For many years the risks of developing ovarian cancer from baby powder or talcum powder use were largely unknown by consumers.

But most recently these risks have come into light in the form of several baby powder lawsuitsagainst companies like Johnson & Johnson over their popular talc-based powders known as Johnson’s Baby Powder and Johnson’s Shower to Shower products.

Women sometimes use talc-based or baby powder products, such as Shower to Shower on their genital region for personal hygiene purposes to control and prevent moisture build up.

However, numerous research studies cited in baby powder cancer lawsuits suggest that women who regularly use talcum baby powder have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

This is concerning for the large percentage of women who use baby powders for personal hygiene purposes after showering.

Concerns About Baby Powder Cancer Risk

It is believed that talcum powders used on the genital area may increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer when the small talc fibers travel inside a woman’s body and travel up deep into the pelvis and ovaries. This causes the tissue in the body to become inflamed which creates an environment that allows cancer cells to flourish.

Talc particles have been compared to asbestos particles which cause a rare but deadly form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. It was estimated by the American Cancer Society that in 2014 over 21,000 women would be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Their statistics also suggested that over 14,000 women would die of ovarian cancer that same year.

Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuits

Potential baby powder lawsuits will likely allege that the product manufacturer failed to warn the medical community and the general public about dangerous risks associated with women using talcum baby powder.

Plaintiffs from successful baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuits may receive compensation for their injuries and the pain and suffering that they have experienced due to their injuries.   Lawsuits like these help hold manufacturers, like Johnson & Johnson accountable to consumers.

A prospective plaintiff bringing a baby powder lawsuit will likely have the option of bringing a case individually or as part of a class action lawsuit. Individual lawsuits often provide the plaintiff with more autonomy over the case, while class action lawsuits help to share the costs of litigation among the various members.

In certain specific cases, a plaintiff bringing a lawsuit individually may submit a request to begin multidistrict litigation. Multidistrict litigation funnels multiple cases that share similar facts and questions of law before a single judge. This process helps to expedite the litigation in an efficient and consistent manner.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after regularly using talc-based baby powder, you may be entitled to compensation.

In general, baby powder cancer lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.