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- Did you or a loved one use Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder or Shower to Shower talcum powder daily for personal hygiene for four or more years?
- Did you develop BRCA Negative ovarian cancer (fallopian, serous, serous invasive)?
- Were you or a loved one diagnosed by age 65?
If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
What is Talc (Talcum Powder)?
Talc is a naturally-occurring mineral made of hydrated magnesium silicate.
Raw talc is refined into a white, fibrous powder sold as talcum powder.
Talcum powder is effective at:
- Reducing Friction
- Absorbing Moisture
- Removing Unpleasant Odors
Because of these qualities, talcum powder has been used as the main ingredient in personal hygiene products. It is also used in baby powder. It is also used on diaphragms and condoms for its friction-reducing ability.
Cosmetically, talcum powder is usually sprinkled directly on the skin:
- On underwear
- In shoes
- On babies and diapers
- On women’s sanitary pads.
The Dangers of Using Talcum Powder For Feminine Hygiene
Talcum powder is considered safe for most applications.
However, when used for feminine hygiene, talcum powder can cause serious, even life-threatening problems.
If you or someone you know has been injured or impacted by using talc or talcum power, contact Amber Pang Parra for a free consultation at (855) 452-5529 or pharma@justinian.com.
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The Link Between Talc/Talcum Powder And Ovarian Cancer
Numerous studies by the National Institute of Health and other researchers indicate a link between talcum powder use for feminine hygiene and the development of ovarian cancer.
In fact, this potential link has been known for decades, but the manufacturers of these products chose to keep this information from the public.
Talc Is A Mineral That Can Embed In Human Tissue Like Asbestos
Like asbestos, talc is a silicate mineral with crystalline structure. In fact certain talc-based products also once contained asbestos.
NOTE: All talc-based products have been free of asbestos since the 1970s. Although similar in chemical structure, Talc and asbestos are different substances and should not be confused.
But as a mineral that can be inhaled, talcum powder has long been known to cause respiratory problems, particularly in infants.
Research has demonstrated that baby powder inhalation can lead to:
- Fast and shallow breathing
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Acute or chronic lung irritation
- Pneumonia and asthma symptoms with long-term exposure
Talc and Talcum Powder Can Migrate Through The Body
In the way that asbestos particles can be inhaled into the lungs, health research has demonstrated that talcum powder used in feminine hygiene products can enter the body (through the vagina) and work its way through the uterus and fallopian tubes to reach the ovaries.
Once there, the talc particles become embedded in the mucous membrane of the woman’s ovaries. This causes inflammation, which can eventually lead to ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer may have developed from vaginal exposure to:
- Talcum Powder
- Sanitary Pads
- Condoms
Some experts even say that talcum powder could also increase the risk of ovarian cancer by suppressing certain antibodies that usually protect against cancer.
Multiple Health Studies Indicate A Link Between Talc / Talcum Powder And Ovarian Cancer
- As early as 1971, a study of women with ovarian cancer found talc particles embedded in 75% of all the ovarian tumors the researchers examined.
- The Journal of Gynecological Cancer published a study showing that frequent application of talcum powder to a woman’s genital area could increase her risk of developing ovarian cancer by as much as 30% to 60%.
- In June 2013, the Cancer Prevention Research medical journal published a study showing that women in the study who used talcum powder for feminine hygiene over long periods of time had a 20-30% higher risk of developing ovarian than the women who didn’t.
- Harvard University epidemiologist Daniel W. Cramer has testified in court that he believes It is believed that as many as 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer per year are talc-related.
Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
Many products using talcum powder are manufactured by various different hygiene companies. Among them, two have been the focus of legal actions by consumers who say they developed ovarian cancer from their use of products containing talcum powder:
- Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder
- Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower
Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson and other talcum powder manufacturers alleging that the companies knew of the dangers for over 40 years. Despite this alleged knowledge, the companies chose to put profits over people and hid the risks.
Some Talc Personal Injury Lawsuits Have Resulted In Jury Verdicts Against The Manufacturers Of Talc-Based Products
- October 2013
A jury in South Dakota found that a 56-year-old woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006 developed it from years of using Shower to Shower powder.
Three different doctors used electron microscopy to examine her tumors. All three doctors found talc in every one of her tumors. The doctors testified as expert witnesses that the talc in the powder caused the woman’s ovarian cancer.
One of the doctors who examined the tumors and testified was Harvard University epidemiologist Daniel W. Cramer, who believes at least 10,000 ovarian cancer cases were caused by exposure to talc. - February 2016
Another jury found in favor of the family of a woman who lost her life to ovarian cancer that they determined was caused by her long-term talcum powder use. - May 2016
Yet another jury verdict for the plaintiff, a woman with ovarian cancer who used talcum powder for decades.
Multi-District Litigation In Personal Injury Lawsuits For Talc Injuries
When a person or company hurts a group of people in similar ways, those people can sometimes combine their lawsuits. One way of doing that is called a multi-district litigation (MDL).
In an MDL, the people suing (the plaintiffs) are often in different districts. But an MDL allows them to share the cost of a lawsuit. The court handles all of the cases’ pre-trial proceedings (discovery, etc.) at once.
On October 4, 2016, The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) issued an order consolidating many talc injury lawsuits into a multi-district litigation (MDL). The MDL is being handled in the District of New Jersey, Judge Freda L. Wolfson presiding.
If you or a loved one has been injured by exposure to talcum powder or a talc-based product, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. You need experienced attorneys on your side.
An Texas Personal Injury Law Firm That Knows What You’re Up Against
Talc and Talcum Powder Injury Lawsuits Can Be Complex to Prove
Winning a mass tort lawsuit for injuries caused by hazardous cancer-causing chemicals like talc-based products can involve proving that manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson did not properly warn people taking it of the potential risks.
That can include investigating medical studies, corporate publications and using testimony from experts on how the medication caused an injury. This is not easily done, particularly when drug companies show up with an army of lawyers.
But battling bullies is what Justinian & Associates does.
We Are Warriors For The Injured
Our Texas and San Antonio mass tort lawyers have successfully represented many victims injured by dangerous pharmaceuticals and other hazardous substances. That’s exactly why we were founded.
As our record demonstrates, we have the legal knowledge, the experience, the resources, experience and trained investigators to take on adversaries of any size.
All we do is fight for injured victims. Our only goal is justice for our clients, whatever that means for them. And we do not accept defeat. Unless we get you money for your injuries, you don’t pay us a dime.
The Time to Act is Now
Your rights can be lost if you wait.
There are laws that limit how much time you have to file a lawsuit after being injured. They are known as statutes of limitation. They may apply to your lawsuit to recover for your talc injuries. The countdown may already have begun.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with BRCA Negative ovarian cancer (fallopian, serous, serous invasive) by age 65, after four or more years of using talcum powder as a feminine hygiene product, now is the time to seek legal assistance.
Call, text or email us for a free consultation, with no obligation. Speak to an Texas personal injury attorney from Justinian & Associates (not a “screener” or paralegal) to understand your rights.
