September 27, 2016 - In the early 1970’s, researchers looked at tissue samples, taken from women with diagnosed ovarian cancer, under a microscope. Of the 13 samples, ten showed talc fibers embedded in the ovarian tissues. This was, perhaps, the first indication that talc fibers could migrate up through the vagina, uterus and Fallopian tubes, finding their way to the ovaries, where they created significant inflammation—a known factor in many types of cancer. Since that time, there have been at least 22 studies done on whether the use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene could potentially lead to ovarian cancer. Many of these studies have found a definite correlation, with some placing the risk at a 33-44 percent higher likelihood of a woman developing ovarian cancer when she has used talcum powder for feminine hygiene for a significant length of time.
In 1982, the journal Cancer published a study which showed a statistical link between talcum powder used for feminine hygiene and ovarian cancer. A decade later, the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published a study which concluded the weekly use of baby powder for feminine hygiene increases a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer threefold. In 1999, Daniel Cramer, with several other authors, concluded that the use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene could cause as much as 10 percent of ovarian cancers across the United States annually. In 2003, a meta-analysis compiled and reviewed data from 16 prior talcum powder ovarian cancer studies was published in Anticancer Research, finding the perineal use of talcum powder increased a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer by 33 percent.
First Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit
In the fall of 2013, a South Dakota jury found that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn women regarding the potential risks of ovarian cancer when talcum powder is used for feminine hygiene. The plaintiff in the trial was 56-year old Deane Berg, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006. Berg stated she had used Johnson & Johnson Shower to Shower with talc for more than thirty years for feminine hygiene. When three different doctors examined Berg’s ovarian tissues using a Scanning Electron Microscope, they found talc fibers in those tissues, therefore determined her cancer was, in fact, caused by talcum powder. One expert in Berg’s trial estimated that 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer could be caused by talcum powder used for feminine hygiene every year.
While Berg was awarded no damages, the talc fibers found in her ovarian tissues using the Scanning Electron Microscope, presented direct evidence that talcum powder was the cause of her ovarian cancer. It would be expected that in every subsequent lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, the woman’s ovarian tissues would be examined under a Scanning Electron Microscope in order to determine if talc fibers are present. The presence of those talc fibers is extremely relevant evidence in claims made against Johnson & Johnson, as they have claimed in the past that talc fibers cannot migrate to the ovaries.
Getting the Legal Help You Need
If you have been diagnosed with baby powder ovarian cancer, your ovarian tissue sample can ultimately be examined under a Scanning Electron Microscope to determine whether talc fibers are present. It could be beneficial to speak to an experienced talcum powder ovarian cancer attorney as soon as possible in order to explore your options as well as to ensure your rights are protected.