Johnson & Johnson is facing a new product liability claim from a woman alleging ovarian cancer caused by the company’s talc powder products. The company has been recently facing claims from women alleging ovarian cancer caused by talc powder, after these claimants had allegedly used Johnson & Johnson talc products.

Plaintiff Gwen R. is filing this talcum powder cancer lawsuit, alleging Johnson & Johnson had failed to warn her against the potential of ovarian cancer caused by talc powder. Like millions of other consumers in the United States, Gwen had used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products for typical purposes, including personal feminine hygiene.

According to her talcum powder cancer lawsuit, Gwen had used the company’s talcum powder products for feminine hygiene purposes between 1970 and 1992. During all times relevant, Gwen says she used the talcum powder products for their intended and marketed use and did not deviate from the instructions on the product’s labels.

Nowhere on the product’s label mentioned a risk of ovarian cancer caused by talc powder, Gwen claims, nor did the company contact Gwen to disclose the alleged correlation.

Overview of Ovarian Cancer Caused by Talc Powder

According to the talcum powder cancer lawsuit, Gwen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in May 1992; she was only 35 years old at the time. Gwen opted to file legal action against Johnson & Johnson, after discovering the company may have known about the risk of ovarian cancer caused by talc powder.

Her talcum powder cancer lawsuit noted that the first study to observe this correlation was conducted in 1971, with over 27 additional inquiries that observed the alleged correlation.

Gwen states that she and other women were encouraged to use talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes, with marketing statements like “a sprinkle a day keeps the odor away.” Johnson & Johnson encouraged women to use their products, like Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower, for many hygiene purposes, especially for odor and wetness control.

Women were allegedly told that by sprinkling talcum powder in their underwear, they could counteract vaginal odors and manage any friction or other symptoms with it. By doing this however, numerous women were putting themselves at risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Talc Particle Risk

Researchers believe that when talcum powder is applied to a woman’s genital area, the talc particles can enter the body and eventually become embedded in the ovaries. After a number of years being dormant, the talc particles may trigger the development of cancer.

At this point the medical community is not sure why ovarian cancer caused by talc powder is a possibility, although it has been pointed out that talc particles are tied to asbestos.

Many lawsuits claim that even though Johnson & Johnson was allegedly aware that ovarian cancer caused by talc powder is a significant risk to patients, the company failed to disclose this information to general public.

At all times relevant, Gwen says she relied on the information provided by Johnson & Johnson and would not have used their products if she had known that ovarian cancer caused by talc powder was a risk. Gwen is seeking multiple damages in her talcum powder cancer lawsuit, including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-01284-RC, in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia.