Johnson and Johnson’s popular baby powder products have been reportedly linked to an increased risk of talcum powder ovarian cancer, prompting many consumers to file product liability lawsuits against the baby powder manufacturer.

These baby powder lawsuits often allege that Johnson & Johnson and other talc-based baby powder makers and distributers violated consumer protection laws and failed to warn consumers about serious side effects associated with using the products.

Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower are popular consumer products, often a hygiene staple in many American households. Many women use the products to control moisture and odor in their genital region.

Research Suggests Talc Powder Cancer Risk

Unfortunately reports of talc powder cancer have surfaced among women who have used these products.

Research published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research noted that women who used talcum based powders on their genitals after showering increased their risk of developing ovarian tumors or talcum powder ovarian cancer by 24 percent.

Researchers believe that talc powder cancer develops when women use talc-based powders on their genital region because the small fibrous talc powders are able to travel inside the woman’s vagina and up into her uterus.

Once in the uterus or ovaries the talc particles become lodge into the tissue and create inflammation and an environment ripe for cancer cells to flourish. Talc particles are sometimes compared to asbestos particles.

While talc is not inherently toxic to humans like asbestos, the two substances can be found in similar settings and are both small fibrous minerals. Talc takes several years to dissolve and researchers suggest that a single talc particle could take up to 8 years before it dissolved in a humans lungs.

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a serious form of cancer that affects thousands of women each year. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 20,000 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014 and over 14,000 women were estimated to have died due to the disease.

According to the Ovarian Cancer Day Organization, the 5 year survival rate for women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in its localized stage is 93 percent. Unfortunately data suggests that only 15 percent of all cases are diagnosed at this early stage.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer include difficulty eating, increased abdominal size, bloating, abdominal pain, and frequent urination.

Many baby powder lawsuits cite that medical professionals have found talc particles lodged in the uterus and ovaries of women who suffer from talcum powder ovarian cancer.

Baby Powder Lawsuits

The first talc powder cancer lawsuit filed against Johnson & Johnson was filed back in 2013. In this baby powder lawsuit, the female plaintiff alleged that the company had failed to warn consumers about the dangerous risks associated with using the product.

Product liability attorneys are currently seeking potential plaintiffs to bring baby powder lawsuits. Patients who developed talcum powder ovarian cancer after using talc-based powder products may have a viable legal claim.

Plaintiffs who bring successful baby powder lawsuits may receive compensation for the pain and suffering they have endured along with payment for their past and future medical bills.