North Carolina Asbestos Exposure and Ovarian Cancer Lawyer

A diagnosis of asbestos-related ovarian cancer can be overwhelming. You may want to take legal action but are unsure of the next steps. This is a challenging time, but you don’t have to face it alone. You need practical, experienced legal representation to pursue financial compensation and accountability for your harm and losses.

If you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after asbestos exposure, regardless of where that exposure occurred, Ward Black Law is equipped to help you pursue compensation from every available source. Our firm boasts over 30 years of experience in handling asbestos claims, not only in North Carolina but also in cases where the exposure happened outside the state. We’re one of only three firms in the state adept at handling these complex cases, extending our expertise to those affected regardless of their location.

Successful asbestos claims can provide victims with the resources they need to pay medical bills and take care of themselves during treatment. Call Ward Black Law today or complete our contact form for a free case review that is completely confidential and comes without further obligations.

What Is Ovarian Cancer?

According to the Mayo Clinic, ovarian cancer occurs when uncontrolled cell growth happens in the ovaries, which are part of the female reproductive system. Cancerous cells can multiply quickly and spread throughout the body, destroying healthy tissue and causing various harmful effects.

Some common signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

• Discomfort in the pelvic region
• Back pain
• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Abdominal swelling or bloating
• Feeling full quickly when eating
• Frequent need to urinate
• Constipation or other changes in bowel movements

There are various types of ovarian cancer, the most common being:

• Epithelial ovarian cancer – The most prevalent form of ovarian cancer originates in the epithelial cells covering the ovaries’ outer surface.
• Stromal tumors – These rare tumors develop from the ovarian stromal cells, which produce hormones and hold the ovarian structure together. Compared to other types of ovarian cancers, stromal tumors are often detected at an earlier stage, resulting in a better prognosis for many patients.
• Germ cell tumors – Accounting for less than 2 percent of ovarian cancers, germ cell tumors affect the cells that produce eggs. Germ cell tumors are more common in younger women.

How Does Asbestos Cause Ovarian Cancer?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with insulating and heat-resistant properties. It is also a known carcinogen that puts individuals at increased risk of ovarian cancer. The mineral has many tiny, fibrous strands that can break off and enter the body.

Common ways that people are exposed to asbestos include:

• Inhalation of asbestos fibers in the air, such as when mining or processing asbestos, making products containing asbestos, installing asbestos, or from the demolition or renovation of buildings containing asbestos
• Swallowing asbestos by ingesting contaminated food or liquids, such as water flowing in old pipes
• Use of body powder or baby powder for feminine hygiene can travel up mucosal tissue to the ovaries.

Because the body cannot break down asbestos fibers, they remain in the body and disrupt normal cellular functions. Over time, these disruptions can cause cancerous tumors to form in the lining of the lungs, heart, abdomen, or reproductive system.

Research indicates that applying talcum powder or other talc products to the body and the genital region, in particular, causes ovarian cancer because cosmetic talc powders can contain asbestos. Asbestos-containing talc can enter the reproductive tract and cause an individual to develop ovarian cancer.

Research also shows that asbestos exposure at work can lead to ovarian cancer. The journal Environmental Health Perspectives published a meta-analysis of research that confirmed the causal association between occupational asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer. People who work in shipbuilding, installation, or renovation of old buildings are particularly susceptible to asbestos exposure.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Asbestos-Related Ovarian Cancer

After an ovarian cancer diagnosis, treatment of ovarian cancer typically involves a combination of treatments tailored to the patient’s specific situation. The most common treatment options include:

• Surgery – This is often the first line of treatment, especially for epithelial ovarian cancer. The type of surgery depends on the cancer’s stage, the patient’s preferences, and overall health.
• Chemotherapy – This treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells in ovarian tissue and is often administered after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells, though it can be administered before surgery.
• Hormone therapy – This approach involves using drugs to block estrogen’s effects on ovarian cancer cells. It’s useful for some slow-growing ovarian cancers or if the cancer recurs after initial treatment.
• Immunotherapy – This treatment leverages the immune system to fight cancer by disrupting the cancer cells’ ability to hide from immune cells.

Seeking Compensation for Your Asbestos-Related Ovarian Cancer

Treatment for ovarian cancer is often expensive, and many patients cannot work while undergoing treatment, increasing their financial burden. Therefore, pursuing maximum compensation from every source is crucial to ensuring you have the resources to pay your medical bills and other expenses.

There are three primary sources of compensation in cancer claims involving asbestos exposure. They are:

• A personal injury lawsuit – If you developed ovarian cancer after exposure to a product containing asbestos, you can file a lawsuit against the product manufacturer.
• Asbestos bankruptcy trusts – Some companies that made products containing asbestos have gone bankrupt or ceased operations. However, many of these companies set up trusts to pay out new claims to patients with asbestos-related illnesses. Our attorneys can file claims with these trusts for you.
• Workers’ compensation claims – If your asbestos exposure occurred at work, you can file a workers’ compensation claim for ovarian cancer due to occupational exposure. These claims help workers by providing benefits for medical bills and a portion of lost wages.

You could potentially recover compensation under all three types of claims. Our attorneys are ready to review your situation in a free consultation and discuss how we can help you pursue maximum compensation from all available sources.

Why Hire Our North Carolina Asbestos Lawyers for Your Ovarian Cancer Case

For over 30 years, the legal team at Ward Black Law has represented clients harmed by asbestos exposure, helping them pursue asbestos claims for compensation and accountability. During that time, we have helped more than 1,000 people in North Carolina with asbestos exposure claims.

Our asbestos lawyers have the experience, resources, and knowledge required to pursue an award in your ovarian cancer case. We are ready to help you pursue every potential source of compensation, providing financial stability for you during this challenging moment.