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Talc Powder and Ovarian Cancer

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There are currently talcum powder lawsuits where women, with a history of usage of talc products; Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Body Powder on their genitals, were diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Scientific research and the World Health Organization have determined an association between long-term genital use of talcum powder and cancer. In June 2013, Cancer Prevention Research shared a study that concluded females with a history of using talc-containing powder on their genital region have a 20 to 30 percent increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Presented with scientific determination, expert testimony, and factual evidence, a court in St. Louis determined that Johnson & Johnson neglected to warn consumers regarding the risk of ovarian cancer connected with the genital area usage of its talc-based powders. Company documents shared during the trial show that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the studies and tried to discredit them. The jury awarded $72 million in compensation to the family of a woman who succumbed to ovarian cancer and had a history of using Johnsons Baby Powder and Shower to Shower® Body Powder.

The Connection Between Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer
The earliest scientific paper to describe a potential link between talc and ovarian cancer appeared in 1971. Detailed were pathology examinations of tissue samples from 10 females diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The scientists noticed talc in every one of the tissue samples, an indication that each woman’s talc containing powder had migrated from her external genitalia to her internal organs. 11 years later, an study conducted by Dr. Daniel Cramer of Brigham & Women’s Hospital demonstrated a statistical link between a history of genital talc containing product use and ovarian cancer.

Results of the research show an increase in risk of ovarian cancer. An article about Dr. Cramer’s research appeared in the August 1982 issue of The New York Times. The study examined the wellness history and genital talc use of 215 women that were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and measured them to women who did not use talc. The results showed a link between the genital use of talc and ovarian cancer . Across the ensuing years, more than fifteen studies have demonstrated that long term, regular, genital use of talc-containing powder by women posed a 33% increase in the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Though some studies have suggested no link between the use of baby powder and ovarian cancer, those studies have been criticized for not taking into account both duration and frequency of talc use which is the only correct measure of a woman’s exposure to talc.

Asbestos and Ovarian Cancer
During the formal discovery process in recent litigation involving Johnson & Johnson, information has come to light that reveal company worries about asbestos contaminated talc that dates back several decades and that the company conducted an intense effort to degrade data, scientific details and other information that talc in its Baby Powder contained asbestos. That Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder® and Shower to Shower® Body Powder, in addition to other brands of talc containing powders may have been contaminated with asbestos, has focused most of the nationwide litigation. Though most asbestos litigation and claims focus on work, military and industrial-related exposure to asbestos, and asbestos containing products as causing mesothelioma, the growing recent litigation is now focusing on the connection between asbestos, talc and ovarian cancer.

Focusing on both the factual and scientific links between exposure to asbestos contaminated talc powders and the appearance of ovarian cancer, the legal war is continuing to evolve and being joined by hundreds women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

More Information Regarding Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer and Its Subtypes
Ovarian cancer is a generic phrase that includes several subtypes that are known and distinguishable by their different characteristics and their location. The majority of ovarian cancer is located in the epithelium, which is the layer of tissue that surrounds the ovary. Approximately 90% of all ovarian cancers are observed in the epithelium. There are various subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancers which includes serous cell and endometrioid.

Another subtype is peritoneal ovarian cancer. A low percentage of ovarian cancer issues start in the peritoneum that is bodily tissue that is separate and away from the ovaries. The peritoneum is a thin membrane that covers, protects, and helps support the abdominal organs including all of the reproductive organs.


Epithelial Ovarian Cancers
The most frequent type of ovarian cancer are the epithelial cancers, all of which are found in the epithelium — the layer of tissue that surrounds the ovary. Within this group are the following subtypes:


Serous cell epithelial ovarian cancer
This is the most common subtype of all epithelial ovarian cancer, accounting for approximately sixty percent of newly found cases of ovarian cancer. When diagnosed, serous cell epithelial ovarian cancer is commonly classified as either low-grade or high grade determined by the nuclei and mitotic characteristics of the cells.


