Scientific research indicates that talc-based products used for feminine hygiene purposes can lead to an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is a serious disease and is expected to result in more than 14,000 deaths this year in the United States, which means it is the fourth most common fatal cancer in women.

The major talcum product manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, has failed to warn consumers of the risks of talcum powder and ovarian cancer, according to allegations in a number of talcum powder lawsuits over the last several years.

Research Indicates Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Risk

According to several studies, women using talcum powder and other talc-based products in and around their genital areas may be more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who choose another product or did not use a product in their genital regions at all.

Once talcum powder is applied, the mineral can reportedly travel into the vagina where it can eventually make its way into the ovaries. As a result, the ovaries may recognize this foreign substance and attempt to fight off the mineral by becoming inflamed and irritated.

For over four and half decades, numerous research studies have suggested a link between use of talcum powder products and ovarian cancer.

Here is a summary of important studies conducted on the use of baby powder and ovarian cancer:

• In the 1970s, an article on ovarian cancer caused by talcum powder was published in The Lancet warning, “The potentially harmful effects of talc . . . in the ovary . . . should not be ignored.”
• In 1992, the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published a study reporting that a woman’s frequent use of baby powder on her genitals increases her risk of ovarian cancer by threefold.
• In 1997, a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology affirms that perineal dusting of talcum powder contributes to the risk of cancer. It suggests talcum genital deodorant sprays contribute to cancer growth as well.
• In 2003, a meta-analysis, which compiles and reviews data from 16 previous studies, was published in the journal Anticancer Research. Based on research with nearly 12,000 women, the study concludes that perineal baby powder use is associated with a 33 percent increase in ovarian cancer risk.
• In 2008, Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Margaret Gates reaffirms that weekly use of talcum powder for perineal dusting increases the risk of ovarian cancer by 33 percent. Dr. Gates also asserts that daily use of a product such as Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower talcum powder increases the risk of ovarian cancer by 41 percent.
• In 2010, Gates, along with two other Harvard researchers, published a study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention in which the role of talc particles in other endometrial cancer development was investigated. This study reinforces the notion that talc in baby powder is carcinogenic to humans.

Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits

In October 2013, the first talcum powder cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson ended in favor of the plaintiff. A South Dakota jury found that Johnson & Johnson failed to adequately research the link between its product and ovarian cancer and did not warn of the potential relationship on the labeling of the product’s packaging.

According to the plaintiff, she used Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products for more than 30 years before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and have a history of using talc body powder or baby powder, including, Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder, Shower-to-Shower Body Powder, and other talc-based products may have grounds for a talcum powder cancer lawsuit.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and have used talcum powder, then you may be eligible to file a claim against talcum powder manufacturers.