The women who are at risk for developing mesothelioma are those who:
These primary and secondary types of exposure to asbestos have resulted in thousands of women at risk of contracting mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.
Exposure to Asbestos in Many Forms
In the decades before the cancer-causing properties of asbestos were confirmed, hundreds of asbestos-containing products were manufactured and distributed for use across the United States and around the world. Asbestos was thought of as a kind of miracle material that was flame-, fire-, and friction-resistant ─ an excellent insulator used in various forms and applications to which essentially everyone was exposed.
Women's Secondary Exposure
Although the ratio of men to women with mesothelioma is about three to one, the numbers of cases of mesothelioma among women is rising. Secondary (secondhand) exposure to asbestos is more common among women than the primary (direct) exposure that so many male workers have suffered.
In many documented cases of mesothelioma among women, the asbestos exposure was from the microscopic fibers of asbestos that were brought home on the work clothes of men who worked in an asbestos-related industry:
Difficult to Diagnose
Mesothelioma is such a rare disease that not all doctors are able to diagnose it. To make matters worse, physicians often miss it as a diagnosis in female patients because the disease is especially rare in women. Women who have been exposed to asbestos either directly or by way of a loved one should inform their physician, particularly if they are experiencing any abnormal symptoms.
Learn More about Mesothelioma in Women
If you or a woman in your family has developed an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, contact us today learn more about your options and your legal rights.