WHAT THEY KNEW, WHEN THEY KNEW IT

Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder was first introduced to the public in 1894 and has been a part of millions of people’s daily routine ever since. The familiar delicate scent and the Johnson & Johnson logo have been synonymous with freshness, safety, and purity. However, not everything is as simple as it seems. J&J has been denying for decades that it’s baby powder could cause cancer and has knowingly put countless consumers at risk.

WHAT THEY KNEW

According to ConsumerSafety.org, “The connection [between talc and ovarian cancer] was first suggested in 1971, when a group of gynecologic oncologists noticed that 75% of the tumors they investigated contained talc particles. Since then, many researchers have agreed that talc use increases the risk of developing cancer. Recently, a report from May 2016 determined that 63% of women with ovarian cancer had dusted themselves with talcum powder.”

There are two distinct theories as to how talcum powder causes ovarian cancer. The first explains that when talcum powder is applied to the genitals, it can travel up the fallopian tubes and into the ovaries. This may irritate the tissue causing cells to irregularly multiple resulting in cancer. A second (and more recent) conclusion is that some talcum powder is contaminated with asbestos, a well-known carcinogen. Talc and asbestos are closely related: both are silicate minerals and both talc and amphibole asbestos – known as tremolite – are created by the same geologic processes and are both are forms of magnesium silicate. Many talc mines were contaminated with these tremolite asbestos fibers and then were made into talc products. Talc products have been tested for asbestos since the 1970’s, but according to two recent trials held in March and May 2018, the asbestos found in current talcum powder resulted in two patients being diagnosed with cancer (one in 2016).

WHEN THEY KNEW

Johnson & Johnson has known since 1971 that their baby powder could cause cancer, and yet they continue to deny these claims. The least that this billion dollar company can do is put a warning label on their product, and yet they refuse to do so because they believe that it will confuse their buyers. However, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, which bought J&J’s Shower to Shower brand, has a label on their talcum powder that currently states that is it, “intended for external use only” and that, “frequent application of talcum powder in the female genital area may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.”

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you may be able to join the more than 6,000 other women who have filed claims against Johnson & Johnson. You may qualify if you:

• Were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after 2006
• Applied J&J’s baby powder to your genitals once a week for four years or once a day for two years or more.
• Had major surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy after 2006
• Had a loved one who died after 2006 due to ovarian cancer

You were never warned of the risk of using baby powder and Johnson & Johnson put sales above warning their faithful consumers. Contact us today. We would love to hear your story.

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