We see shiny, straight, silky smooth hair on TV and in movies. For decades, smooth straight hair was unachievable unless you were born with straight hair… or use a chemical straightener. Many women have been using these chemicals on their hair for years, whether it’s a straightener from the drug store or professional straightening in the salon. Hair straighteners are a billion-dollar business in the U.S., with many companies marketing these products heavily to black women.
Unfortunately, there are unintended consequences to using these products that are just coming to light as women are diagnosed with cancers that may be related to using chemical hair straighteners. But if you’re facing a uterine, ovarian, or endometrial cancer diagnosis, you don’t have to go through this alone. If you believe your condition is related to your use of straighteners and you’ve used a chemical straightener at least four times a year or more, the skilled attorneys at the Madeksho Law Firm may be able to help you.
Tragically, many women who used hair straighteners for years are developing hormone-related cancer, including uterine, ovarian, and endometrial cancer. The National Institutes of Health and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute recently published a sister study of more than 33,000 women as part of the NIH’s nationwide effort to study the relationship between environmental and genetic factors and cancer. This 2022 study indicates that chemical hair straighteners are associated with hormone-sensitive cancers such as ovarian cancer.
Chemical hair straighteners typically contain carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals known as EDCs. EDCs can interfere with a body’s hormones, known as the endocrine system. The normal function of the body’s endocrine system typically involves very small changes in hormone levels. But these small changes can greatly impact biology and development in humans. For this reason, scientists believe that even minimal amounts of EDCs can be dangerous. Many carcinogens also double as endocrine disruptors, leading to even more risk. Some of the EDCs found in chemical straighteners include:
Studies also link endocrine disruptors to other forms of cancer, including ovarian cancer. According to the Endocrine Society, in women, endocrine disruptors are highly linked to ovarian and uterine cancers. Additionally, EDCs can result in many other adverse side effects ranging from unpleasant to chronic:
Many manufacturers are already facing lawsuits related to the use of chemical straighteners. If you’ve developed cancer and you’ve used one of these products at least four times per year, we may be able to help you:
If you’ve used hair straighteners in the past and are now facing uterine, ovarian, or endometrial cancer, the two may be related. If you’ve used one of the products listed above four or more times a year, we may be able to help you. At the Madeksho Law Firm, we’ve been helping people wronged by consumer products since 1972. Find out how we can help you too. Call us at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. Your consultation is free, and there is never a charge unless we recover compensation for you.
