Talcum powder is a popular choice for many women for feminine hygiene. However, research has suggested that regular use of baby powder products containing talc may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Risk

Talc is a mineral comprised primarily of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. When ground into powder, talc can absorb moisture and reduce friction.

These properties make talcum powder a widely used option used to help keep skin dry and prevent rashes, but talc-containing powders reportedly come with an increased risk of developing talcum powder ovarian cancer.

When talc products such as baby powder are applied to the genital region, talc particles can travel through the female reproductive system to the ovaries. Talc particles may remain in the ovaries for many years, causing inflammation and creating an environment conducive to the growth of cancer cells. One expert estimates that roughly 10,000 women each year develop ovarian cancer as a result of using baby powder or body powder.

While research on the link between talcum powder and cancer has yielded mixed findings, a 2013 study led by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found a 25 percent increase in risk for women using talcum powder in the genital area.

This is not the only study to investigate how regular use of talcum powder causes cancer.  In fact, the talcum powder ovarian cancer risk has been documented through numerous studies dating back to 1971.

Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuits

Despite scientific studies that raise the possibility that talcum powder causes cancer, talc is an unregulated substance in the United States. Although some organizations have issued talcum powder ovarian cancer warnings to caution consumers about the risk of cancer associated with baby powder, neither Johnson & Johnson, a leading manufacturer of talcum powder products, nor the FDA has ever warned American consumers of the risks.

Johnson & Johnson continues to deny the connections and the risks, even though the Department of Health and Human Services has concluded that regular baby powder application leads to higher rates of ovarian cancer.

Fortunately for plaintiffs in baby powder cancer lawsuits, some judges and juries disagree with the FDA and Johnson & Johnson. The first baby powder cancer lawsuit was won in 2013, and a federal jury recently found that talcum contained in some Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products contributed to a woman’s ovarian cancer.

The plaintiff in that case was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006, after about 30 years of using talcum-based Johnson & Johnson powders-including the popular Shower to Shower body powder-as part of her personal hygiene routine. The jury found that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn consumers of a link between the use of talc-based powder for feminine hygiene and a heightened risk of ovarian cancer.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after regularly using a talcum powder product, you may be entitled to compensation.