How does anyone develop ovarian cancer from regular talcum powder use? Talc, the key ingredient that makes up 99.8% of baby powder, is a mineral silicate that helps absorb moisture. Talc and asbestos, another naturally occurring mineral silicate, often form in large deposits inside the Earth right next to each other. For this reason, bottles of talcum powder sometimes do test positive for asbestos fibers. Long-term asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a rare (but always fatal) lung cancer. As a result, pediatricians no longer recommend using baby powder to prevent diaper rash in babies. Learn more about the link between talcum powder and different types of cancer below.
A 1971 laboratory study in Wales dissected tumors removed from women diagnosed with either cervical or ovarian cancer. Researchers found talc particles embedded inside 75% of the biopsied samples. Note that the study specifically mentioned talc particles, not asbestos fibers. And inhaling talc particles can lead to a dangerous, lung-damaging condition called talcosis that’s most common among miners. Remember: Talc particles and asbestos fibers both contain silica, the same mineral found in quartz, mica and kaolin. If you can picture what quartz looks like, it’s like a tiny, jagged shard of glass. That’s why inhaling airborne talc is so dangerous. Those little, pointy edges help talc dig its way inside your delicate lung tissue, which leads to chronic inflammation. You can’t just cough the particles back out again. Once they dig their way in, they’re stuck there for life.
This same process happens when talcum powder enters your body through other mucous membranes, like your mouth, nose or eyes. For decades, Johnson & Johnson marketed talcum powder to women for feminine hygiene use. Just a sprinkle between the sheets and even inside women’s clothes could help them stay fresh and dry all day. The Shower to Shower line of talc-based body powders grew popular with women for this reason. However, those talc particles can get into a woman’s body, travel through her fallopian tubes and then penetrate her ovaries. Once there, talc particles – again, these are tiny, pointy glass-like pieces – become embedded deep within the tissue. These particles then cause chronic inflammation as the body tries to expel them, often for years, without any success. Over time, that inflammation can eventually lead to cervical or ovarian cancer.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen. Many talcum powder cancer cases where victims received multimillion-dollar payouts involved bottles that tested positive for asbestos fibers. And in October 2019, Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled 33,000 talcum powder bottles due to asbestos contamination. In May 2020, J&J announced it would halt all U.S. talcum powder sales due to declining consumer interest and sales. But legal experts point out that the company still plans to sell talc-based products in other markets around the globe. Could ovarian cancer litigation be the real reason why J&J pulled talcum powder off U.S. store shelves?
Right now, nearly 20,000 ovarian cancer claims are currently pending against Johnson & Johnson nationwide. Victims say regular talcum powder use over several decades led to their mesothelioma and cancer cases. The company denies this allegation. Yet internal company memos submitted into evidence during recent trials show J&J knew many talcum powder bottles tested positive for trace amounts of asbestos. Once enough asbestos-tainted talcum powder enters your body over time, could it lead to mesothelioma or ovarian cancer? In 2018, a Missouri jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.69 billion to 22 ovarian cancer victims. Other plaintiffs diagnosed with mesothelioma after years of routine talcum powder use have also won significant cash settlements. Those talcum powder claims add up to nearly $5 billion in settlements, and J&J’s sole talc supplier declared bankruptcy in 2019.
Due to Johnson & Johnson’s lack of warning to patients and doctors about the risks of Ovarian Cancer that may be associated with Talcum Powder, individuals have been exposed to serious life-threatening danger. If you or a loved one suffered from the dangerous side effect after using Talcum Powder, act now by filling out the form below to see if you qualify.
Time is limited! Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify.
You'll be matched with an advocate or attorney who will contact you within minutes for your free consultation.
File a claim before your state's deadline to qualify for a cash settlement ends.
Absolutely no fees unless you are awarded the compensation you deserve!
Due to Johnson & Johnson’s lack of warning to patients and doctors about the risks of Ovarian Cancer that may be associated with Talcum Powder, individuals have been exposed to serious life-threatening danger. If you or a loved one suffered from the dangerous side effect after using Talcum Powder, act now by filling out the form above and you may be eligible to get the financial compensation you deserve.