Plaintiff Henrietta L., a resident of New York, files a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, alleging she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using the company’s baby powder product.

According to the ovarian cancer risk lawsuit, Henrietta used Johnson’s Baby Powder product for nearly her entire life. She says that as an infant her mother would also apply Johnson’s Baby Powder to her and that she continued to use the product as she grew up.

Henrietta states that there were no warnings regarding risks of patients developing ovarian cancer due to use of the product. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015.

Henrietta filed the ovarian cancer risk lawsuit on Dec. 4, 2017 in New York federal court. The ovarian cancer risk lawsuit asserts multiple claims including failure to warn, design or manufacturing defect, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, punitive damages, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and fraud.

Ovarian Cancer Risk

Johnson’s Baby Powder is composed of a mineral known as talc. Studies suggest that the use of talc powder on the genitals may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

Studies have reportedly linked ovarian cancer to talcum powder since the 1970’s. In fact, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a meta-analysis of 21 studies published in 2006, found an increase of 33% for development of ovarian cancer after exposure to talc for perineal use.

This and many other study results have led to many talcum powder lawsuits. Claims against Johnson & Johnson accuse the company of knowing about the ovarian cancer risk associated with the use of talc since 1982,  and they assert that the company failed to advise consumers of such warnings.

Due to women developing ovarian or uterine cancer after perineal use of the talc-based product, there are nearly 5,000 pending lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson in federal and state court. Johnson & Johnson has been hit with tens of millions of dollars in judgments awarded to women who allege developing ovarian cancer after their use of the company’s baby powder product.

Talc Product Uses

Talc, composed of magnesium, silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen, is a naturally occurring mineral that can absorb oils, odor, and minerals. Due to these qualities and the added characteristic of reducing friction, it is not surprising that talc was used in Johnson’s Baby Powder and in other hygiene and cosmetic products.

Although talc is a naturally occurring mineral, the body has a difficult time adjusting to talc particles. In a study published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, titled Talc and Carcinoma of the Ovary and Cervix, the study discovered talc particles within tumor tissue.

Even when talc is inhaled, it has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer development. 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.”

The Ovarian Cancer Risk Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-cv-01255-LJV, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.