March 28, 2022 - What is Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer? When women use baby powder with talc or other types of talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes, the tiny talc fibers can travel up through the female reproductive system, making their way to the ovaries, where they embed themselves, cause inflammation, and can, over time, result in ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson is currently facing more than 20,000 lawsuits from women who developed ovarian cancer after using J & J baby powder with talc for an extended period of time.
What is the Standard Treatment Protocol for Ovarian Cancer Chemotherapy? The “standard treatment protocol for ovarian cancer is debulking (surgery to remove the cancer, including all tumors that are larger than ½”) and six cycles of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment; the drugs enter the bloodstream, reaching virtually every part of the body. Chemotherapy is used to kill small cancer cells that could still be present following surgery, to shrink larger tumors prior to surgery, or for cancers that have spread beyond the ovaries (metastasized).
Why are Six Cycles the Standard Treatment, and What is a Cycle? For epithelial ovarian cancer (the most common type of ovarian cancer), depending on the stage of the cancer, it is typical to receive from three to six cycles of chemotherapy. A “cycle” can range from 2-6 weeks, and the number of treatment doses scheduled within the cycle depends on the drugs being used, as well as how aggressive and advanced the ovarian cancer is. Usually, a combination of drugs will be used, rather than a single drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer. For women with advanced ovarian cancer, three cycles of chemotherapy may be given prior to surgery, and three cycles after the surgery.
Where is Chemotherapy Received? Chemotherapy drugs for ovarian cancer are usually injected into a vein via an IV, or, injected through a catheter directly into the abdominal cavity, or, in some cases, given by mouth. The chemotherapy is generally overseen by an oncologist, although a nurse may administer the IV chemotherapy medications, or the intraperitoneal chemotherapy, which can take from 5-6 hours, depending on the drugs used. It is always a good idea to have someone pick you up after the first cycle of chemotherapy in case you experience drowsiness or nausea.
What are the Usual Chemotherapy Drugs? For epithelial ovarian cancer, the chemotherapy drugs used are usually cisplatin or carboplatin, along with taxane (a paclitaxel drug). These drugs are usually administered through an IV in the vein, every 3-4 weeks. Epithelial ovarian cancer may initially shrink, or even seem to go away once chemotherapy drugs are administered, but if the cancer begins to grow again, the same drugs may be used again. There are other chemotherapy drugs that can be helpful in treating ovarian cancer, such as: Abraxane, Hexalen, Xeloda, Cytoxan, VP-16, Gemzar, Ifex, Camptosar, CPT-11, Doxil, Melphalan, Alimta, Topotecan, and Navelbine.
Are There Alternatives to the Usual Chemotherapy Drugs? While chemotherapy is considered the standard treatment for ovarian cancer (and, generally with reason, as ovarian cancer is rarely discovered early, therefore requires aggressive treatment), there are other alternatives to ovarian cancer chemotherapy, including:
- Chelation therapy
- Pulse electromagnetic fields
- Oxidative treatments, including IV hydrogen peroxide and ozone sauna
- Cold laser bed (photomodulation)
- High doses of vitamin C via IV
- Ultraviolet blood irradiation
- Functional blood chemistry
- Customized nutritional programs
- Natural botanicals and herbals
Is Chemotherapy Always the Answer? Debulking and chemotherapy are generally considered the best course of action for those with ovarian cancer. While these treatments may seem extreme, and some women may want to try alternative methods other than chemotherapy, ovarian cancer is often not discovered until it is in the late stages. Because of this, doctors feel that an aggressive approach, using chemotherapy, gives women the best chance of survival. That being said, each woman must make these decisions for herself.
Should You File a Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit? Women diagnosed with talcum powder ovarian cancer should speak to an experienced baby powder ovarian cancer attorney who can answer their questions, helping them determine whether it is in their best interests to file a baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit. Contact Sullo & Sullo today to speak to a baby powder ovarian cancer lawyer.