Several baby powder cancer lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson alleging the company was aware of the risk of developing ovarian cancer associated with its products and failed to adequately warn users about baby powder cancer risks.

Millions of women have used J&J’s Baby Powder or Shower to Shower for personal hygienic reasons. However, women who use these products may increase their chance of developing baby powder cancer by as much as 24 percent.

Baby Powder and Shower to Shower include talcum powder, a substance that has been related to cancer. Some say that talcum powder is similar to asbestos, which has caused many cases of deadly lung cancer.

When talcum powder is used in the female genital area, the particles may travel into the body. The particles stay in the pelvis or ovaries for years. Talcum powder then can trigger inflammation, which can lead to the development of baby powder cancer.

Researchers have been concerned with talcum powder cancer risks since the 1960s, yet J&J allegedly continued to advertise its baby powder for feminine hygienic purposes.

Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit

One baby powder cancer lawsuit was filed by an Illinois woman who used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder. Believing she was practicing safe feminine hygiene, she allegedly continued to use baby powder for 20 years.

In 2012, the woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She alleges J&J’s baby powder was the cause of her cancer.

In the baby powder cancer lawsuit, she claims that she would never had used the product, especially for so long, had she been aware of of cancer risks. J&J was accused of failing to warn against baby powder cancer risks.

Baby Powder Cancer Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A New Jersey woman allegedly used baby powder, with talcum powder, in her genital area since childhood. She allegedly continued this practice because there was no warning that suggested baby powder could lead to cancer.

The woman died from ovarian cancer in 2012 at the age of 63.

Her family filed the baby powder cancer wrongful death lawsuit on her behalf in order to seek justice for Johnson & Johnson’s alleged baby powder side effects.

The baby powder cancer lawsuit noted that, “despite the mounting scientific and medical evidence regarding talc use and ovarian cancer,” Johnson & Johnson has not changed the warning labels on its talcum powder products.

The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 15,000 women will die from ovarian cancer in 2014 and almost 22,000 women will be diagnosed. Other studies have found a strong correlation between talcum powder/baby powder use and ovarian cancer.