Talcum Powder Lawsuit Attorneys
Allen & Nolte Represents Talcum Powder Users That Have Been Diagnosed with Ovarian And Other Gynecological Cancers
If you or your loved one used talcum powder and have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or another type of gynecological cancer, call the attorneys at Allen & Nolte now.
Images of smiling women and bare-bottomed babies have graced ads for close to a century. However, a growing number of studies have found that the use of talcum powder in the genital area may increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian and other gynecological cancers.
Talcum powder has been promoted for decades by companies claiming that it helps eliminate friction, is gentle on the skin, and provides a clean, pleasant scent. The powder is also commonly used by mothers to reduce diaper rashes in babies and by women in general as a personal hygiene product.
Female Talcum Powder Uses
Talcum powder is typically marketed as “talc powder,” “baby powder”, or “body powder” and contains the mineral, talc. Johnson & Johnson sold the powder brand, Shower to Shower, in 2012 to Valeant. Although it is often used by women as part of their daily hygiene regimen, the use of talcum powder on the genitals and perineal area, either through direct application or by applying it to sanitary napkins, has been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
Studies have found that the powder may travel into the genital tract, causing inflammation. Frequent, long-term use in these areas allegedly doubles or triples the risk of developing ovarian cancer and other types of gynecological cancers.
Ovarian Cancer Links
The American Cancer Society reports that the risk of ovarian cancer may be increased with perineal talcum powder use and that research continues to determine the magnitude of the increased risk. Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classifies the perineal use of talc-based body powder as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
In December 2018, an investigation by Thomson Reuters revealed thousands of pages in company memos and other previously confidential documents that showed Johnson & Johnson (J&J) allegedly knew for decades that its talcum powder may contain asbestos. The company, however, failed to inform the public or regulators of the issue. To this day, J&J continues to maintain that its products are safe for use.
- In 2003, an analysis of 16 observational studies on the association between perineal talcum powder use and ovarian cancer found “a statistically significant result suggesting a 33% increased risk of ovarian cancer with perineal talc use.”
- A 2010 study conducted by Harvard epidemiologist, Dr. Margaret Gates, and others found a positive association among postmenopausal women where “ever use of talcum powder was associated with a 21% increase in the risk of endometrial cancer, while regular use was associated with a 24% increase in risk.”
- In 2013, Cancer Prevention Research published “Genital powder use and risk of ovarian cancer: a pooled analysis of 8,525 cases and 9,859 controls,” which found that “genital powder use was associated with a modestly increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer relative to women who never used powder.”
- In 2015, Epidemiology published “The association between talc use and ovarian cancer.” The study examined 2,041 cases with epithelial ovarian cancer and 2,100 controls, which found risk increased if talc was applied frequently and over an extended period of time.
- In 2016, a researcher with the University of Virginia released a study that found that African-American women's regular use of talc powder placed them at greater risk for developing ovarian cancer.
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