Mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive and frightening forms of cancer. It does not respond well to traditional treatments and has no known cure. Mesothelioma has a strong correlation with asbestos exposure.
Historically, men in certain high-risk professions were the ones with the most risk of developing mesothelioma, which is a cancer that attacks the lining of people’s organs. However, as researchers looked at diagnosis and fatality statistics over the last two decades, they realize that the risk for women seems to be on the rise.
What does the data show?
At the same time that manufacturers have tapered off their use of asbestos, more women find themselves diagnosed with this deadly form of cancer. Between 1999 and 2020, mesothelioma deaths among women rose by 25%.
Homemakers were those most likely to develop mesothelioma, although health care and social support professionals were the most likely to develop mesothelioma based on the industry in which they work. Although 85% of the men diagnosed with mesothelioma have a direct workplace connection to asbestos, that is true for only 23% of women who develop this deadly form of cancer.
What happens to women with mesothelioma?
For the 77% of women diagnosed with mesothelioma without a workplace history connecting them to asbestos, there may be a more difficult battle ahead to obtain compensation. Secondhand exposure because of a spouse, parent or child working with asbestos could form the basis for compensation claims in some cases. Environmental exposure could be another potentially actionable cause. Identifying all of your possible legal options is crucial when you’re facing a diagnosis of mesothelioma.