If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s normal to experience an array of emotions. Once you and your doctor have spoken about treatment options and your prognosis, you can focus on getting the care you need and spending time with your family. Unfortunately, treatment for mesothelioma comes at a high cost.
In many cases, mesothelioma is the result of negligent asbestos exposure. If you believe you were exposed to asbestos and, decades later, have developed cancer, our law firm can determine if you have grounds for a legal claim.
While the majority of mesothelioma patients are men, women can develop this type of cancer as well. Let’s look at the ways asbestos and mesothelioma can affect women in Hawaii.
Mesothelioma Diagnoses in Women
Only one-fourth of mesothelioma patients are women. Most women who develop this type of cancer are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. Nearly all women who develop mesothelioma had prior exposure to asbestos.
The reason mesothelioma is more common in men is because men more commonly worked in industries that used asbestos in the mid-1900s, including construction, shipping, and the United States military. Women, however, can also develop cancer from occupational asbestos exposure. This is most likely if they taught in schools that were built with asbestos products.
In regard to prognoses, women typically have higher survival rates than men. This has to do with typically being diagnosed at a younger age and being healthier overall, have lower exposure to asbestos than men, and potentially hormonal differences.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma and are looking to pursue compensation for your losses, you’ll need to understand when, how, and where you were exposed to asbestos. While women can be exposed in the workplace, the majority of exposure has happened from second-hand asbestos exposure and contaminated talc products.
Second-Hand Asbestos Exposure
As mentioned, women with mesothelioma could have been exposed to asbestos through an occupation; however, it’s more likely they were exposed second-hand. This happens when a person with direct exposure to asbestos brings dust particles or fibers home and someone else in the home inhales or ingests them.
Common sources of second-hand asbestos exposure include cars, clothing, furniture, and personal contact. Asbestos particles are easily trapped in the fabric of car seats, clothing, beds, couches, chairs, and more. While it’s easily assumed that washing fabrics would remove the asbestos fibers, asbestos is actually more likely to transfer from a contaminated item to the rest of the load. In regard to personal contact, even a hug can facilitate the transfer of the toxic dust.
Asbestos in Talcum Powder
Talc, the softest mineral on earth, is used in industrial and consumer products—including talcum powder. The powder is widely used because of its ability to absorb moisture and provide lubrication at the same time. For more than a century, talcum powder has been used to dry, protect, and perfume skin.
While breathing in dust from talc mines is unhealthy, there has yet to be a direct link between that and cancer. However, there is a connection between mesothelioma and asbestos-contaminated talc products.
According to a study from 2019 in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, some patients with mesothelioma only had exposure to asbestos through talcum powder. Talc and asbestos can naturally form alongside each other, which is why contamination is possible. This means that while some canisters of talcum powder are safe, others could contain asbestos particles.
In addition to talcum powder, talc is also widely used in cosmetics. It has been found in foundation, creams, moisturizers, eye shadow, blush, mascara, lipstick, deodorant, and loose or compressed makeup powders.
Contact Frost Law Firm, PC
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Hawaii and don’t know where to turn, Frost Law Firm, PC can inform you of your legal rights and options. How you’re able to proceed legally will depend on your diagnosis and its cause.
Depending on how you were exposed to the asbestos that resulted in your cancer diagnosis, you may be able to file a claim against the negligent party. It’s important to note that is can be harder for women to prove negligence for asbestos exposure when the exposure happened outside of a work environment. However, filing a claim could put you on the path to receiving the compensation you need to undergo treatments and live comfortably.
When you work with a Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer, you’ll have access to the resources you need to build a strong case that proves you were wronged. To learn more, contact us today.
