January 31, 2017 - Many women across the nation are anxious and frightened for their health, after using what they believed to be a totally harmless product—baby powder with talc—for many years. The first three talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits ended in favor of the plaintiffs, although Johnson & Johnson says they will appeal the last two decisions, and continues to maintain their product is safe. The first talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit ended in a loss for Johnson & Johnson. A South Dakota jury found in favor of plaintiff Deane Berg, although no damages were awarded.
The second Johnson & Johnson baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit concluded in February 2016 with an award to the family of Jacqueline Fox in the amount of $72 million. Just months later, plaintiff Gloria Ristesund was awarded $55 million in her talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. All three plaintiffs in the Johnson & Johnson baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuits used talcum powder in the perineal area for thirty plus years. Many studies have backed up these findings, showing that when talc powder is used for feminine hygiene purposes, a woman’s chance of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer increases significantly, particularly if she has used talcum powder routinely for many years.
Recent Studies on Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Dangers
In 2006, the International Agency for Research on Cancer—a part of the World Health Organization—classified talc as a 2B agent, meaning it is “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” This classification came after what the Agency noted were “remarkably consistent” results of epidemiological studies. Dr. Margaret Gates, a Harvard epidemiologist, reaffirmed in 2006 that weekly use of talcum powder, when used for feminine hygiene, could increase the risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 33 percent.
Further, Dr. Gates found that daily use of Johnson & Johnson Shower to Shower with talc could increase the risk of ovarian cancer by as much as 41 percent. Two years later, Dr. Gates, along with two more Harvard researchers, published a study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. In addition to linking talcum powder to ovarian cancer, Dr. Gates and the other researchers investigated the role of talc particles in endometrial cancer. The belief that talcum powder could be carcinogenic to human beings was reinforced in both these studies.
How Talc Fibers May Travel to the Ovaries
It is theorized that talc fibers can migrate up through the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes, finding their way to the ovaries where the fibers burrow into the outer layer of the ovary, causing significant levels of inflammation. Inflammation is a well-known factor in the diagnosis of many different types of cancer. In the first J & J trial, medical experts for the pharmaceutical giant dismissed the idea out of hand that talcum powder was responsible for Deane Berg’s diagnosis of ovarian cancer, calling it “biologically implausible.”
These medical experts claimed the talc fibers found in Berg’s tumor tissues was likely due to contamination, a common problem in hospitals. This explanation of why there were talc fibers in Deane Berg’s ovarian tissues is curious, in light of the fact that as far back as 1971, talc fibers were found by British researchers in ten out of thirteen ovarian tissue samples taken from women with diagnosed ovarian cancer.
Getting the Help You Need
If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and you believe talcum powder may have played a part in that diagnosis, it could be extremely beneficial to contact a baby powder ovarian cancer attorney as soon as possible. Your individual circumstances will be thoroughly evaluated, and your options clearly presented.