Roundup Cancer FAQ

Roundup has been most recently linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes. In 2019, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 2018 data from the Agricultural Health Study that showed a compelling link between Roundup exposure and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Another meta-analysis showed that workers were 41% more likely to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after Roundup exposure. This information was released after decades of regulatory bodies and Monsanto-funded studies insisting that Roundup was safe.

In a previous Roundup case, a couple sued Monsanto for causing them to develop an aggressive lymphoma. They claimed that years of using Roundup led to their illness. An expert witness, Dr. Weisenberger, testified that “it’s not a hard call” to say that Roundup likely contributed to their cancer. He eventually said that using Roundup more than two days a year doubles the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

He added that it’s not the number of years of use that matter, but the number of days. The intensity of spraying contributes more to cancer than how long someone uses it. In other words, if you ever sprayed Roundup for an extended period for one or two sessions, there’s chance your cancer was caused by Roundup exposure. The couple in this Roundup case didn’t wear protective equipment because they were told Roundup was safe for humans.

Roundup cancer, or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is a cancer of the lymph nodes, which produce white blood cells. Your lymph nodes are located in your neck under your jaw, your armpits, your groin, and under your chin. Swollen lymph nodes are a common sign of an active infection, but may also signal that you are overproducing lymphocytes.

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Swollen belly
• Chest pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Fatigue

The primary ingredient in Roundup (and other broad-spectrum herbicides) is glyphosate. Glyphosate was discovered by John Franz in 1970 while working for Monsanto, and it was first sold as a herbicide in 1974. Monsanto’s patent on glyphosate expired in 2000, resulting in numerous imitation products entering the market; one study found that glyphosate usage increased 100x over a 46-year period. Roundup continues to be the most widely used of the glyphosate-based weed killers.

Glyphosate was first linked to cancer in 1985, when a study on glyphosate in mice resulted in tumors. The EPA initially labeled glyphosate as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” but later changed it to “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.” However, it wasn’t until 2019 that a meta-analysis of data from the Agricultural Health Study and 5 case-control studies showed a link between glyphosate exposure and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.