A woman from Michigan alleges that with a proper warning from Johnson & Johnson, she could have avoided developing talcum powder cancer.

Like numerous women in the United States, plaintiff Mary T. says she used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products close to her genital area. She says this is a common use promoted by Johnson & Johnson for years, with the company using phrases like “clean” and “fresh” to encourage women utilizes the powder for this particular purpose.

According to the talc cancer lawsuit, Mary began using Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower powder in 1957 and used them until January 2016. During the course of this period, Mary says she used the talcum powder products according to label instructions, which reportedly made no mention of any risk of cancer associated with talc.

Mary says she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on May 1, 2004, which was over a decade before she stopped using talcum powder products. Mary opted to file legal action against Johnson & Johnson after discovering there were numerous studies that indicated that talc could be carcinogenic.

Overview of Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Correlation

Talcum powder cancer has been a growing concern in the medical community and patient population, with a growing number of women allegedly developing ovarian cancer from using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder or Shower to Shower Powder. Many of these women have opted to file legal action against the company.

Talc is an organic soft material that is ground up into a fine powder and is good for absorbing moisture, making it a good treatment product for dry skin and diaper rash.

Another popular use for talcum powder is personal female hygiene, in which women apply the powder to their genital area by lining their underwear or other methods.

However, this use has been reportedly putting women at risk for ovarian cancer. Since 1982, there have been over 27 studies indicating an association between ovarian cancer and perineal use of talcum powder. Researchers believe talc particles may enter a woman’s body and embed themselves in her ovaries, where they may trigger the development of cancer.

Many women point out that Johnson & Johnson could have used safer ingredients than talc in its products, ingredients like cornstarch. In at least one study, it was found that cornstarch is not a risk factor for ovarian cancer. Even though Johnson & Johnson was allegedly aware of this information, they still continued to manufacture and product talcum powder products.

Even though this information is vital for patient safety, Johnson & Johnson allegedly failed to disclose this information to the public. At all times relevant, Mary says she relied on the marketing materials and product information provided by Johnson & Johnson. She says that without a proper warning, she had no way of discovering the alleged correlation at a reasonable time.

This Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 1:19-cv-222, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.