Talc baby powder has been in the news a lot lately over a possible connection with cancer, leaving many consumers with the question: is talc carcinogenic?

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has been the target of a number of talc cancer lawsuitsover their Shower to Shower baby powder products. These lawsuits claim that using talc powder directly caused some women to develop ovarian cancer.

Recently, the company has been ordered to pay $51 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer, allegedly due to talc powder usage.

Jackie F. had used Johnson & Johnson baby powder for years in her genital area for feminine hygiene purposes, but was later diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Eventually, she died from this disease.

A Missouri court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay the $51 million to the late woman’s family.

Though Johnson & Johnson is expected to appeal this decision, it is just one of over a thousand lawsuits over talc ovarian cancer brought forward by American consumers.

These lawsuits allege they were not properly warned about the risks of using talc powder and that, had they been warned, they would have chosen a safer alternative.

Talc Powder Cancer

Experts are still divided on whether or not talc power can actually cause cancer, despite the growing number of reports.

It is important to note that there are various types of talcum powder. Originally, talc contained magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. However, some talc has been found to contain asbestos, which can cause lung cancer.

Now, baby powder is either made with corn starch, which has no links to cancer, or talc that is completely free of asbestos.

While this powder is believed to be safe for the most part, and Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder has been a trusted product for years, some studies and reports suggest that even this talc powder may cause ovarian cancer if used on the female genital area, which many women do as part of their personal hygiene routine.

While some studies have found a link between talc powder and ovarian cancer, other studies suggest this could be flawed, relying on evidence provided by people who may have used asbestos-containing talc powder.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the talc available today from companies like Johnson & Johnson is “not classifiable as to carcinogenicity” when it is inhaled through the lungs. However, the agency does admit that the use of talc in the female genital area is “possibly carcinogenic.”

A British gynecologist, Dr. Ahmed Ismail, calls these talc powder ovarian cancer concerns to be “very, very unscientific.” According to Dr. Ismail, “We are unable to detect the reasons for ovarian cancer. Whoever claims it is related to talcum powder, that’s a fallacy. We cannot say that we know there is a relationship between talcum powder and ovarian cancer.”

If you or someone you love has used Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower, baby powder, or a similar talc powder product, and have since been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you may be able to file a lawsuit.