Ovarian Cancer & Talcum Powder Attorneys in New Orleans, LA

Research suggests that talc-based products used for feminine hygiene purposes can lead to an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Daniel Cramer has stated that as many as 10,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer because of their baby powder use. Many state agencies and cancer research centers are now stating that individuals should use cornstarch-based powders instead of talc-based powders because of the cancer risks.

Ovarian cancer is a serious disease and is expected to result in more than 14,000 deaths this year in the United States. This means it is the fourth most common fatal cancer in women. The major talcum product manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, has failed to warn consumers of the risks of talcum powder and ovarian cancer.

Research and cases against talcum powder

Following the 1971 study that first detected a connection between talcum powder use and ovarian cancer, many more scientific studies have been published in prominent medical journals such as Cancer, The Lancet, and Oncology throughout the past decades. The National Cancer Institute and the International Union Against Cancer have published similar findings. A summary of pivotal studies on the use of baby powder and ovarian cancer is set forth here:

• 1970s – An article on ovarian cancer caused by talcum powder in The Lancet warns, “The potentially harmful effects of talc … in the ovary … should not be ignored.”
• 1992 – The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology publishes a study reporting that a woman’s frequent use of baby powder on her genitals increases her risk of ovarian cancer by threefold.
• 1997 – A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology affirms that perineal dusting of talcum powder contributes to the risk of cancer. It suggests talcum genital deodorant sprays contribute to cancer growth as well.
• 2003 – A meta-analysis, which compiled and reviews data from 16 previous studies, was published in Anticancer Research. Based on research with nearly 12,000 women, the study concludes that perineal baby powder use is associated with a 33% increase in ovarian cancer risk.
• 2008 – Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Margaret Gates reaffirms that weekly use of talcum powder for perineal dusting increases the risk of ovarian cancer by 33%. Dr. Gates also asserts that daily use of a product such as Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower talcum powder increases the risk of ovarian cancer by 41%.
• 2010 – Gates, along with two other Harvard researchers, published a study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, in which the role of talc particles in other endometrial cancer development was investigated. This study reinforces the notion that talc in baby powder is carcinogenic to humans.