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Talc Powder and Ovarian Cancer
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There is currently talcum powder lawsuits where women, that have a history of usage of talc products; Johnsons Baby Powder and Shower to Shower® Body Powder on their genitals, were diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Scientific studies and the WHO have determined a link between long term genital use of talcum powder and cancer . In June 2013, Cancer Prevention Research shared a study which determined females that have a history of using talc containing powder in their genital region have a 20 to 30 percent increased risk of contracting ovarian cancer. Presented with scientific studies, expert opinion, and factual evidence, a court in St. Louis found that Johnson & Johnson neglected to warn people about the risk of ovarian cancer associated to the genital area usage of its talc-based powders. Internal company documents disclosed during the trial show that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the research and tried to discredit them. The jury awarded $72 million in compensation to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer and had a history of using Johnsons Baby Powder and Shower to Shower® Body Powder.
The Correlation Between Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer
The earliest scientific paper to outline a possible connection between talc and ovarian cancer appeared in 1971. Chronicled were pathology examinations of tissue samples from ten females diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The scientists discovered talc in each of the tissue samples, a sign that each woman’s talc containing powder had moved from her external genitalia to her internal organs. 11 years later, an epidemiological study conducted by Dr. Cramer of Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital showed a statistical association between a history of genital talc containing product usage and ovarian cancer.
Results of the study reveal an increase in risk of ovarian cancer. An article regarding Dr. Cramer’s study was published in the August 12, 1982 edition of The New York Times. The research examined the health history and genital talc usage of 215 women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and measured them to women who did not use talc. The results showed an association between the genital use of talc and ovarian cancer. Over the continuing years, no fewer than 15 studies have shown that long-term, frequent, genital application of talc-containing powder by women posed a 33% increase of the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Though some studies have suggested no connection between the use of baby powder and ovarian cancer, these studies have been discredited for not holding into account the length of time and regularity of talc use which is the only proper measure of a woman’s exposure to talc.
Asbestos and Ovarian Cancer
During the formal discovery portion of recent litigation that involves Johnson & Johnson, documents have come to light that expose company concerns about asbestos contaminated talc that dates back several decades and that the company conducted a fierce effort to minimize test results, scientific papers 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 re-focused most of the nationwide litigation. Though most asbestos lawsuits and claims focus on employment, military and industrial-related exposure to asbestos, and asbestos contaminated products as causing mesothelioma, the ever increasing recent litigation is now focused on the connection between asbestos, talc and ovarian cancer.
Focused on both the factual and scientific connections between exposure to asbestos contaminated talc products and the development of ovarian cancer, the legal effort is evolving and being joined by numerous women that have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Additional Information About Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer and Its Subtypes
Ovarian cancer is a general term which includes several subtypes that are identified 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 several subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancers that includes serous cell and endometrioid.
Another subtype is peritoneal ovarian cancer. A small percentage of ovarian cancer issues start in the peritoneum that is bodily tissue that is separate and distinct from the ovaries. The peritoneum is a 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 that 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 discovered 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 connection to the endometrium, that is the membrane that is the inside lining of the uterus. Endometrioid ovarian cancer may frequently develop in connection with other cancers, diseases, or abnormalities affecting the endometrium such as endometriosis.
Mucinous, Clear Cell, and Unclassified/Undifferentiated
Those 3 are less frequent subtypes of ovarian cancer. Though recognizable for testing purposes, the prescribed treatment for each is similar.
Peritoneal Ovarian Cancers
Peritoneal ovarian cancer starts out of the ovaries, in one or more areas of the peritoneum tissue. It might expand to other locations in the abdomen which includes, in some cases, the ovaries. The peritoneum is a membrane that surrounds, 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 includes epithelial cells and, in this manner, is similar to the epithelium tissue that encapsulates the ovaries. Because of this, treatment of epithelial and peritoneal cancers is often similar. However, peritoneal cancer may be isolated to the peritoneum and not affect the ovaries. It could develop in women who have had their ovaries removed. Primary peritoneal cancer might appear in any location in the peritoneum and not include the ovaries.
Peritoneal ovarian cancer generally is defined as cancer cells are present in both 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 migrate, through shedding or other processes, between the two. When cancer cells are present 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 understand its severity and possible treatment options. A common 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 while the tumor is limited to the interior of the ovary. There is no cancer on 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 minus any tumor on their outer area. There are no ascites appearing that contain malignant cells. The capsule is intact.
Stage IC — The tumor is classified as either Stage IA or IB and one or more of the following are present: tumor is confirmed on the outside 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 — Growth of the cancer includes one or both ovaries with pelvic extension.
Stage IIA — The cancer has migrated to and involves the uterus or the fallopian tubes, or both.
Stage IIB — The cancer has migrated to other pelvic organs.
Stage IIC — The tumor is determined as either Stage IIA or IIB and one or more of the following are present: tumor is present on the outside surface of one or both ovaries; the capsule has ruptured; and there are ascites that contain 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 present: the cancer has migrated beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen; and the cancer has expanded to lymph nodes. The tumor is confined to the true pelvis but with histologically proven malignant migration to the small bowel or omentum.
Stage IIIA — During the staging operation, the doctor could observe cancer including one or both of the ovaries, but no cancer is grossly visible in the abdomen and it has not moved to lymph nodes. However, when biopsies are checked under a microscope, very small deposits of cancer are found in the abdominal peritoneal surfaces.
