Johnson & Johnson Is To Blame For THOUSANDS Of Ovarian Cancer Cases

Johnson & Johnson to Pay over $110 Million to Woman Who Got Cancer from Its Talcum Powder

“A Sprinkle A Day”

Women whose genitals are exposed to talcum powder are three times more likely to develop ovarian cancer…

A St. Louis jury recently ordered Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest consumer healthcare company, to pay more than $110 million to Lois Slemp.

Slemp is a 62-year-old Virginia woman, who claimed she got ovarian cancer (the deadly disease has now spread to her liver) after four decades of using the U.S. pharmaceutical giant’s talcum powder products.

The jury awarded $5.4 million in compensation with $105 million to be paid as punitive damages.

Lois, who sued Johnson & Johnson in 2012 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, accused the company of failing to warn its customers of the cancer risks linked to its Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder.
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"Johnson & Johnson’s Talcum Powder

Johnson & Johnson first developed baby powder in 1893, promoting it as a means of treating diaper rash in babies.

By 1913, J&J had begun to market the powder to women with slogans like, “Best for baby, best for you,” and by 1965, J&J was producing print advertisements with coupons that included the phrase, “Want to feel cool, smooth, and dry? It’s as easy as taking powder from a baby” and marketing pitches that promoted “A Sprinkle A Day.”

Over the next century, Johnson’s Baby Powder grew into a top selling product and is now commonly found in every home. It continues to be promoted as a means of absorbing unwanted moisture and odors in babies and women. The company still maintains that talc is a safe, essential part of makeup and skin care routines in many parts of the world.

Interestingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t recommend using baby powder on babies – not because of the risk of cancer, but because babies are prone to inhaling the fine particles in the powder and damaging their lungs.
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Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer among women, causing more deaths than any other cancer affecting the female reproductive system, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 22,200 American women will likely be diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Older women (over 40 years of age) are more likely to be stricken with ovarian cancer than younger women, with the greatest number of cases occurring in women over age 63.

As early as the 1970’s scientists began looking at the connection between the dusting of female genitals with talcum powder and ovarian cancer. Based on the marketing of these products to babies and as a feminine ritual, most people assume that such a common household item is safe to use.

Sadly, studies continue to confirm this connection – that talc particles applied to the genitals enter a woman’s reproductive tract through the vagina and continue to travel within the female body increasing the risk of ovarian cancer. However, up until this point, these studies have been kept out of the public eye, confined to medical journals and blog posts.Since the FDA has very limited regulatory power over talcum powder (it is classified as a cosmetic product), it appears that the only way to get consumers the real truth behind this link is through lawsuits.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells, the protective layer of tissue around the lungs, heart, and stomach that cushions the organs, prevents friction, and allows for free movement of the body. Asbestos exposure is responsible for nearly all cases of mesothelioma, which leads to an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 deaths each year in the U.S. On the average, the prognosis for a patient is less than one year from the time of a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Exposure to asbestos dust is considered to be the main cause of mesothelioma, and it is believed that those currently suffering from malignant mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos at least 20 years ago.

Recent talcum powder cases allege that J&J sold their product for decades knowing it contained cancer-causing asbestos fibers." 

Source: https://trulaw.com/talcum-powder/talcum-powder-lawsuit/

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Ovarian cancer is a cancer that forms in or on an ovary.^[4][9]

It results in abnormal cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body.^[10]

When this process begins, there may be no or only vague symptoms.^[1]

Symptoms become more noticeable as the cancer progresses.^[1][11]

These symptoms may include bloating, pelvic pain, abdominal swelling, and loss of appetite, among others.^[1]

Common areas to which the cancer may spread include the lining of the abdomen, lymph nodes, lungs, and liver.^[12]

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the internal organs (known as the mesothelium).^[9] 

The most common area affected is the lining of the lungs and chest wall.^[1][3] 

Less commonly the lining of the abdomen and rarely the sac surrounding the heart,^[10] or the sac surrounding the testis may be affected.^[1][11] 

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma may include shortness of breath due tofluid around the lung, a swollen abdomen, chest wall pain, cough, feeling tired, and weight loss.^[1] 

These symptoms typically come on slowly.^[2]

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Ted Meadows, a Beasley Allen lawyer representing Lois, said in a statement:
“Once again we’ve shown that these companies ignored the scientific evidence and continue to deny their responsibilities to the women of America.

“They chose to put profits over people, spending millions in efforts to manipulate scientific and regulatory scrutiny. I hope this verdict prompts J&J to acknowledge the facts and help educate the medical community and the public about the proper use of their products.”

In February 2016, a jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million to the family of Jackie Fox, who died of ovarian cancer in 2015 as a result of long term usage of Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder.

In May 2016, a court in St. Louis awarded $55 million in damages to Gloria Ristesund, who used Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder for more than 35 years before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011.

In October 2016, Johnson & Johnson lost its third straight lawsuit when a St. Louis jury ordered it to pay more than $70 million to a California woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012, after years of using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder.

 

There are more than 3,000 lawsuits accusing Johnson & Johnson of ignoring studies linking its Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder to ovarian cancer, and failing to warn its customers.

Instead of mending its ways, making its products safer, winning its consumers’ trust, and improving its brand image, Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the unfavorable verdict:

“We deeply sympathize with the women and families impacted by ovarian cancer.

“We will begin the appeals process following today’s [May 4] verdict and believe a jury decision in our favor in St. Louis in March and the dismissal of two cases in New Jersey in September 2016 by a state court judge who ruled that plaintiffs’ scientific experts could not adequately support their theories that talcum powder causes ovarian cancer, further highlight the lack of credible scientific evidence behind plaintiffs’ allegations.

