A South Dakota jury found that the plaintiff’s use of Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower for over 30 years contributed to her diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Though no damages were awarded to the plaintiff in the first-ever product liability case against Johnson & Johnson involving baby powder, the jury expressed hope that Johnson & Johnson would publicly acknowledge studies linking talcum powder products to ovarian cancer, and would add new warnings to its product labels about this potential risk.

During the trial in Sioux Falls federal court, three doctors who examined the plaintiff’s ovarian tissue testified that they had found talcum, and blamed the substance for her cancer. One expert witness who had studied the talcum and ovarian cancer link testified that talcum and baby powders could be a contributing factor in 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer each year.

It is believed that some 40 percent of women regularly use a talcum powder or baby powder product, often in the genital area due to its ability to absorb moisture and prevent chafing and rashes. Talcum is a naturally-occurring substance that contains magnesium, silicon and oxygen.

Johnson & Johnson is the leading manufacturer of talcum powder products, and markets a wide variety of talcum-based baby powders, body powders and genital deodorant sprays.

Studies Link Baby Powder to Ovarian Cancer Risk

Since the early 1970s, studies have been published pointing to a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. The potential link between talcum powder-based products and cancer has been the subject of more than 20 studies over the last several decades.

One of the most recent studies done in 2009 was led by Dr. Margaret Gates from the Harvard Medical School in Boston. It found that women who used talcum powder around their genital area had a 40 percent higher risk of getting ovarian cancer. Researchers used data from the Nurses Health Study (NHS) and data from the New England Case-Control Study (NECC).

Some experts believe talcum powder shares chemical similarities with asbestos, a known carcinogen. Talcum particles have been shown to travel up through the genital tract and inside the pelvis.

Once inside the body, it can take years for talcum particles to dissolve. This can result in inflammation, as well as cancer-causing cell proliferation and DNA damage.

Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits

Any person suffering from ovarian cancer after using talcum baby powder products like Shower to Shower or Johnson’s Baby Powder may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the product’s manufacturer. A baby powder cancer lawsuit could entitle the victim or their family to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, or wrongful death.

If you or a woman you love developed ovarian cancer that may be related to the use of talcum products, you may want to consider filing your own baby powder cancer lawsuit.