A Kansas talcum powder cancer lawsuit could be an option for women who used baby powder products for feminine hygiene and developed ovarian cancer. For many women, talcum powder is a product that is used on a daily basis, either for their children or for their own personal hygiene. However, a number of lawsuit filings are alleging a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. In some cases, women who have developed ovarian cancer used talcum powder for decades as part of their regular personal care routine. Affected women and their families may be able to seek compensation for their injuries with the help of a Kansas talcum powder lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kansas today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Kansas talcum powder cancer lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Cosmetic Product Uses
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that it is responsible for regulating cosmetic products. Although soap is not a cosmetic, the list does include makeup, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, hair color and other substances intended to cleanse, beautify or change the appearance. Cosmetics may be applied to the body by ways such as rubbing, sprinkling or spraying, or they may also be introduced into the body.
Companies do not need to get FDA approval before putting their cosmetic products on the market as long as they meet certain requirements. For example, the product cannot include color additives or other prohibited or restricted ingredients, and individual ingredients and the finished product must be safe for the intended use listed on the label.
The label must also meet the FDA requirements, and a company violates regulations if the packaging has false or misleading information, does not include all the required information or it is not displayed prominently enough.
Talcum Powder Safety
According to CosmeticsInfo.org, the mineral talc is an ingredient in many cosmetic products because it keeps powders from caking and clumping. Those same absorbent properties also make it beneficial for skin. In addition to preventing rashes from friction, moisture and chafing, it has deodorant properties.
Talc occurs naturally with the known carcinogen asbestos, and they are mined together, but according to the FDA, when the asbestos is removed, talc has been approved for a number of uses. Because of scientific reports of a potential link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, the FDA randomly tested cosmetic products containing talcum powder. All of the cosmetics that were tested were found to be pure and free of asbestos, as indicated on the label.
Talc and Ovarian Cancer Research
Although the powder does not contain asbestos, there are still studies that link it to ovarian cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Over the years, researchers have continued to test the mineral’s safety on laboratory animals and monitor cancer rates of people who use it against those who do not. However, the results have been inconclusive.
Some studies have reported that animals exposed to talc developed tumors, and others indicate an increased risk of ovarian cancer when women apply the powder to the genital area over time. Not all of the research has returned these results, leading professionals to question the validity of the tests. However, doctors have recently discovered talc in ovarian cancer tissues, and this suggests that the mineral can travel from the genitals to the reproductive organs.
Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuits
A Kansas talcum powder cancer lawsuit attorney notes that research results have been strong enough to convince more than one jury that the risk of ovarian cancer is higher after long-term application of talcum powder on the perineal area. They determined that Johnson and Johnson baby powder and ShowerToShower cosmetic products do not have adequate warnings on the label. For example, the ShowerToShower label states that it is safe for use everywhere on the body, and does not include a warning of the potential for increased risk. The family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer was awarded millions of dollars in actual and punitive damages in one February 2016 lawsuit.
How a Kansas Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit Can Help
When people suffer from severe side effects from a dangerous or defective product, they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and damages. The types of losses that can be recovered include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of an ability to work; and
- Pain and suffering
If a person dies from complications caused by a defective product, family members may be able to recover damages for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical expenses prior to death
- Loss of economic support; and
- Loss of companionship
If the conduct of a company in manufacturing and selling a product is found to be highly reckless, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the company and deter similar conduct in the future.
Affected women and their families are encouraged to seek the advice of a Kansas talcum powder cancer lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kansas. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Kansas today.
