The consistent use of hair-relaxing products has been pointed to as a cause of the increase in uterine cancer cases over the past couple of years. These hair relaxers are used to straighten hair, but they contain toxic endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can lead to hormone imbalance and uterine cancer. Researchers published their findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, establishing a connection between those that used hair relaxers four times a year and increased uterine cancer risk.
If you used hair relaxers and were diagnosed with uterine cancer, you could file a product liability lawsuit to pursue compensation for damage, such as medical bills, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering. A product liability lawyer can help you assess your damages, determine liability, and collect evidence to prove your case.
At The Russo Firm, our product liability lawyers have experience helping victims of hair relaxer uterine cancer and can apply that experience to your claim to help you recover fair compensation.
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Hair Relaxers Cause Uterine Cancer
Product liability lawsuits have been filed due to hair relaxers causing uterine cancer and other forms of cancer. Uterine cancer is cancer of the uterus and can cause symptoms such as thin white or clear vaginal discharge, abdominal pain, and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Over the past couple of years, cases of uterine cancer have increased. Early reports from 2022 predicted that the year would see 65,950 new cases and 12,550 deaths.
One reason for the increased rates of uterine cancer in women is the regular use of chemical hair straighteners. These hair products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as diethanolamine, cyclosiloxanes, and formaldehyde, that can cause hormone imbalance and result in uterine cancer. Women who use hair relaxers at least four times a year can expose themselves to these toxic chemicals through scalp absorption.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute Finds Connection Between Hair Relaxer Use and Uterine Cancer
A recent study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JCMI) sought to find a connection between the use of hair relaxers and developing uterine cancer. The study examined data collected from the Sister Study, an effort spearheaded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, to determine if there is a causal relationship between hair relaxer use and uterine cancer.
The study involved collecting information about the lifestyle, hair product use, and health history of around 50,000 cancer-free women ages 35 to 74 who have a sister with breast cancer. The JCMI used the data collected over a decade in this study to identify patterns that could explain the rise in uterine cancer rates.
Learn More: Common Cancers Caused by Hair Relaxers
How Were Participants Assessed for Hair Relaxer Uterine Cancer?
The Sister Study began with the participants answering a questionnaire that established a baseline for their physical profile, health situation, and lifestyle. They were asked about their use of hair products, including dyes, straighteners, highlights, relaxers, etc. From then on, the participants would answer new questionnaires every year, so the researchers could glean how lifestyle factors lead to developing hormone-based cancer.
The following are some of the factors the researchers tracked over the course of the study:
- Height
- Body mass index
- Race and ethnicity
- Age
- Smoking and drinking history
- Physical activity
- Education
- Use of hair products
378 Cases of Uterine Cancer Found in the Study
Over the course of about eleven years, there were 378 confirmed cases of uterine cancer in the Sister Study. These cases were confirmed through self-reports, death certificates, and medical records.
Using the information gleaned from the Sister Study, the JCMI conducted its own study establishing a connection between the use of hair relaxers and uterine cancer. They found that women who used hair-relaxing products regularly, which they identified as at least four times a year, were more likely to suffer from uterine cancer than those that did not.
The JCMI study concluded that hair relaxer users were more than twice a likely to develop uterine cancer at some point in their life. The data from the Sister Study showed that about 1.64% of women develop uterine cancer at some point in their life. However, regular users of hair relaxers had a 4.80% chance of developing uterine cancer.
Black Women at a Higher Risk of Uterine Cancer from Hair Relaxer Use
Racial factors were not considered when this study was conducted. However, it was found that black women were at a greater risk of suffering uterine cancer than women of other races. This is because black women used hair relaxers regularly more often and at an earlier age than women of other races.
Societal factors, such as eurocentric beauty standards, can explain the more prevalent use of hair relaxers for black women. The use of hair relaxers by black women from a young age can lead to exposure to toxic endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which can cause uterine cancer and lead to significant damages.
Pursuing Compensation for Uterine Cancer Caused by Hair Relaxers
Uterine cancer caused by hair relaxers can cause damages you may not be able to afford out of pocket, including medical bills, lost wages, and loss of consortium. A product liability lawyer can help you pursue compensation for damages by assisting you in negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company or filing a product liability lawsuit.
Hiring a product liability lawyer can help relieve the stress of the claims process, allowing you to recover from uterine cancer while they secure you fair compensation. A product liability lawyer can assess your current and future damages, determine the liable party, and negotiate a settlement with an insurance company.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Hair Relaxer Uterine Cancer Claim
After a uterine cancer diagnosis from hair relaxer use, the last thing you should have to worry about is handling the product liability claims process alone. The experienced product liability attorneys at The Russo Firm have handled these types of claims in the past and can use that experience to put you in the best position to recover compensation for the full cost of your damages. We offer personalized legal counsel to hair relaxer uterine cancer victims, shaping our legal counsel plan around the specifics of their case to give them the best chance at recovering fair compensation.
The Russo Firm offers free consultations to give hair relaxer uterine cancer victims a rundown of how we can help them pursue fair compensation for their damages. Contact us at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
