Talcum Powder Products can Lead to Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
There has been a connection found between the use of talcum powder products on a women’s genital area and an increased risk of ovarian cancer. In the United States, there have been thousands of lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson. Plaintiffs are claiming that the defendants were aware of the increased risk of ovarian cancer resulting from talc-based products but still continued to promote and sell these products without providing adequate warning to consumers. If consumers would have known about the increased risk of cancer, many would not have used talc-based products from Johnson & Johnson, especially because safer alternatives are available. Like cornstarch powder. There have been many instances of juries returning significant verdicts for the plaintiffs.
Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC is currently accepting cases by plaintiffs who have suffered ovarian cancer diagnosis following prolonged use of Johnson & Johnson® brand talc baby powder and Shower to Shower® powder. Our team of talcum powder injury lawyers will provide the sensitivity and compassion victims deserve.
What Are Talcum Powder Products?
Talc is a mineral composed of many elements, including magnesium and silicon. Talc is easily ground into a fine powder — usually referred to as talcum powder. Talc powder absorbs moisture, oils and odors, and has an astringent impact on human skin. These properties have made it a popular item for creating baby powders, foot powders, and cosmetics.
The leading manufacturers of talc-based consumer products are Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson. Their Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products have been marked particularly for feminine hygiene. For many years, millions of women in the United States have used these products routinely, applying them to their genital area, sanitary napkins, tampons, and underwear.
The possible connection between the use of talc-based products on a woman’s genital area and an increased risk of ovarian cancer was reported first in 1982. Since then, there has been an increasing number of studies that have supported the claim that talc-based products increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Ovarian Cancer Caused by Talcum Powder Products
Among women in the United States, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 20,000 American women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually, and nearly 14,500 women die from it each year.
Ovarian cancer may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Vaginal bleeding, or unusual vaginal discharge
- Pain or pressure in the pelvic area
- Abdominal or back pain
- Bloating
- Difficulty eating
- A change in bathroom habits, including more frequent or urgent need to urinate or constipation.
Due to the fact that many symptoms of ovarian cancer are often mild in the beginning stages, the disease can often progress to advanced stages and start to spread to other parts of the body before it is even detected.
Findings from Recent Talc & Ovarian Cancer Studies
Multiple studies have found that the use of talc-based products to a woman’s genital area can increase the risk of ovarian cancer. For instance, a study published in June 2013 in Cancer Prevention Research compared data on talc-based product use by 8,525 ovarian cancer patients and 9,859 controls. In the study, researchers found a connection between the use of talc-based powder in the genital area and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
In April 2016, a study published in Epidemiology found that regular use of talc-based powders in the genital area was associated with a 33% increase in the risk of ovarian cancer.
In October 2016, a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention reported that the use of talc-based powder has connections with ovarian cancer risk in African-American women and found a correlation between the duration of use and the increased cancer risks.
The U.S. Food and Drug Agency (FDA) started a research study in 2017 looking into the possible connection between ovarian cancer and talc in cosmetics. The FDA began this study due to the rising number of other studies linking talc-based powder to ovarian cancer and due to the prevalence of talc in cosmetics.
Resulting Lawsuits
In the United States, thousands of lawsuits have been undertaken against Johnson & Johnson and Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. under the claims that the defendants were aware of the possible risk of ovarian cancer associated with talc-based products but still continued to promote and sell these products without providing relevant warnings. If consumers had been provided warnings about the increased risk of cancer, many consumers would likely not have used Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products, particularly because safe cornstarch power is also available for use.
In many past cases to date, juries have returned favorable verdicts for the plaintiffs of these cases.
How Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC Can Help
If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talc-based products, you could be able to recover lost compensation for medical costs, lost income, and other damages. The team of lawyers at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC may be able to help you obtain reimbursement if you developed ovarian cancer after using talc-based products. We are a nationally recognized personal injury law firm and one of the largest law firms in New Jersey, and we are committed to helping our clients win their cases and their due compensation.
Contact us now for a consultation and to learn more about your legal options and to obtain a free case evaluation.
Talcum Powder Injuries in New Jersey
Millions have been awarded to plaintiffs in past cases, and if you’ve been injured after using talc-based products, you could recover much-needed compensation. Manufacturers of talc products have paid hundreds of millions of dollars to victims since 2016. These types of settlements have been on the rise in 2019 and into 2020.
At Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC, our team of New Jersey talcum powder injury lawyers specializes in working with victims who have been harmed by these companies. We are dedicated to aggressively fighting for your legal rights and helping you obtain maximum compensation for your damages. Contact our offices today at (201) 997- 0030 to see how we can help.
