Talcum Powder Linked to Ovarian Cancer
Attention: If you or a loved one uses talc powder, you may be at increased risk of ovarian cancer.
A South Dakota jury recently sided with a woman claiming her ovarian cancer was linked to her use of Johnson & Johnson talc-based body powder. The jury stated that J&J should have warned of the risks.
Three doctors analyzed the woman's cancer tissue and found talc. They concluded that the body powder was the cause.
One of those doctors, Daniel Cramer of Harvard University, has studied the association between talc and cancer for 30 years. He stated that talc is probably a factor in 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer each year.
Talc is a mineral made up primarily of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen.
As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction.
It is estimated that 20% to 40% of women use talc powder regularly on their genital area. This usage occurs either through direct application, or as a result of tampons, sanitary pads and diaphragms that have been dusted with talc.
Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women, and the fifth leading cause of female cancer deaths. Each year in the U.S. about 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and about 15,000 die from it.
The FDA stated in 1993 that it was aware of dangers due to talc, but to this day has not taken any action on the problem.
The FDA has even denied petitions requesting that talcum powder products be required to have warnings on their labels.
In 2002, the president of the industry's Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association, Edward Kavanaugh, conceded that talc is toxic and "can reach the human ovaries."
The International Agency for Research (IARC) on Cancer said that based on evidence from human studies, the IARC classifies the perineal (genital) use of talc-based body powder as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."
Anticancer Research published a 'meta-analysis,' or large scale review, of 16 previous published studies involving 11,933 women and found a 33 percent increased risk of ovarian cancer was confirmed.
If you believe that you or a loved one may have been harmed or killed from talcum powder use, contact one of our representatives immediately to find out if you may qualify for compensation: call today at 1 (800) DRUG 411. That's 1 (800) 378-4411.
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