A Texas talcum powder cancer lawsuit could be an option for women who used baby powder products and developed ovarian cancer. Over the past several generations, talcum powder has become a fixture in the bathrooms and nurseries of many Americans. It has long been promoted as an ideal personal hygiene product, as well as one that will keep babies clean and comfortable. However, women in lawsuit filings are claiming that their frequent use of the talc-based products manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and others has led to the development of ovarian cancer, one of the most common and deadly cancers in women. Affected women and their families may be able to seek compensation for their injuries with the help of a Texas talcum powder lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Texas 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 attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Talc?
The main ingredient in talcum powder is the mineral talc, as the name suggests. According to the Minerals Education Coalition, all of the talc used in U.S. products is sourced in America. It is generally removed from the ground using open-pit mining techniques, mainly in Texas, Vermont, Montana and New York.
According to Geology.com, talc is crushed in a mill after it is removed through techniques that include crushing, blasting and drilling the rock in which it is found. Considered the softest mineral found on earth, talc is easy to crush and grind down into a fine powder. In its powder form, it is used in numerous products in a wide range of industries. These products include paper and plastic, but can also be found in most cosmetics, roofing products, paint and baby powder.
Talcum Powder Uses
In many homes, mothers use talcum powder on their babies to prevent diaper rash. Talcum powder is very good at absorbing liquid, which makes it ideal for using on areas that are prone to wetness and irritation, such as the diaper area. In addition, many women use talcum powder to reduce chaffing, odor and moisture in the genital area. It is common for women to sprinkle talcum powder onto sanitary napkins to improve comfort, as well.
Concerns over the safety of using talcum powder in the genital area typically involve the possibility of the powder entering a woman’s body through the vagina. One British gynecologist suggests that the genital use of talcum powder can lead to vaginal or pelvic infections that have the potential to cause infertility.
Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer
While there is literature reaching back to the 1960s in which researchers looked at the association between talc-based powders and ovarian cancer, some more recent studies have found more substantial links between the two. In 2013, researchers published a study in Cancer Prevention Research in which it was determined that women who used talcum powder were at a 20 to 30 percent higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who did not use powder.
Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuits
Currently, there are about 1,200 lawsuits pending against talcum powder manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. In the majority of these lawsuits, the plaintiffs claim that their repeated genital use of Johnson & Johnson’s products caused them to develop life-threatening ovarian cancer. A verdict was recently reached in one such case in Missouri.
In February 2016, an Alabama woman’s family was awarded $72 million in damages from Johnson & Johnson. The woman at the center of the case died from ovarian cancer at the age of 61 in October 2015, but her family continued the lawsuit after her death, upholding her claims that her long-term use of talcum powder led to the development of cancer.
How a Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas. 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 Texas today.