Endometrioid ovarian cancer
This subtype is identified by its relationship to the endometrium, which is the membrane which is the inside lining of the uterus. Endometrioid ovarian cancer could often develop in conjunction with other cancers, diseases, or issues that may affect the endometrium such as endometriosis.


Mucinous, Clear Cell, and Unclassified/Undifferentiated
Those three are less common subtypes of ovarian cancer. Though recognizable for testing purposes, the prescribed treatment for each of them is the same.


Peritoneal Ovarian Cancers
Peritoneal ovarian cancer starts outside of the ovaries, in one or more locations of the peritoneum tissue. It might expand to other areas in the abdomen including, in some cases, the ovaries. The peritoneum is a membrane that covers, guards, and assists in the supporting of the abdominal organs including, for women, the uterus and all of the other female reproductive organs. The peritoneum consists of epithelial cells and, in this manner, is similar to the epithelium tissue that surrounds the ovaries. Because of this, treatment of epithelial and peritoneal cancers is frequently similar. However, peritoneal cancer may be isolated to the peritoneum and not affect the ovaries. It might develop in women who have had their ovaries removed. Primary peritoneal cancer might occur anywhere in the peritoneum and not include the ovaries.

Peritoneal ovarian cancer usually is defined as cancer cells are present in each of the peritoneum and one or both ovaries. The serous cell lining of the ovaries and the serous cell composition of the peritoneum communicate with each other and, in this manner, cancer cells could move, through shedding or other processes, between the two. When cancer cells appear in both of the ovaries and the peritoneum, the diagnosis is peritoneal ovarian cancer.

Staging of Ovarian Cancers
Once ovarian cancer is diagnosed, peritoneal, it is then staged to determine its severity and potential treatment options. A frequent ovarian cancer staging protocol is as follows:

Stage I — Presence of the cancer is limited to the ovary or ovaries.

Stage IA — Presence is limited to one ovary and the tumor is confined to the interior of the ovary. There is no cancer in the outer surface of the ovary. There are no ascites present containing malignant cells. The capsule is intact.

Stage IB — Presence is limited to both ovaries without any tumor on their outer area. There are no ascites appearing containing malignant cells. The capsule is intact.

Stage IC — The tumor is determined as either Stage IA or IB and one or more of the following are present: tumor is observed on the outer surface of one or both ovaries; the capsule has ruptured; and there are ascites that contain malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings.

Stage II — Presence of the cancer involves one or both ovaries with pelvic extension.

Stage IIA — The cancer has extended to and involves the uterus or the fallopian tubes, or both.

Stage IIB — The cancer has moved to other pelvic organs.

Stage IIC — The tumor is determined as either Stage IIA or IIB and one or more of the following appear: tumor is present on the outside area of one or both ovaries; the capsule has ruptured; and there are ascites containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings.

Stage III — Presence of the cancer includes one or both ovaries, and one or both of the following are appearing: the cancer has spread past the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen; and the cancer has expanded to lymph nodes. The tumor is limited to the true pelvis but with histologically proven malignant extension to the small bowel or omentum.

Stage IIIA — During the staging operation, the practitioner could observe cancer including one or both of the ovaries, yet no cancer is grossly visible in the abdomen and it hasn’t migrated to lymph nodes. Yet, when biopsies are observed on a microscope, very tiny amounts of cancer are discovered in the abdominal peritoneal surfaces.

Stage IIIB — The cancer is in one or both ovaries, and deposits of cancer are appearing in the abdomen that are large enough for the doctor to observe but not bigger than 2 cm in diameter. The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes.

Stage IIIC — The tumor is in one or both ovaries, and one or both of the following is present: the cancer has migrated to lymph nodes; and the amounts of cancer are bigger than 1 inch in size and are observed in the abdomen.

Stage IV — This is the most advanced stage of ovarian cancer. Growth of the cancer involves one or both ovaries and distant metastases have occurred. Finding ovarian cancer cells in pleural fluid is also evidence of stage IV disease.

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