More Women File Lawsuit Alleging Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Link

Families in Washington and Oregon filed product liability lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson saying the company knew its baby powder was linked to ovarian cancer, but failed to warn them. According to a Fox 13 news report, four women said they were diagnosed with ovarian caner after the regular use of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder for decades. The lawsuits were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against Johnson & Johnson on behalf of four women, including Peggy Grundy, an Oregon woman who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2015.

Annalisa Tiffany Woltersdorf, Marcy McBride and Meredith Muller, all of Washington, said they were diagnosed with ovarian cancer over the last six years or so after using the product for decades. Attorneys who are representing these victims say that many cancer-stricken women are just now realizing the link between their use of baby powder for feminine hygiene purposes and ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson has continued to defend its talcum powder products despite more than 1,000 lawsuits filed nationwide.

Talc and Ovarian Cancer

Last month, a jury in St. Louis awarded $70 million to a California woman, who like many others, said she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products for decades. While Johnson & Johnson’s officials have dismissed research and studies done about the link between talc and ovarian cancer as “junk science,” it is irrefutable that the facts are already out there, and have been there since the 1980s. Companies like J & J have just chosen to ignore these studies.

Talcum powder has commonly been used by teens and adult women to dust their genitals or their sanitary napkins to keep the area moisture and odor-free. The continued use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes is what is believed to have caused ovarian cancer in thousands of women today. Existing research may be conflicted on the co-relation between talc usage and the risk of ovarian cancer.

However, studies have confirmed that talcum powder particles were found in large number of ovarian tumors. Scientists and researchers agree that talcum powder, when regularly applied can travel through the vagina, uterus and fallopian tubes into the ovaries.

If You Have Been Affected

Johnson & Johnson had a duty to warn consumers about the heightened risk of ovarian cancer from using their products. However, they have doubled down on their assertion that their products are still safe. They continue to aggressively market these products despite pending lawsuits. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a result of using talcum powder, you may be eligible to receive compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Many of these victims and families have also been receiving punitive damages. An experienced talcum powder ovarian cancer attorney can help victims and their families better understand their legal rights and options.