Johnson & Johnson is facing a new baby powder cancer lawsuit from a woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer, who alleges her disease was caused directly by the company’s talcum powder products.

The South Carolina woman was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has undergone several serious treatments to prolong her life, with the woman filing legal action against Johnson & Johnson soon after.

Plaintiff Sue S. had been using the company’s talcum powder products for decades, which allegedly resulted in her being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

According to the baby powder cancer lawsuit, Sue had been using Johnson & Johnson baby powder and shower to shower powders from 1960 until 2016.

Sue had used the products on a daily basis and applied the powder to her genital area regularly for feminine hygiene purposes. This is a typical use for talcum powder products, she claims, and Johnson & Johnson marketed its talcum powder products specifically for this use.

Johnson & Johnson even used marketing statements like “A sprinkle a day keeps the odor away” and stated that the powders would make women feel clean and fresh. Sue says she followed all instructions provided on the product’s label when applying the talcum powder and had no reason to believe it would have any serious adverse effects.

However, Sue was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April 2009, which spurred a series of aggressive treatment periods. One of these included an abdominal hysterectomy and several gynecological procedures.

Sue is still contending with the disease and opted to file legal action against the company after discovering Johnson & Johnson allegedly knew about the carcinogenic risks for years.

Overview of Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Correlation

Talcum powder and ovarian cancer were first linked back in 1972 when a study found particles of talc embedded in ovarian cancer tissue. Since 1972, there have been over 20 studies indicating an increased risk of ovarian powder in conjunction with talcum powder use.

One of the most recent studies was conducted in June 2013, which analyzed over 18,000 women in eight case-control studies and found a 20%  increased risk of ovarian cancer. In addition, studies have also found that talcum powder may have similar properties to asbestos, which is a well-known carcinogen for causing severe lung cancer.

Researchers theorize that when talcum powder is applied to the genital area, the talc particles enter the body and travel through the fallopian tubes. Eventually, the talc particles settle in the ovaries and may fester into cancer cells after several years.

Johnson & Johnson were allegedly aware of these studies suggesting a correlation between talcum powder and ovarian cancer but failed to disclose this information to the public. In addition, Sue’s baby powder cancer lawsuit points out the company had safer alternatives like cornstarch to utilize but opted not to.

Sue states she would not have used the company’s talcum powder products if she had known there was a risk of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

This Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-00312-MDL, in the U.S. District Court of South Carolina, Charleston Division.