A married couple has filed a talc cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, the makers of the company’s baby powder product, alleging the wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer due to her use of the product for more than 20 years.

Plaintiffs Jennifer M. and Peter M. filed the talc cancer lawsuit in a Washington federal court.

According to the talc cancer lawsuit, Jennifer says that she used Johnson’s Baby Powder for over 20 years for feminine hygiene, including during her “reproductive years.” She claims that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008.

Beginning in 1984, she says, she purchased Johnson’s Baby Powder product and started using it daily in and around her perineal area. She claims that she followed instructions accompanied with the product, yet was never warned of the potential serious adverse side effect of developing ovarian cancer as a result of its use.

Subsequently after becoming diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she underwent exploratory laparotomy, omentectomy, peritoneal biopsies, and bilateral pelvic lymph node biopsy and paraortic lymph node dissection.

According to the talc cancer lawsuit, Jennifer states that she “developed ovarian cancer as a direct and proximate result of the unreasonably dangerous and defective nature of talcum powder, the main ingredients of Johnson’s Baby Powder…”

The talc cancer lawsuit was filed on Dec. 19, 2017, and filed on multiple counts including failure to warn, defective design, negligence, gross negligence, breach of express warranty, concert of action, civil conspiracy, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation and fraud, among others.

Overview: Talc Cancer Lawsuit

Thousands of lawsuits claim that Johnson’s Baby Powder increases the risk of ovarian cancer when it is used in the genital area for an extensive amount of time.

Johnson & Johnson first debuted its baby powder product in 1894 as an effective treatment for baby diaper rash and other minor irritations. The product evolved, however, and became a way for women to take care of feminine hygiene.

Talc products, like Johnson’s Baby Powder, have been shown to increase the risk for ovarian cancer development. Talc, a very soft mineral, has been used as a cosmetic product component for many years, in addition to other products. It is known to reduce friction and absorb moisture.

However, over decades more than 20 studies have linked the development of ovarian cancer to talc mineral use. Sixteen of these studies were analyzed and what was found was that there was a 33 percent risk for women using talcum powder to develop ovarian cancer.

Accusations against Johnson & Johnson state that the company knew of these risks but failed to provide any warnings. As a result, thousands of women have filed talc cancer lawsuits due to their development of ovarian cancer.

One study, conducted as early as 1971, discovered that, for several women who developed ovarian cancer, talc particles were “deeply embedded” within the tumors.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), “perineal use of talc-based body powder is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).”

The Talc Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-06054, in the U.S. District Court for the Washington District of Washington, at Tacoma.