New Study Projects Sharp Rise in Uterine Cancer, Especially Among Black Women

A new study published July 1, 2025, in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention projects a troubling future: uterine cancer cases and deaths are expected to rise significantly by the year 2050 — with Black women facing the steepest increases.

According to the researchers, the incidence rate of uterine cancer is projected to rise by about 28.6% among white women (from 57.7 to 74.2 cases per 100,000) and by 53% among Black women (from 56.8 to 86.9 cases per 100,000).

Even more alarming, mortality rates are projected to nearly double: for white women, deaths are expected to climb from 6.1 to 11.2 per 100,000 (an 83.6% increase), and for Black women, from 14.1 to 27.9 per 100,000 — a 97.9% increase.

Disparities Highlighted: Black Women Face Deadlier Outcomes

The study highlights serious racial disparities. By 2050, Black women are expected to face nearly triple the death rate from uterine cancer compared to white women. Experts say this is due to multiple factors — including later-stage diagnoses, more aggressive types of tumors, and limited access to timely, quality healthcare.

While the research didn’t identify one single cause for the rise, many scientists believe exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals in hair relaxers could play a role — especially given the long history of these products being aggressively marketed to Black women and girls.

2022 Study First Showed Strong Link Between Hair Relaxers and Uterine Cancer

This isn’t the first time scientists have raised the alarm. Back in October 2022, researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) published a groundbreaking study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showing that women who frequently used hair straightening products were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not.

The study followed 33,497 women over nearly 11 years and found that those who used chemical hair straighteners more than four times a year had a 2.5 times higher risk of developing uterine cancer. Notably, about 60% of the women who reported frequent use of these products were Black, even though the study found that risk did not vary by race. Because Black women are more likely to use these products at younger ages and more often, their overall risk may be higher.

“These findings are especially concerning because uterine cancer is on the rise, particularly among Black women,” said Dr. Alexandra White, head of the NIEHS Environment and Cancer Epidemiology group.

Hair Relaxers Also Linked to Ovarian Cancer

Another study, published in Carcinogenesis in 2021, linked the use of hair relaxers to ovarian cancer. Researchers analyzed product use among women in the Sister Study cohort, which includes tens of thousands of U.S. women. The study found that women who reported ever using hair relaxers or pressing products had a significantly increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

According to the researchers, chemical hair products may contain endocrine-disrupting compounds such as parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde. These chemicals may be absorbed through the scalp, especially when burns or irritation occur — a common side effect of relaxers.

Lawsuits Filed by Women Diagnosed with Cancer After Using Hair Relaxers

As the science continues to grow, so do the lawsuits. Women across the country are suing major manufacturers of hair relaxer products — including L’Oréal, SoftSheen-Carson, , and others — claiming the companies failed to warn them about the risk of cancer.

According to Levin Papantonio, women who developed uterine or ovarian cancer after years of using these products may be entitled to compensation. These lawsuits are part of a growing mass tort litigation, now consolidated in  federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of  Illinois.

Many of the women who have filed claims say they began using relaxers at a young age — sometimes as early as 8 or 9 years old — and continued regular use into adulthood.

 “This Wasn’t About Vanity — It Was About Acceptance”

Attorney Chelsie Green, who leads the hair relaxer litigation team at Levin Papantonio, says the cases are deeply personal.

“For many Black women, using relaxers wasn’t about vanity. It was about being accepted — in school, at work, even in their own families,” Green said. “These companies had no regard for the health of the women they targeted to sell their products. They knew they were marketing them to little girls and ultimately did very little, if anything to ensure that hair relaxer products would not adversely affect a young girl’s health. And they did it anyway.”

Green said the law firm is representing hundreds of women who were diagnosed with aggressive cancers after using relaxers for years — and expects that number to grow.

“We’re talking about young women who lost their fertility, young mothers forced to have  hysterectomies, women who went through chemotherapy because they trusted products that were sold as safe,” Green said. “It’s heartbreaking. But it’s also legally actionable.”

What You Can Do If You Were Diagnosed After Using Hair Relaxers

If you or a loved one developed uterine cancer or ovarian cancer after using chemical hair relaxers, you may have a legal claim. Levin Papantonio is offering free consultations to help victims understand their rights.

To qualify, you typically must have:

• Used chemical hair relaxers for multiple years
• Been diagnosed with cancer or another related health issue
• Been exposed before or during reproductive years

Time limits (statutes of limitations) apply in these cases, so it’s important to act quickly.

Contact Levin Papantonio today to see if you qualify. You don’t have to face this fight alone.