Monday, April 25, 2016

How Do Talc Fibers Migrate into the Ovaries?


April 25, 2016 - Perhaps you have been keeping up with the Johnson & Johnson lawsuits which allege the talcum powder in J & J baby powder and Shower to Shower can increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer, when used for feminine hygiene. One of the primary disputes between Johnson & Johnson and some scientists is whether talc fibers can actually migrate into the ovaries.  In the book titled Cancer Epidemiology by Site-Specific Cancers, it is stated that talc fibers have been found in benign and malignant ovarian tissue, although the few relevant studies of talc exposure in animals has not demonstrated a consistent increase in ovarian cancer among the animals who were exposed. It should be noted, however, that there are serious anatomic differences between rodents and humans, therefore the results for animal studies should be interpreted cautiously.

 

The first case-control study which definitively linked the use of talcum powder to ovarian cancer was published in 1982, concluding there was about twice the risk of a woman developing ovarian cancer when she used talcum powder for feminine hygiene. When attempting to answer the question of whether talc fibers can migrate through the reproductive organs, the results of different studies varied. Some have reported stronger associations of talc and ovarian cancer between women who have not undergone tubal sterilizations, yet others have concluded no such association. The 2008 article, Perineal Talc Use and Ovarian Cancer: A Critical Review, concluded “The issue of particle retrograde migration from the cervix to the ovaries assumes that talc particles migrate upwards against both gravity and the downward flow of vaginal mucous and menstrual fluids.” 

 

A 1971 study by British researchers found particles of talc deeply embedded in ten out of thirteen ovarian tumors, leading to the conclusion that talc fibers must be able to migrate through the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes, becoming lodged in ovarian tissues and causing serious levels of inflammation which, in turn, could potentially lead to ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson has consistently maintained that talc fibers cannot migrate into the ovaries, therefore cannot cause ovarian cancer, thus there is no warning necessary on powders with talc. Jurors appear to disagree. The first Johnson & Johnson talcum powder lawsuit found in favor of the plaintiff, however awarded the plaintiff no damages. The Minnesota jurors felt Johnson & Johnson should have warned women of the potential dangers of talcum powder.

 

More recently, Missouri jurors awarded the family of Jackie Fox $72 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. Fox died of ovarian cancer in 2015 at the age of 62, just two years after being diagnosed with the illness. Fox’s family claimed she had used J & J baby powder with talc and Shower to Shower in the genital region for more than thirty years. The lawsuit claimed J & J was aware of the potential risks of talc, but failed to warn consumers about those risks. At least 1,200 more lawsuits are pending, both in Missouri and New Jersey. The FDA has declined to require warning labels on talcum powder, claiming the evidence of a link between talcum powder used for feminine hygiene and ovarian cancer is inconclusive.

 

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder for feminine hygiene, it could be extremely beneficial to speak to a knowledgeable talcum powder ovarian cancer attorney who will protect your rights and preserve your case.

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