Ovarian Cancer Lawyers Reviewing Talcum Powder Cases For Women
Talcum powder products like Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower Body Powder, may increase the risk of women developing ovarian cancer. When the powder is applied for feminine hygiene purposes, research suggests that the talc may migrate into the fallopian tubes, uterus and ovaries.
According to allegations raised in talcum powder lawsuits, manufacturers placed their desire for profits before consumer safety by withholding information about the potential cancer risk from consumers for years.
Financial compensation and settlement benefits may be available for women and families nationwide. All cases are reviewed by our law firm on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained!
To review whether you or a loved one may have a talcum powder cancer case, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
Talc Powders: Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower Powder
Talc has been used as a cosmetic powder for thousands of years. It is available in numerous body powders, though some companies have switched to corn starch and other substitutes due to concerns over talcum powder health risks.
Shower-to-Shower powder was introduced as a product specifically targeted at women as a general talcum body powder.
Despite the widespread use of the products among women, a number of studies have suggested that side effects of talcum powder as a feminine hygiene product may increase a woman’s chances of developing ovarian cancer.
Talcum Powder Problems
Although it appears that Johnson & Johnson and other manufacturers knew or should have known about these potential talcum powder cancer risks for decades, information has been withheld from women.
Talc contained in Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower Body Powder may travel through the vagina and enter the ovaries. As a result, regular users of talcum powder diagnosed with ovarian cancer are often found to have evidence of talc in tumors.
Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Risk
In 1982, a report published by the New York Times suggested that Johnson & Johnson was aware that women may be three times as likely to develop ovarian cancer if they use talcum powder on their genitals.
Despite calls for additional warnings to be added or for talcum powder recalls to be issued to ensure women are aware of the risk, the only warnings provided to women indicate to avoid contact with the eyes or broken areas of skin.
In 2013, a study published in the medical journal Cancer Prevention Research looked at data on about 2,000 women who used talcum powder on the genital area. The findings suggested that women who use talc body powder may have a 20% to 30% higher risk of ovarian cancer when compared to women who do not use the baby powder or body powder products.
Some experts have suggested that more than 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer each year may be caused by problems with talcum powder.
Asbestos in Talcum Powder
While Johnson & Johnson has maintained that talc contained in Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower is safe, researchers indicate that it may contain the known human carcinogen asbestos.
In response to problems with asbestos in talcum powder, the FDA began testing the cosmetic products in 2018.
A talcum powder recall was issued for 33,000 bottles of Johnson’s Baby Powder in October 2019, after a sample tested positive for chrysotile asbestos fibers. These finings contradict years of claims by the manufacturer that their talcum powder did not contain asbestos.
Failure to Warn Lawsuits
As a result of the failure to warn about the risk of ovarian cancer from talc body powder, thousands of women have pursued lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson.
In several early “bellwether” trials, juries determined that millions in damages should be paid after reviewing internal documents and other evidence that suggests the manufacturer placed their desire for profits before the safety of women.
Despite concerns about the health risks when talcum powder was applied around the genitals, Johnson & Johnson has encouraged adult women to use Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower on a regular basis to maintain “personal freshness”.
If warnings had been provided about the ovarian cancer risks, lawsuits allege that women never would have used talcum powder in this manner.
1893: Johnson & Johnson first develops Baby Powder, promoting it for both infants and adult women.
1971: Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology – Researchers found talc particles deeply embedded in ovarian and cervical tumors of women with cancer.
1982: Harvard Medical Journal – Researchers found that genital talc use increased the risk of ovarian cancer by 92%.
1988: American Journal of Epidemiology – 52% of cancer patients regularly used talc on their genitals before their cancer diagnosis.
1992: John’s Hopkins Study – Applying talc to the genitals using a sanitary napkin increased a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer by 379%.
1993: The U.S. National Toxicology Program determined that talc was a carcinogen.
1994: The Cancer Prevention Coalition (CPC) cited numerous studies to Johnson & Johnson in a letter urging the company to issue talcum powder recalls.
1998: American Journal of Gynaecology – Women who used talc on their perineum faced a 149% increased risk of ovarian cancer
2006: World Health Organization (WHO) classified genital talc use as a human carcinogen.
2011: National Cancer Institute – The 4,000-woman study revealed a 200% to 300% increased risk of cancer from perineum talc use.
2018: FDA launched an ongoing survey of talcum powder products, testing for asbestos.
2019: A Johnson’s Baby Powder recall was issued for 33,000 bottles due to asbestos contamination.
Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit Allegations
Hundreds of women throughout the United States are currently pursuing ovarian cancer lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson. Some of the common allegations raised in those cases include:
- Failure to Adequately Research Link Between Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer ;
- Failure to Warn About the Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer from Talc Powder;
- Providing False and Misleading Information About the Safety of Talcum Powder Use in Women and Children;
- Failure to Issue Talcum Powder Recalls to Ensure Women Are Aware of the Health Risks;
- Failure to Pursue Alternative Product Formulations that Are Safer to Use for Women and Children;
No Fees or Expenses Unless You Receive a Talcum Powder Settlement
Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. is a nationally known injury law firm that is focused exclusively on representing individuals, we do not represent corporations or insurance companies.
Over the course of more than 40 years, our personal injury lawyers have collected more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients in cases of medical malpractice, automobile accidents, product liability and other personal injury lawsuits.
All talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits will be handled by our attorneys on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are never any out-of-pocket expenses to hire our law firm and we only receive a fee if compensation is secured for our client.
Protect your family and find out if you or a loved one may be eligible for an talcum powder cancer settlement. Request a free consultation and case evaluation.