“We are preparing for additional trials this year and we will continue to defend the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder.”

Lois’ lawyers argued that there was evidence linking the use of talcum powder to ovarian cancer. A: In its most natural form, talc contains asbestos, which is known to cause cancer in the lungs when inhaled.

And B: The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the use of talc-based body powder in the genital region as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Cancer Treatment Centers of America notes:

“British researchers in the early 1970s first raised cancer risk concerns around talcum powder when they discovered talc crystals in the ovaries of 10 of 13 cancer victims.

“Ten years later, Dr. Daniel W. Cramer, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, conducted the first of several studies linking talcum powder use to cancer.

“His 1982 study and several since concluded that women whose genitals were exposed to talcum powder were three times more likely to develop ovarian cancer.”

Although, all talcum products in the U.S. have been asbestos free since the 1970s, when a study found that women who regularly used talcum powder on their genital region had a40% higher risk of developing ovarian cancer, American Cancer Society advises:

Until more information is available, people concerned about using talcum powder may want to avoid or limit their use of consumer products that contain it.

https://www.healthfreedoms.org/johnson-johnson-to-pay-over-110-million-to-woman-who-got-cancer-from-its-talcum-powder/

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Early forms of talcum powder (more commonly known as baby or body powder) were discovered to contain the cancer-causing mineral asbestos. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma if it is inhaled, and ovarian cancer if it is used around a woman’s perineum.

In recent years, it has been widely believed that commercial talcum powder products are safe and asbestos-free. But new revelations in research, as well as the recent litigation against baby powder manufacturer Johnson & Johnson, have made it clear that cosmetic products containing talc can put women’s health at risk.

Asbestos and Talcum Powder

In 1976, after it was discovered that many talcum powder products contained asbestos, new standards were put into place requiring talc to be purified before it could be used in consumer products. Consumers were still questioning the safety of talcum powder in the early 2000s, and in 2006 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared that extended use of talc could be carcinogenic.

By 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had responded to increasing concerns by conducting a survey of 34 different cosmetic products. The products were made with talcum powder from four different talc suppliers. Some of the cosmetic powders reviewed by the FDA included:

• Johnson’s Baby Powder
• CVS Brand Baby Powder
• Rite Aid Baby Powder
• Angel of Mine Baby Powder
• Shower to Shower Morning Fresh Absorbent Body Powder

At the time of the survey, the FDA did not find any evidence of asbestos in the products, but it issued a statement that the results “[did] not prove that most or all talc or talc-containing cosmetic products currently marketed in the United States are likely to be free of asbestos contamination.”

It’s worthwhile to note that the FDA does not formally regulate cosmetic products or ingredients. While the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), a nonprofit organization that sets standards for pharmacological products, has set standardized tests for the presence of asbestos, the FDA has suggested that their standards lack specificity. The lack of clear standards and the fact that companies self-regulate their products for asbestos increases the likelihood that asbestos-contaminated products could slip through the cracks and make it to the market.

Could Commercial Talcum Powders Still Contain Asbestos?

In 2014, researchers conducted a study of products produced by an unnamed “historic” brand of cosmetic talcum powders. More than 50 samples of talcum powder produced over a 50-year period were tested in three separate laboratories. All of the samples were positive for the presence of asbestos.

While the study did not name the historic brand in question, the researchers did note that the talc which was positive for asbestos was produced in three regions: “the Willow Creek mine in Southwest Montana, the Regal mine near Murphy, North Carolina, and imported talc from the Val Chisone region of the Italian Piedmont.” The current supplier of Johnson & Johnson talcum powder has active mines in or near two of these regions — one in the Val Chisone region and another within six miles of Willow Creek, Montana.

Johnson & Johnson currently faces more than 2,000 lawsuits over allegations that its talcum powder products have caused ovarian cancer in consumers. In 2016, three plaintiffs were awarded $55 million, $70 million and $72 million for damages caused by the use of Johnson & Johnson products. If Johnson & Johnson products do, in fact, contain asbestos, it could spell a significantly more difficult battle for the cosmetic manufacturer.

How Is Talcum Powder Similar to Asbestos?

Numerous studies dating back to the 1970s have found links between the use of talcum powder and ovarian cancer. A recent meta-study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention found that women who used talcum powder were 20% more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who did not use talcum powder. The study examined data of over 300,000 women from 24 previously published studies. It represents one of the largest-scale compilations of data linking ovarian cancer and talcum powder to date.

Talc is similar to asbestos both in its biological form and in the effect it has on the body. Both talc and asbestos are fibrous in their natural forms. When introduced to the body system, both minerals have also been shown to cause inflammation and suppression of the immune system. In the case of asbestos, these factors are known to play a role in the development of ovarian cancer. The fact that talc can cause a similar reaction in the human body supports the idea that talc itself, and not just talc contaminated with asbestos, could cause ovarian cancer.

Making Changes After Using Talcum Powder Products

There are many cornstarch-based alternatives to baby or body powders containing talc. Consider switching to one of these if you have been using a cosmetic talcum powder like Johnson’s Baby Powder, Baby Magic Baby Powder, or Shower to Shower. It’s also a good idea to consult your OBGYN about your talcum powder use, and make sure that you have regular screenings to ensure your ovarian and gynecological health.

Click here to view a PDF version of this infographic.
https://www.drugcenter.com/blog/relationship-talcum-powder-cancer/
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