A woman from Alabama alleges she developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products for years.

Plaintiff Elnore E. had reportedly started using the products on a regular basis for feminine hygiene purposes in January 1968, as the company stated the powder products were safe and effective solutions for this treatment. She claims the company knew about the alleged correlation between talcum baby powder and ovarian cancer, but still encouraged women to apply those products to their genital area.

For decades, Johnson & Johnson has advertised their talcum baby powder and Shower to Shower powder to women by using words like “clean” or “fresh” in conjunction with feminine hygiene.

Talc is a soft material that is ground up into fine powder, which is a good absorbent for moisture and is a good treatment for dry skin, rash, and excess wetness. With such usage, Johnson & Johnson has also marketed talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes.

For decades, women often lined their underwear with baby powder to treat unwanted odor, wetness, or dry skin. While the use is very widespread, it has allegedly put many women at an increased risk for developing ovarian cancer, as emphasized by the Cancer Society.

According to her baby powder cancer lawsuit, Elnore had used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products on a regular basis until January 2015. The year prior to this, on Jan. 1, 2014, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and later discovered the alleged correlation between baby powder use and ovarian cancer.

Overview of Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer

It is currently unknown why talcum powder may be inducing ovarian cancer in some women, but it’s not the only risk. It has been discovered that talc can also contain asbestos. This means that talcum powder could carry a serious carcinogenic risk when using it at all, as asbestos fibers are potentially being inhaled or swallowed after each use.

In the case of feminine health, however, since 1982 there have been over 27 studies indicating a correlation between talcum powder and ovarian cancer with the results of each inquiry indicating increased risk.

It’s possible that when talcum powder is applied to the woman’s genital area, the talc particles could enter the woman’s vagina and into her fallopian tubes. These particles may eventually embed themselves in the ovaries and fester after a certain number of years, ultimately causing cancer.

It is important to note that cornstarch has been shown to have the same hygienic benefits as talcum powder without the carcinogenic risks, and research indicates cornstarch may be a good alternative. Johnson & Johnson however, even with this information,  allegedly failed to utilize cornstarch in their products for customer safety.

In the case of Elnore, at all times relevant she says she relied on the marketing materials presented by Johnson & Johnson and had no way of knowing about the alleged ovarian cancer risk. Her baby powder cancer lawsuit alleges she was deprived of the ability to make an informed medical decision because these facts were either not present or withheld.

Elnore is seeking a multitude of damages against Johnson & Johnson, including counts of negligence and failure to warn. Her Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 1:19-cv-00262, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.