A Kentucky talcum powder cancer lawsuit could be an option for women who used baby powder products for feminine hygiene and developed ovarian cancer. Talcum powder is present in a number of consumer products, including many types of cosmetics. Affected women and their families may be able to seek compensation for their injuries with the help of a Kentucky talcum powder lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kentucky 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 Kentucky talcum powder cancer lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Is Talcum Powder?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), talc (an ingredient in a number of cosmetics and personal care products currently on the market) is a mineral that naturally occurs within the earth. In addition to its uses in cosmetics, talc can also be found in some food items (such as chewing gum and rice), and has applications as an additive for orally ingested medications. This has to do with the mineral’s ability to lubricate, which makes swallowing tablets easier.
Talc must be mined in order for it to be used in consumer goods. This has led to some claims that products containing talc (including baby powders) may be contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen that can sometimes be found within those sites where talc is mined. Based on these claims, the FDA undertook a review of a sampling of talc-based products to determine whether they contained levels of asbestos. While the FDA’s testing returned negative results, the agency warned that the relatively small sample size (only four talc suppliers participated in the testing) fails to ensure that other products on the market containing talc are free of asbestos.
Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer
A Kentucky talcum powder cancer lawsuit attorney notes that, despite claims of safety, talcum powder has been allegedly linked to the development of ovarian cancer in some women. This has much to do with talcum powder being used for feminine hygiene purposes, which some allege allows the substance to make its way to the reproductive organs. This is especially true for women who use talc-based products in this manner over the course of their lifetimes.
As described by Medicinenet.com, ovarian cancer is the formation of tumors arising from cells on the ovaries. Ovarian cancer can affect cells present on the surface of the ovaries, abdominal lining and the fallopian tube. Cancer can also develop with the ovary itself, although these formations are far less common. While symptoms of ovarian cancer can be hard to detect, they typically include pain and swelling in the abdomen, changes in bowel/bladder function, fatigue, feeling full quickly when eating and shortness of breath.
Other Talcum Powder Side Effects
In addition to ovarian cancer, exposure to talcum powder has also been associated with other health effects. Medline Plus lists a number of complications associated with long-term inhalation of talc dust, either through occupational exposure or use of consumer products. Symptoms can include irritation of the eyes and throat, diarrhea and/or vomiting, and a diminished urine production. More serious effects include trouble breathing, facial twitching and even coma in extreme cases.
Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuits
Fox News reports on a recent study that found long-term users of talcum powder for feminine hygiene have a 33 percent higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who do not. Additional, the World Health Organization classifies using products containing talc on the genitals as potentially carcinogenic (although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not list talc as a contributor to ovarian cancer).
Findings like these have led to many women filing suit against manufacturers of talcum powder for their failure to offer adequate warning about potential risks. In one case, the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer after using talc-based products for feminine hygiene over 35 years filed suit against Johnson & Johnson and was awarded $72 million in compensation.
How a Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky. 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 Kentucky today.