Stage IIIB — The cancer is in one or both ovaries, and traces of cancer are appearing in the abdomen that are large enough for the surgeon to observe but not bigger than 1 inch in size. The cancer hasn’t migrated 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 deposits of cancer exceed 2 cm in size and are discovered in the abdomen.
Stage IV — This is the most advanced stage of ovarian cancer. Presence of the cancer includes one or both ovaries and distant metastases have happened. Discovering ovarian cancer cells in pleural fluid is also evidence of stage IV disease.
The Correlation Between Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer
The earliest scientific paper to outline a possible connection between talc and ovarian cancer appeared in 1971. Chronicled were pathology examinations of tissue samples from ten females diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The scientists discovered talc in each of the tissue samples, a sign that each woman’s talc containing powder had moved from her external genitalia to her internal organs. 11 years later, an epidemiological study conducted by Dr. Cramer of Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital showed a statistical association between a history of genital talc containing product usage and ovarian cancer.
Results of the study reveal an increase in risk of ovarian cancer. An article regarding Dr. Cramer’s study was published in the August 12, 1982 edition of The New York Times. The research examined the health history and genital talc usage of 215 women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and measured them to women who did not use talc. The results showed an association between the genital use of talc and ovarian cancer. Over the continuing years, no fewer than 15 studies have shown that long-term, frequent, genital application of talc-containing powder by women posed a 33% increase of the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Though some studies have suggested no connection between the use of baby powder and ovarian cancer, these studies have been discredited for not holding into account the length of time and regularity of talc use which is the only proper measure of a woman’s exposure to talc.
Asbestos and Ovarian Cancer
During the formal discovery portion of recent litigation that involves Johnson & Johnson, documents have come to light that expose company concerns about asbestos contaminated talc that dates back several decades and that the company conducted a fierce effort to minimize test results, scientific papers 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 re-focused most of the nationwide litigation. Though most asbestos lawsuits and claims focus on employment, military and industrial-related exposure to asbestos, and asbestos contaminated products as causing mesothelioma, the ever increasing recent litigation is now focused on the connection between asbestos, talc and ovarian cancer.
Focused on both the factual and scientific connections between exposure to asbestos contaminated talc products and the development of ovarian cancer, the legal effort is evolving and being joined by numerous women that have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Additional Information About Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer and Its Subtypes
Ovarian cancer is a general term which includes several subtypes that are identified 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 several subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancers that includes serous cell and endometrioid.
Another subtype is peritoneal ovarian cancer. A small percentage of ovarian cancer issues start in the peritoneum that is bodily tissue that is separate and distinct from the ovaries. The peritoneum is a 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 that 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 discovered 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 connection to the endometrium, that is the membrane that is the inside lining of the uterus. Endometrioid ovarian cancer may frequently develop in connection with other cancers, diseases, or abnormalities affecting the endometrium such as endometriosis.
Mucinous, Clear Cell, and Unclassified/Undifferentiated
Those 3 are less frequent subtypes of ovarian cancer. Though recognizable for testing purposes, the prescribed treatment for each is similar.
Peritoneal Ovarian Cancers
Peritoneal ovarian cancer starts out of the ovaries, in one or more areas of the peritoneum tissue. It might expand to other locations in the abdomen which includes, in some cases, the ovaries. The peritoneum is a membrane that surrounds, 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 includes epithelial cells and, in this manner, is similar to the epithelium tissue that encapsulates the ovaries. Because of this, treatment of epithelial and peritoneal cancers is often similar. However, peritoneal cancer may be isolated to the peritoneum and not affect the ovaries. It could develop in women who have had their ovaries removed. Primary peritoneal cancer might appear in any location in the peritoneum and not include the ovaries.
Peritoneal ovarian cancer generally is defined as cancer cells are present in both 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 migrate, through shedding or other processes, between the two. When cancer cells are present 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 understand its severity and possible treatment options. A common 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 while the tumor is limited to the interior of the ovary. There is no cancer on 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 minus any tumor on their outer area. There are no ascites appearing that contain malignant cells. The capsule is intact.
Stage IC — The tumor is classified as either Stage IA or IB and one or more of the following are present: tumor is confirmed on the outside 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 — Growth of the cancer includes one or both ovaries with pelvic extension.
Stage IIA — The cancer has migrated to and involves the uterus or the fallopian tubes, or both.
Stage IIB — The cancer has migrated to other pelvic organs.
Stage IIC — The tumor is determined as either Stage IIA or IIB and one or more of the following are present: tumor is present on the outside surface of one or both ovaries; the capsule has ruptured; and there are ascites that contain 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 present: the cancer has migrated beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen; and the cancer has expanded to lymph nodes. The tumor is confined to the true pelvis but with histologically proven malignant migration to the small bowel or omentum.
Stage IIIA — During the staging operation, the doctor could observe cancer including one or both of the ovaries, but no cancer is grossly visible in the abdomen and it has not moved to lymph nodes. However, when biopsies are checked under a microscope, very small deposits of cancer are found in the abdominal peritoneal surfaces.
Stage IIIB — The cancer is in one or both ovaries, and traces of cancer are appearing in the abdomen that are large enough for the surgeon to observe but not bigger than 1 inch in size. The cancer hasn’t migrated 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 deposits of cancer exceed 2 cm in size and are discovered in the abdomen.
Stage IV — This is the most advanced stage of ovarian cancer. Presence of the cancer includes one or both ovaries and distant metastases have happened. Discovering ovarian cancer cells in pleural fluid is also evidence of stage IV disease.
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