Understanding Mesothelioma in Women: Causes and Risks
The diagnosis of Mesothelioma, a formidable adversary in the realm of cancer, has become increasingly prevalent among women. These diagnoses often stem from a variety of sources, including workplace exposure, second-hand exposure through contact with husbands' work attire, and interactions with household products containing asbestos. Medical research has yielded compelling evidence that women who grapple with Mesothelioma are notably more inclined to receive a diagnosis of Peritoneal Mesothelioma, a variant primarily affecting the abdomen.
Many women who diligently served in shipyards, oil refineries, power plants, steel mills, and factories during World War II now face the distressing reality of Mesothelioma diagnoses later in life. Furthermore, studies underscore a concerning trend in the rise of Mesothelioma and asbestos-related cases among women, illuminating the heightened risks posed by second-hand exposure to asbestos. As this issue gains prominence, it is crucial to explore the causes and risks that underscore Mesothelioma's emergence within the female population.
Women and Mesothelioma Facts
- Women exposed to asbestos are seven times more likely to die of Asbestos Lung Cancer than people in the general population.
- A 1997 study by Durham and Duke University Medical Centers identified a history of asbestos exposure in about 75% of the women who participated in the study
- The average woman has a 1 in 16 chance of developing Mesothelioma or an asbestos-related disease in their lifetime.
- Men are four times more likely to have a Mesothelioma diagnosis than women.
- Women with a history of asbestos exposure are seven times more likely to die of Asbestos Lung Cancer than women in the general population.
- 8-10% of all Mesothelioma diagnosed cases are in women with an average age of 60.
- Asbestos-related symptoms in women can occur 10-40 years after their initial asbestos exposure.
- Ovarian cancer in women is now directly linked to asbestos exposure.
- Mesothelioma cases in women are on the rise in studies linked to second-hand asbestos exposure from husband’s workplace exposure.
- Many women are diagnosed with Mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease as a result of second-hand asbestos exposure brought home by their parents, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, friends, and family.
Women and Second Hand Asbestos Exposure
- Asbestos contaminated water
- Asbestos contaminated products
- Asbestos contaminated soil
- Asbestos on parents work clothes
- Environmental asbestos exposure
- Using commercial dryers made with asbestos
- Using hairdryers made with asbestos
- Washing and laundering work clothes
Asbestos fibers when ingested or inhaled bypass the natural defenses of the body’s respiratory system and asbestos particles make their way into the lungs and other parts of the body including the abdomen, heart, colon, esophagus, larynx, kidneys chest cavity and pancreas.
If you or a family member has a malignant Mesothelioma or another asbestos-related cancer diagnosis, we will help you file an asbestos claim.
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