There’s been a lot of advertisements on television and elsewhere lately regarding the use of talcum powder in a woman’s genital area can increase the chances of her developing ovarian cancer. The evidence is clear and ever-growing.
Are My Odds of Developing Ovarian Cancer Through Talcum Powder Use Greater than a Woman Who Doesn’t Use Talcum Powder?
One in every 75 women will develop ovarian cancer in her lifetime. That’s barely over 1% and lower than the 12% of women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer. However, there isn’t any recommended test to screen for ovarian cancer, so it is rarely diagnosed early.
Based upon a mounting number of research studies that involved hundreds of women, if you have used talcum powder you are approximately 30% more likely to develop ovarian cancer then women who haven’t used talc-based products as part of their feminine hygiene routine.
While this may seem like a low risk in the grand scheme of things, it means that if one million women use talcum powder, 4,000 more of these women will develop ovarian cancer compared to the number that would be diagnosed with ovarian cancer who didn’t use talc-based products.
The New England ovarian cancer study suggested that a woman’s body develops cancer because of the increased inflammation caused by the talcum powder. They reported that women who used talc-based products in their genital areas were significantly more likely to develop epithelial ovarian cancer.
What Have the Courts Decided about Talcum Powder Lawsuits?
Since 2014 one of the largest manufacturers of talcum powder, Johnson & Johnson has defended itself against the lawsuits filed by the families of women who used talcum powder products and eventually died of ovarian cancer.
In February of 2016, the courts ruled in favor of the family of a 62-year-old woman who died of ovarian cancer. Particles of the talc were found in her ovaries that she had removed after being diagnosed with cancer. Later the courts overturned the ruling based on issues not related to the science.
In another case, a woman in California who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer due to talcum powder use was awarded $70 million and still fights to have warning labels placed on talcum powder products.
In 2018, Reuters did an examination of Johnson & Johnson’s internal reports, memos, and other documents and discovered that as early as 1971, Johnson & Johnson had been warned about the asbestos in talcum powder by researchers at Mount Sinai.
However, Johnson & Johnson said the amount of asbestos in the talcum powder was too small to cause any real health risk. Since then, there have been over 11,700 cases filed against Johnson & Johnson due to talcum powder associated cancers such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and ovarian cancer.
What is the Bottom Line?
The bottom line is that scientific evidence has shown time and time again that there is a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer and probably other health risks associated with the product as well.
If you or a loved one has used talcum powder for a prolonged period a been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, please contact our talcum powder lawyers a The Falkowitz Law Firm in Long Island, New York so we can properly evaluate your individual situation and advise you of your next steps.
