Doctors often give patients who are diagnosed with cancer a number which tells them their approximate chances of surviving the cancer. While some people want very much to know this number in order to help determine how hard their fight for survival may be, others find no value in knowing such a number. In fact, some believe that knowing these numbers make fighting the cancer more difficult, particularly when the number is not very good. Doctors use a five-year survival rate which basically tells you the percentage of those with the same type of cancer you have who lived at least five years after receiving their diagnosis.

Obviously, some people will not reach this number, while others will live considerably longer than five years, and still others will be cured of their cancer. Five-year survival numbers make the assumption that some of the people with a particular type of cancer will die of other causes as well. Although doctors will typically look at those who were treated for ovarian cancer five years ago in order to reach a survival number, the treatments have improved somewhat during that time period. This means there could be a more favorable outlook for women who develop ovarian cancer as compared to those women who were diagnosed five years ago. In any case, these survival rates are based on the outcomes of large numbers of people, but they cannot definitively conclude your survival rates, so it is important to hear or read them with some reservations. 

There are many factors which go into a determination of how well a specific person will do once they are diagnosed with cancer. There are a number of other factors which can affect your prognosis, including your overall health, your mental outlook on life, the grade of your cancer, what type of treatment you receive, and how well your cancer responds to treatment. When taken as a whole, for every type of ovarian cancer, there is a 45 percent 5-year relative survival rate. Women who are diagnosed when they are younger will often do better than women who are diagnosed at age 65 or above. If the ovarian cancer is found early—as it is in only about 15-20 percent of all ovarian cancers—and treated successfully before it has a chance to spread, there is a 92 percent 5-year relative survival rate. Below are more specific survival rates, depending on type and stage of ovarian cancer.

• Invasive Epithelial Ovarian Cancer:
  
  • Stage I—90 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IA—94 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IB—92 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IC—85 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage II—70 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IIA—78 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IIB—73 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage III—39 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IIIA—59 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IIIB—52 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IIIC—39 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IV—17 percent 5-year survival rate
• Ovarian Stromal Tumors
  
  • Stage I—95 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage II—78 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage III—65 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IV—35 percent 5-year survival rate
• Germ Cell Ovarian Tumors
  
  • Stage I—98 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage II—94 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage III—87 percent 5-year survival rate
  • Stage IV—69 percent 5-year survival rate

The Danger of Baby Powder with Talc: Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits

Women across the nation are likely feeling some anxiety regarding the recent news about talcum powder ovarian cancer. More than 1,200 women have filed talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson. Also known as baby powder cancer, it appears there was evidence linking the use of talcum powder in the genital region to ovarian cancer as far back as the 1970’s. At that time, talc fibers were found deeply imbedded in the ovarian tissues taken from women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Since that time, numerous studies have been done on the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. While some of the studies have been inconclusive, others have shown a clear link between the use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene and ovarian cancer, with some studies concluding there was a 30-40 percent increased risk of ovarian cancer among women using talcum powder in the genital region.

What is the Prognosis for Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Victims?

The prognosis for any victim of talcum powder related ovarian cancer would depend on a number of factors, be derived from the same analysis applied to other Ovarian Cancers, and can only properly be determined by a knowledgeable and experienced Gynecologic Oncologist, with one unique consideration:

The scientific studies that have been put forth that point to a link between the use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene and an increased risk for Ovarian Cancer also point to the rise of Ovarian Epithelial Tumors in connection with this practice. Epithelial Tumors comprise the majority of Ovarian Cancers, and are subcategorized based on cell pathology (serous, endometrioid, clear cell, mucinous, etc.). This factor would likely be relevant in any prognosticative analysis.

Legal Help for Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Victims: Did you use baby powder wit talc or Shower to Shower for feminine hygiene?

Three juries have reached the conclusion that Johnson & Johnson was well aware of the potential link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, yet failed to warn women of those risks. In the first talcum powder lawsuit in 2013, the jury found in favor of the plaintiff, Deane Berg, although she was awarded no damages. The second talcum powder lawsuit was held before a Missouri jury in February 2016, and, once again, the jury found in favor of the family of Jacqueline Fox, who died of ovarian cancer approximately four months prior to the beginning of the trial.

In prior depositions, Fox stated she used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder with talc and J & J’s Shower to Shower for more than three decades. Fox’s family was awarded $72 million--$10 million in compensatory damages and $62 million in punitive damages. The third talcum powder lawsuits was decided by another Missouri jury in May 2016. The jury awarded plaintiff Gloria Ristesund $55 million in damages--$5 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages.

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and you used talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes, you could benefit from speaking to a talcum powder ovarian cancer attorney who can investigate, evaluate, and potentially file a talcum powder lawsuit on your behalf.