Many cigarette companies knew about the health risks associated with their product years before it was brought to light to the general public. The same goes for the railroad industry and exposure to toxic asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, history appears to be repeating itself when it comes to exposure to talcum powder.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is facing numerous lawsuits that allege the company failed to warn women about the risk of developing ovarian cancer after using talcum or baby powder near the genital area. Moreover, the company is accused of knowing about the ovarian cancer risk as far back as 1982, but failed to warn consumers.
Does Talcum Powder Cause Cancer?
Researchers have been studying the potential link between ovarian cancer and talcum powder for several years. Researchers hypothesize that talc powder, when used near the genitals, can travel to the ovaries and become embedded within the ovarian tissue. Although talc is a natural mineral, it is difficult for the body to remove the particles, and as a result, inflammation may occur as well as cancerous tumors.
In May 2015, a study by the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer found that talc use increased the risk of ovarian cancer by 30 to 60 percent in “nearly all well-designed studies.”
The National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, today, warn about the use of talc near the genitals and the “risk factor” for ovarian cancer. However, despite all the links suggesting the cancer link to talc, Johnson & Johnson and other talc makers have yet to place warnings about this risk on their products.
Lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson
There are several pending lawsuits against J&J. Most recently, Johnson and Johnson lost a case against a woman who claimed her daily use of J&J products caused ovarian cancer.
A Missouri State jury ordered the drug giant to pay a rather hefty $72 million in damages to the family of Jacqueline Fox, who used the products for more than 35 years but passed from cancer before the ruling in her case.
While this may be one specific (costly) case, some 1,000 other, baby powder-related lawsuits pending, nationwide. If you or someone you known has developed ovarian cancer in connection with using baby powder or talcum, you might be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Contact our firm today for a free consultation to preserve your rights.
To get more free legal information about talc powder lawsuits, check out this info page.
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