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MDL 2873 · District of South Carolina · 23,000+ cases

Diagnosed with cancer after exposure to AFFF firefighting foam?

AFFF firefighting foam contains PFAS 'forever chemicals' linked to kidney, testicular, and other cancers. Personal-injury cases against 3M, DuPont, and others are consolidated as MDL 2873. We never sell your information.

4 other settlements closing in next 7 days site-wide
◆ the case ◆
23,000+ AFFF lawsuits filed, with 15,000+ pending in the federal MDL (2873)
PFAS 'forever chemicals' in the foam that accumulate in the body
$10B+ already paid by manufacturers to settle public-water PFAS claims (separate track)
Kidney & testicular the cancers most consistently accepted in AFFF personal-injury intake

Why this is real and why it matters now

For decades, firefighters trained and worked with aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), unaware it was loaded with PFAS, synthetic 'forever chemicals' that build up in the body and are linked to several cancers. The federal personal-injury cases are consolidated as MDL 2873 before Judge Richard Gergel in the District of South Carolina. Manufacturers have already paid billions to settle water-contamination claims; the individual cancer cases are still being litigated.

The concern is PFAS. Aqueous film-forming foam was made with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that resist breaking down, accumulate in the body, and have been associated with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, and other conditions.

The people most exposed handled the foam repeatedly: municipal and volunteer firefighters, military firefighters, and airport and industrial fire crews who used it in training and response. The federal MDL 2873 is before Judge Richard Gergel in the District of South Carolina. Manufacturers including 3M and DuPont have paid billions to settle public-water contamination claims; the individual cancer cases are a separate track still being litigated.

What you might receive. AFFF personal-injury values are not yet set by a global settlement; they will depend heavily on cancer type, exposure history, and severity, and are estimated by the firm after records review.

The evidence

The documented basis for these claims:

How this case got here

  1. 1960s onward AFFF is adopted for firefighting training and response, especially by military and airport crews.
  2. 2018 The JPML consolidates federal AFFF cases into MDL 2873 before Judge Richard Gergel.
  3. 2023-2024 3M and DuPont/Chemours agree to multibillion-dollar public-water PFAS settlements (a separate track from personal injury).
  4. 2025-2026 Personal-injury cancer cases continue; filings grow past 23,000 as bellwether work proceeds.

Cancers and conditions linked to AFFF / PFAS

Kidney and testicular cancer are the most consistently accepted; several other conditions are evaluated case by case.

Kidney (renal) cancer

Primary

One of the cancers most strongly associated with PFAS exposure and most consistently accepted in AFFF personal-injury intake.

Testicular cancer

Primary

A core AFFF diagnosis, particularly among younger firefighters and service members with documented foam exposure.

Thyroid and other cancers/conditions

Secondary

Thyroid disease and several other cancers are claimed and evaluated case by case depending on exposure and diagnosis.

Who qualifies

You likely qualify if

  • You were regularly exposed to AFFF foam (firefighting, military, or airport/industrial work)
  • You were later diagnosed with kidney or testicular cancer (the most consistently accepted diagnoses)
  • Your exposure and diagnosis appear in service, employment, or medical records

Worth checking if

  • You had significant AFFF exposure and a thyroid or other PFAS-associated cancer
  • Your exposure was occupational but records are incomplete
  • A close relative was exposed, diagnosed, and has since passed (wrongful-death claims may apply)

You probably don't qualify if

  • You were never meaningfully exposed to AFFF foam
  • You have no qualifying diagnosis and no symptoms

Handled firefighting foam and later diagnosed with cancer?

The 60-second check above tells you if your situation fits the criteria. Free, confidential, no obligation.

Check my eligibility →

How filing an AFFF claim works

Four steps. After the first one, the attorney's team does almost everything.

  1. 1

    Take the 60-second eligibility check

    Three questions confirm the basics: foam exposure, diagnosis, and attorney status.

    About 60 seconds.
  2. 2

    Free case review by an AFFF attorney

    An attorney from the network reviews your answers and follows up to confirm your situation fits intake criteria.

    1 to 2 business days.
  3. 3

    Records gathered under HIPAA authorization

    If accepted, the intake team collects your service or employment history, pathology, and treatment records.

    3 to 6 weeks.
  4. 4

    Case filed in the litigation

    Once records are complete, your case is filed. Your attorney handles it through resolution. You can withdraw before signing a representation agreement.

    Filing within 30 days of records being complete.

Why timing matters for AFFF claims

Every state sets a filing deadline (statute of limitations). Once it passes for your situation, the right to file is gone permanently.

If you are unsure whether you are still within the window, run the check now. The attorney review is free and the deadline question is evaluated first.

About the attorneys you'd be connected with

claimscout is not a law firm. We connect you with attorneys from a vetted network of firms that handle AFFF (MDL 2873) personal-injury claims.

claimscout is a referral service. We do not provide legal advice and are not a substitute for an attorney-client relationship. Sponsored attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

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note from the founder.

You do not need to prove the chemistry on PFAS. The science and the water settlements already did. Your job is to confirm your foam exposure and your diagnosis.

Common questions

What is AFFF and why is it dangerous?

AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) is a firefighting foam made with PFAS 'forever chemicals.' PFAS resist breaking down, accumulate in the body, and have been linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and other conditions.

Who qualifies for an AFFF personal-injury claim?

Generally people with significant occupational AFFF exposure, most often firefighters (municipal, volunteer, or military) and airport or industrial fire crews, who were later diagnosed with a qualifying cancer such as kidney or testicular cancer.

Is this the same as the water contamination settlements?

No. The multibillion-dollar 3M and DuPont settlements resolved public-water contamination claims. The personal-injury cancer cases are a separate track still being litigated in MDL 2873, which is what this check is about.

Which cancers are accepted?

Kidney and testicular cancer are the most consistently accepted. Thyroid disease and several other cancers are evaluated case by case depending on exposure and diagnosis.

I was a firefighter but don't have exposure records. Is that a problem?

Usually not disqualifying. Service and employment history plus a sworn declaration about your foam use typically document exposure. The intake team helps gather it.

Do I need a lawyer first, or do you connect me?

We connect you. The check routes qualified cases to an AFFF-experienced attorney, and you can accept or decline.

What does this cost me?

Nothing. We get paid by the law firms or affiliate fees from the court-appointed administrator. You pay zero up front and zero out of any payout you receive.

Will lawyers spam-call me?

Only if you check the consent box. We give you the choice. If you do not consent, your claim is captured and we route it to the administrator directly without sharing your phone number.

Can I file directly without you?

Yes, always. If we route your claim to a law firm, you can choose to file directly with the same firm or pick a different one. We exist because most people throw the notice letter away. We make it not happen.

Is claimscout a law firm?

No. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. We are a platform that captures your claim, qualifies it, and routes it to the court-appointed administrator or a law firm of your choice.

See if you qualify for an AFFF claim →