Talcum powder, or baby powder, has been linked to higher rates of ovarian cancer in women who use the product regularly for feminine hygiene. Touted for decades as a safe and essential component of a daily hygiene routine, many women have been dismayed to learn of the true risk posed by the substance. Scientific evidence in studies encompassing four decades of research illustrate a connection between perineal talc dusting and ovarian cancer rates in women.
Thousands of American women have filed talcum powder cancer lawsuits, yet the main producer of baby powder, Johnson & Johnson, continues to deny the talcum powder ovarian cancer risk. This page provides the essential information on the topic of baby powder cancer, compiled by attorneys working closely on talcum powder lawsuits.
Numerous scientific studies have examined the connection between talcum powder and ovarian cancer since the link was first discovered in the early 80s. Today, researchers believe that the longer a woman uses talcum powder for feminine hygiene, and the more often the substance is applied to the genital region, the higher her risk is for developing ovarian cancer.
When baby powder is dusted on the perineal region, talc particles may enter the reproductive system and gradually migrate through the body. Particles that reach the ovaries and become trapped cause inflammation and create an environment ripe for the growth of irregular, or cancerous, cells. Studies show that ovarian cancer occurs in higher rates in women who use talc based hygiene products such as Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower.
Johnson & Johnson has already been faced with numerous talcum powder cancer lawsuits, representing thousands of women who believe their cancer was a result of talc particles. Company officials consistently refute the allegations, despite a familiarity with scientific results showing a connection between talcum powder and cancer.
History shows that talc industry officials have been aware of - and worried about - talcum powder cancer studies for decades. The Talc Interested Party Task Force (TIPTF) was convened in the wake of a 1992 study conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) which found "clear evidence of carcinogenicity activity in female rats" from exposure to talc. The task force was created by the Cosmetic Toiletry & Fragrance Association (CTFA), which included Johnson & Johnson and Luzenac (a talc mining company that supplies raw talc to J&J) to raise money for a "defense strategy" and make sure talc remained unregulated.
Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson launched marketing campaigns aimed specifically at black and Hispanic women to normalize the use of talcum powder. Phrases such as "a sprinkle a day" led women to believe baby powder was safe to be used for feminine hygiene on a daily basis. And many, many women, including a woman named Jackie Fox, did so.
Jackie Fox, now deceased after a battle with talcum powder, was the subject of a high-profile talcum powder cancer lawsuit which concluded when defendants were ordered to pay $72 million in damages in 2016. These baby powder cancer attorneys won the record award on behalf of of Ms. Fox's estate after successfully arguing that the talcum powder had increased Ms. Fox's chance of developing ovarian cancer.
One expert in the field of ovarian cancer, Dr. Daniel Cramer, estimates that approximately 10,000 American women die each year from ovarian cancer caused by talcum powder use. Women and the family members of women who have developed ovarian cancer after using baby powder may have legal grounds to file a talcum powder cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. Contact our talcum powder cancer attorneys for a free case review and learn about your legal rights.