDL also included cases alleging that AFFF contaminated municipal water supplies. Those water contamination cases were settled in August 2023, leaving many to believe that a global settlement of the individual cancer cases could be coming soon.

Settlement Value of AFFF Testicular Cancer Cases

So, how much could an AFFF firefighting foam testicular cancer lawsuit be worth in settlement? The AFFF cancer cases will most likely be resolved in a mass tort global settlement. In these types of settlements, the defendants agree to contribute large sums of money into a settlement fund from which individual claimants receive settlement payouts based on specific criteria. The amount of compensation is usually based on a tiered ranking system in which individual cases are ranked based on certain factors (strength of case, severity of injuries, etc.). Those cases in the highest settlement tiers qualify for more compensation, while those in the lower tiers get less.

In the AFFF lawsuits, the top settlement tier will probably be for plaintiffs with long-term occupational exposure to AFFF and a diagnosis with one of the more dangerous cancer types that have been linked to AFFF. AFFF plaintiffs in lower settlement tiers would include people with less occupational exposure or a diagnosis of less severe types of cancer.

AFFF testicular cancer cases will be in one of the middle or lower settlement tiers and could have an average payout value between $75,000 to $325,000. Although the causation evidence linking testicular cancer is very strong, testicular cancer is very treatable and has a high survival rate. The 5-year survival rate for testicular cancer is 96%. That is much higher than some of the other types of cancer linked to AFFF, such as kidney cancer. The good overall prognosis for testicular cancer means that these cases will have a lower average settlement value.

Testicular Cancer Verdicts & Settlements

Below are examples of verdicts and settlements in which testicular cancer was the primary injury. Our lawyers include this because it shows how juries have valued testicular cancer lawsuits in other contexts. It is one piece of many in trying to calculate compensation payouts in these lawsuits.

• $950,000 Settlement (California): A male patient presented to his primary care doctor with signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, but the doctor failed to diagnose the cancer until it had already advanced to stage 4 and spread. The wrongful death lawsuit alleged that the doctor was negligent for failing to diagnose and treat the testicular cancer earlier.
• $12,500,000 Verdict (Ohio): The plaintiff, an adult male, reportedly developed testicular cancer as a result of drinking water being contaminated by the release of ammonium perfluorooctanoate (C-8) from defendant E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company’s Washington Works Plant located in West Virginia. The plaintiff contended that C-8 is a proven toxic and hazardous chemical used in the production of Teflon, which the defendant allowed to be released into waters used for human consumption.
• $600,000 Settlement (Ohio): A 32-year-old man sought medical attention for a painful lump in his testicle. He was diagnosed with epididymitis and given antibiotics. A subsequent ultrasound confirmed testicular cancer, but the results were not communicated to the patient for nearly six months. By the time he began treatment, the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and abdomen.
• $5,600,000 Verdict (Ohio): The plaintiff alleged that his testicular cancer was caused by drinking water contaminated with C-8, a toxic chemical released by a nearby manufacturing plant. The jury awarded damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and future care needs, as well as $500,000 in punitive damages for the defendant’s reckless environmental conduct.
• $375,400 Settlement (Pennsylvania): A 31-year-old man underwent a testicular ultrasound to check whether a lump in his testicle was cancer. The ultrasound confirmed that the lump was cancerous, but that was not communicated to the patient for six months, causing a delay in his treatment.

File an AFFF Firefighting Foam Testicular Cancer Lawsuit

Miller & Zois is accepting new AFFF firefighting foam cases involving testicular cancer. Contact our AFFF class action lawyers today to get your case started. Call 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.

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