Approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States each year, and about one quarter of them are women. From the 1950s through the 1980s, workers in certain industries such as construction and shipbuilding were often exposed to asbestos. At that time in American history, the majority of workers in these industries were men. Thus, the majority of people who developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure in the second half of the twentieth century were men. 
However, women do get mesothelioma, women do have to live with the horrible effects of this condition, and women do die from mesothelioma.
How Do Women Get Mesothelioma?
Women who are diagnosed with mesothelioma today were likely exposed to asbestos decades ago. They may have been exposed to asbestos because:
- They worked where they were exposed to asbestos. After working out of necessity during World War II, some women continued to work after the war in industries where asbestos could be present.
- Their fathers, husbands, sons, or other relative unknowingly brought asbestos home on their clothing at the end of the workday. It has been estimated that more than half of women who were diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos in this way. Women may have been exposed when they greeted their spouses at the end of the day, as well as washed their work clothing.
- Environmental exposure. Some women who lived near asbestos mining facilities or factories that made asbestos products may have been exposed simply by breathing in the air outside their homes.
Why Women Should Pursue Mesothelioma Legal Recoveries
Mesothelioma is a painful and often deadly form of cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. The company that is responsible for asbestos exposure may be liable for paying legal damages to compensate a mesothelioma victim for the significant injury she has suffered.
If you were exposed to asbestos prior to 1980 and have developed mesothelioma, you don’t need to pay Medicare for your treatment, and you may be entitled to compensation for damages. To learn more, please contact us online or call us directly at 318.588.6303 for a free consultation. Our experienced lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. Thus, if you decide to hire us, you won’t owe us any upfront legal fees and will only pay if your claim is successful. Contact us today.