Ovarian cancer claims

processing claims for over 50 years

As the deadliest gynecologic cancer, ovarian cancer affects nearly 20,000 American women every year. While the most common risk factors for the disease include never having been pregnant, endometriosis, faulty genes, and hormone replacement therapy, a more obscure risk factor is toxic exposure. Veterans who spent time on contaminated military bases such as Camp Lejeune, firefighters who use the fire suppressant AFFF, and women who regularly use chemical hair relaxers are more likely to develop ovarian cancer than the general population. This is because they were exposed to harmful substances that act as endocrine disruptors once in the body. If you belong to one of these categories and struggle with ovarian cancer, we encourage you to contact our attorneys, as you might be eligible to file a claim and obtain financial compensation for your unjust suffering.

Our Attorneys

Exposure to PFAS might cause adverse reproductive outcomes, including ovarian cancer, in female veterans

Although the prevalence of women in the military is by no means as high as that of men, those who served during the last century were inevitably assigned tasks involving toxic exposure. Dangerous substances were lurking on nearly all military bases several decades ago, including many solvents. A study from the medical journal Environmental Health Perspectives found a significant association between trichloroethylene exposure and ovarian cancer. Benzene exposure also has a correlation with ovarian cancer.

Furthermore, because ovarian cancer is hormone-sensitive and PFAS are endocrine disruptors, it is possible that exposure contributes to ovarian cancer development and progression. If you are a veteran or the wife of one who spent time at a contaminated military base and now struggle with ovarian cancer, these are the eligibility criteria you have to meet to file a claim:

  • you must have been discharged from the military other than dishonorably
  • you must have been stationed at a military base with documented toxic exposure
  • you must have a diagnosis of ovarian cancer linked to toxic exposure

To properly assess your case, our attorneys will also need your military records and your medical records. These documents will serve as a starting point in determining whether you are entitled to compensation. If you are, they will also be part of the evidence necessary to file your toxic exposure claim.

Eligibility criteria for veterans who want to file a Camp Lejeune toxic water claim

For 34 years, the drinking water at Camp Lejeune was polluted with industrial solvents, including trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, benzene, and perchloroethylene. Two of the water distribution plants at the military base were heavily contaminated due to the improper use and disposal of solvents by the nearby dry-cleaning firm ABC One-Hour Cleaning. Benzene was also present in the environment of Camp Lejeune, and service members would be exposed during the following activities:

  • storage and dispensing of liquid petroleum fuels
  • cleaning and degreasing activities
  • ship, vehicle, and aircraft maintenance servicing, repairs, and overhaul

If you are a female veteran with ovarian cancer who was stationed at Camp Lejeune, you might be eligible for compensation if you meet the following criteria:

  • you must have been discharged from the military other than dishonorably
  • you must have drunk toxic water at Camp Lejeune
  • you must have spent at least 30 consecutive days at the military base between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987
  • you must have a diagnosis of ovarian cancer that has a connection to toxic exposure

You will also have to provide our attorneys with your military records and medical records so that they will be able to thoroughly evaluate your case. Civilians who worked at the military base might also be able to file a claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, as everyone whose health was impacted by the hazardous concoction of chemicals in the drinking water has the right to seek legal recourse. As a civilian, we will request your employment records and your medical records.

Ovarian cancer is among the most prevalent diseases occurring in firefighters who use AFFF

The fire suppressant AFFF was created in 1967 by the U.S. Navy and the 3M company. Since then, it has become the norm for extinguishing jet fuel and petroleum fires on military bases. Nevertheless, civilian firefighters also use AFFF for fires starting from flammable liquids and gases. The fire suppressant is highly toxic, as it mostly contains PFAS, and with each use, firefighters release these chemicals into the environment, where they persist for over a thousand years. Moreover, they also expose themselves when working with it, even if they wear protective gear. It is usually the PFAS in AFFF that are responsible for the high incidence of ovarian cancer in female firefighters.

If you are a female firefighter, used AFFF for a long time, and have a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, you have to meet the following eligibility requirements to file a claim:

  • you must have been discharged other than dishonorably if you were a military firefighter
  • you must have worked with AFFF regularly on the job
  • you must have a diagnosis of ovarian cancer that is related to toxic exposure

Our attorneys will also ask you to send in your employment or military records, which you must retrieve, and your medical records so that they can review your case thoroughly. If we deem you eligible, we will begin preparing your AFFF exposure claim for submission as soon as possible, which might eventually result in the financial compensation you deserve for your physical and emotional pain.

Bisphenol A is associated with modifications of the reproductive system in women who often use hair relaxers

Over 60% of women who use chemical hair relaxers are Black, which places them at high risk of developing ovarian cancer. Because these products are often marketed to children and teenagers, most women begin using hair relaxers at a young age and continue straightening their hair regularly. Still, it has recently come to light that many hair relaxers, such as those of Revlon, Strength of Nature, and L’Oréal, contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A. They also have carcinogens as ingredients, which can enter the body with every application of a chemical hair relaxer.

The alterations bisphenol A can induce in women’s reproductive system, which can give way to ovarian cancer, are benign lesions such as:

  • endometrial hyperplasia
  • the development of ovarian cysts
  • an increase in the ductal density of mammary gland cells

Furthermore, bisphenol A was associated with multiple metabolic disorders, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, recurrent miscarriages, and endometrial hyperplasia. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome are more than twice as likely to develop ovarian cancer. Human ovarian cancer cells express high levels of estrogen receptors compared with benign ovarian lesion cells. Long-term exposure to bisphenol A could lead to a greater incidence of cystic endometrial hyperplasia or ovarian cysts, which are premalignant lesions, according to a study from Oncology Letters.

If you are a woman who has been regularly using hair relaxers and now have ovarian cancer, these are the eligibility requirements you have to meet to file a toxic hair relaxer claim:

  • you must have used hair relaxers at least 7 times per year for 10 years or longer
  • you must have a diagnosis of ovarian cancer related to toxic exposure

We will also request evidence of your use of hair relaxers, such as receipts or hair salon bills, and your medical records so that our skilled attorneys can thoroughly evaluate your case. Shortly after we review your situation, they will let you know if you are entitled to financial compensation from the companies whose products you used.

Quality legal assistance and services for women with ovarian cancer due to toxic exposure

Whether you are a veteran, firefighter, or hair relaxer user, if you developed ovarian cancer, toxic exposure is likely the culprit behind your suffering. For over 30 years, our attorneys have been dedicating their efforts to obtaining financial compensation for toxic exposure victims and have the necessary knowledge, resources, and experience to help you. To initiate the legal process, which is very simple, you only have to send in your employment or military records, which you must retrieve, and your medical records. Women who used hair relaxers will have to provide us with evidence of their use of these products.

Our attorneys will carefully review your case to determine whether you are eligible to file a claim. If we deem you eligible, we will start working on your claim as soon as possible. Our compassionate legal team will strive to take care of the most complex aspects of the process on your behalf, as we understand how difficult struggling with ovarian cancer is. Your involvement will be minimal once we have your documents, so you will be able to focus on your health and treatment. If you are too ill to participate in the legal process, you can ask a family member to help you navigate it.