released in October 2022, which studied about 34,000 women age 35 to 74 and found that those who had used hair relaxers at least four times in the previous year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer., L’Oreal and other beauty industry companies have asked a U.S. judge in Chicago to dismiss the complaint, arguing that hair relaxers do not cause cancer and other health problems. Godrej SON Holdings, a defendant in the litigation, declined to comment to the Tribune.
LaTonya Shuler is a plaintiff in a complaint against companies that produce hair straighteners for Black women. “The study doesn’t say which type of hair straighteners were used; just straighteners in general,” Lee said. “I think it comes down to the idea of being more conscious of what we’re putting in or on our bodies. If you’re using the product, look at what the ingredients are, be more aware.
One oncologist recommended a hysterectomy. But Holton pressed for preservation of her uterus and her ability to be a mom. She and her husband found another oncologist and the rest of her cancer-fighting team online. With stage 1 cancer, her team opted to give her high doses of hormones such as progesterone for six months to block the estrogen that uterine cancer feeds off to see if they could reverse it. And they did.
Preyar said some of the women who have reached out to her about the litigation have said they’ve been hearing whispers about relaxers and cancer for years, while others think it is a fear that will pass.