Uterine Cancer Lawsuit
According to the Cleveland Clinic, uterine cancer affects approximately 3% of women in the United States. This occurrence rate is sufficient to make the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) list of the most common forms of cancer.
According to the NCI, authorities reported nearly 66,000 new cases of uterine cancer and 12,550 deaths in 2022.
While certain women may be genetically predisposed to having a greater risk of uterine cancer, some consumer products can also increase a woman’s risk. Patients whose doctors have diagnosed them with uterine cancer after using these products have begun filing uterine cancer lawsuits against product manufacturers.
Explanation of Uterine Cancer
Uterine cancer develops in and affects a woman’s uterus and comes in two varieties. Endometrial cancer is the more common form of uterine cancer and affects the lining of the uterus. Type I endometrial cancer will typically remain localized to the uterus, while Type II endometrial cancer is more likely to spread to areas outside the uterus.
The other form of uterine cancer is called uterine sarcoma, and it develops in the myometrium, the uterine muscle wall. Like Type II endometrial cancer, uterine sarcoma can grow and quickly metastasize if not promptly treated.
When you and your doctor detect uterine cancer early, there is a high survivability rate. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that as many as eight to nine out of every ten women who develop uterine cancer will survive at least five years beyond the diagnosis when the cancer gets detected early.
If the cancer gets left untreated until its later stages, the survivability rate drops to less than 20%.
Causes of Uterine Cancer
Numerous risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing uterine cancer in your lifetime. These risk factors include:
- Conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Radiation therapy to the pelvis and estrogen replacement therapy
- Genetic disorders like Lynch syndrome and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
- Personal factors, such as having your first period before 12 years of age, starting menopause after 50, or not getting pregnant
Recent research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that women who use chemical hair straightening products also face an increased risk of developing uterine cancer. Some of the chemicals that you might find in these products that can lead to uterine cancer include:
- Sodium hydroxide
- Benzophenone-3
- Diethanolamine
- Formaldehyde
- Parabens
- Triclosan
The Journal’s research found that women who used hair relaxers and hair straightening products at least four times per year had double the risk of developing uterine cancer as women who did not use these products.
Black women are some of the most frequent users of hair straightening products and hair relaxers as they are often integral to their hair care regimen. Unfortunately, Black women who use these products are at a greater risk of developing uterine cancer than those who do not use them.
Signs and Indications of Uterine Cancer
Early detection and treatment of uterine cancer are critical to ensuring the best survival rate possible. Although women of any age can develop uterine cancer, it is more common in postmenopausal women.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as possible:
- If you are premenopausal, unexplained vaginal bleeding between regular periods
- In postmenopausal women, thin vaginal discharge that appears white or clear
- Frequent or heavy vaginal bleeding if you are older than 40 years of age
- Abnormal pain or cramping in your lower abdomen or pelvic region
- Any vaginal spotting or bleeding if you are postmenopausal
Your doctor may perform a physical exam, take images, or conduct a biopsy on a sample of your endometrium (your uterus’s lining) to help make a proper diagnosis.
Receiving Compensation for a Uterine Cancer Diagnosis
It can be devastating to hear that you have uterine cancer. Remember, early treatment can significantly increase your chances of survival if you receive such a diagnosis.
A successful uterine cancer lawsuit can provide you with the financial compensation you need to cover out-of-pocket treatment costs and other expenses associated with receiving care.
You might be eligible to file a uterine cancer lawsuit if you used a chemical hair relaxer or hair straightener product and your doctor subsequently diagnosed you with uterine cancer.
A uterine cancer lawsuit alleges that the manufacturer of your hair relaxer or hair straightening product knew or should have known that the chemicals used in the product were dangerous. Your suit would also allege that the manufacturer failed to warn you of the dangerous risks that using its product posed to your health.
Recently, a woman in Missouri became the first plaintiff in the nation to file a uterine cancer lawsuit.
The plaintiff filed her suit against L’Oréal and several other defendants, alleging that the defendants’ hair relaxer products contained phthalates, a chemical linked to uterine cancer development. The woman’s doctor diagnosed her with endometrial cancer at age 28, and she had to undergo a complete hysterectomy.
Compassionate and Tenacious Legal Representation for You
If you suspect that you used a hair relaxer or hair straightener product with harmful ingredients and your doctor has diagnosed you with uterine cancer, the time to take action is now.
Companies that allow retail stores to sell their products to you or your loved ones without attaching proper warnings should not escape paying for the consequences of their choices.
The Joel Bieber Firm and its dedicated team of legal professionals stand ready to help you file and pursue a claim for damages. We will investigate your claim and vigorously represent your interests at every stage of litigation.
Contact The Joel Bieber Firm today to learn more and to enlist our services.