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Talc Powder and Ovarian Cancer
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There is currently talcum powder lawsuits where women, with a history of using 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 identified an association between long-term genital use of talcum powder and cancer. During June 2013, Cancer Prevention Research published a study that determined women with a history of using talc containing powder in their genital areas have a twenty to thirty percent increase in risk of developing ovarian cancer. Presented with scientific studies, expert testimony, and factual evidence, a court in St. talc powder lawsuit found that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn people regarding the risk of ovarian cancer connected with the genital area use of its talc-based powders. Internal company documents shared during the trial indicate that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the research and attempted to discredit them. The jury awarded $72 million in damages 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 research to describe a potential connection between talc and ovarian cancer appeared in 1971. Chronicled were pathology examinations of tissue samples from 10 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The researchers discovered talc in each of the tissue samples, a sign that each woman’s talc containing powder had migrated from her external genitalia to her internal organs. 11 years later, an epidemiological study performed by Dr. Daniel Cramer of Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital showed 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 regarding Dr. Cramer’s study appeared in the August 12, 1982 issue of The New York Times. The study examined the health history and genital talc usage of 215 women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and measured them to women who didn’t use talc. The results showed an association between the genital use of talc and ovarian cancer. Across the ensuing years, no fewer than fifteen studies have shown that long term, frequent, genital use of talc-containing powder by women created a 33% increase of the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Though some studies have implied no connection between the usage of baby powder and ovarian cancer, those studies have been discredited for not taking 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 involving Johnson & Johnson, documents have come to light that reveal company concerns about asbestos contaminated talc that dates back several decades and that the company fought an intense campaign to hide data, scientific details and other information that talc in its Baby Powder contained asbestos. The fact that Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder® and Shower to Shower® body powder, in addition to other brands of talc containing products may have been contaminated with asbestos, has re-focused much of the nationwide litigation. Though most asbestos lawsuits and claims focus on employment, military and industrial-related exposure to asbestos, and asbestos containing products as causing mesothelioma, the ever increasing recent litigation is now focused on the link between asbestos, talc and ovarian cancer.
Focusing on both the factual and scientific links between risk to asbestos contaminated talc products and the appearance of ovarian cancer, the legal landscape is evolving and being joined by numerous women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Additional News About Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer and The Subtypes
Ovarian cancer is a broad term which includes various subtypes that are identified and distinguishable by their various characteristics and their location. Most ovarian cancer is found in the epithelium, that is the layer of tissue that surrounds the ovary. About ninety percent of all ovarian cancers are located in the epithelium. There are various subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancers that includes serous cell and endometrioid.
Another subtype is peritoneal ovarian cancer. A small percent of ovarian cancer cases begin in the peritoneum which is bodily tissue which is separate and distinct from the ovaries. The peritoneum is a membrane that covers, protects, and helps support the stomach 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 covers the ovary. Within this group are the following subtypes:
Serous cell epithelial ovarian cancer
This is the most frequent subtype of all epithelial ovarian cancer, at approximately 60% of newly diagnosed 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 from its relationship to the endometrium, that is the membrane that is the inside lining of the uterus. Endometrioid ovarian cancer can frequently develop in connection with other cancers, diseases, or abnormalities that may affect the endometrium such as endometriosis.
Mucinous, Clear Cell, and Unclassified/Undifferentiated
Those three are less frequent subtypes of ovarian cancer. Though recognizable for diagnostic purposes, the prescribed treatment for each of them is the same.
Peritoneal Ovarian Cancers
Peritoneal ovarian cancer originates out of the ovaries, in one or more areas of the peritoneum tissue. It could move to other areas 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 that includes, for women, the uterus and each of the other female reproductive organs. The peritoneum consists of epithelial cells and, in this manner, is similar to the epithelium tissue that covers the ovaries. Because of this, treatment of epithelial and peritoneal cancers is commonly similar. However, peritoneal cancer could be isolated to the peritoneum and not affect the ovaries. It could develop in women that have had their ovaries removed. Primary peritoneal cancer can appear anywhere in the peritoneum and not implicate the ovaries.
Peritoneal ovarian cancer generally means that 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 way, cancer cells can 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’s then staged to determine its severity and possible treatment options. A common ovarian cancer staging protocol is as follows:
Stage I — Growth 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 inside of the ovary. There is no cancer in the outer surface of the ovary. There are no ascites appearing containing malignant cells. The capsule is intact.
Stage IB — Presence is confined to both ovaries without any tumor on their outer surfaces. There are no ascites present that contain 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 appear: 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 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 migrated to other pelvic organs.
Stage IIC — The tumor is classified 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 containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings.
Stage III — Growth of the cancer involves one or both ovaries, and one or both of the following are appearing: the cancer has migrated beyond 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 doctor may observe cancer including one or both of the ovaries, but no cancer is grossly visible in the abdomen and it has not migrated to lymph nodes. However, when biopsies are checked under a microscope, very small amounts of cancer are found in the abdominal peritoneal areas.
Stage IIIB — The cancer is in one or both ovaries, and deposits of cancer are appearing in the abdomen that are big enough for the doctor to observe but not bigger than 1 inch in diameter. The cancer has not 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 expanded to lymph nodes; and the deposits of cancer are bigger than 2 cm in size and are discovered 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.
The Connection Between Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer
The earliest scientific research to describe a potential connection between talc and ovarian cancer appeared in 1971. Chronicled were pathology examinations of tissue samples from 10 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The researchers discovered talc in each of the tissue samples, a sign that each woman’s talc containing powder had migrated from her external genitalia to her internal organs. 11 years later, an epidemiological study performed by Dr. Daniel Cramer of Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital showed 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 regarding Dr. Cramer’s study appeared in the August 12, 1982 issue of The New York Times. The study examined the health history and genital talc usage of 215 women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and measured them to women who didn’t use talc. The results showed an association between the genital use of talc and ovarian cancer. Across the ensuing years, no fewer than fifteen studies have shown that long term, frequent, genital use of talc-containing powder by women created a 33% increase of the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Though some studies have implied no connection between the usage of baby powder and ovarian cancer, those studies have been discredited for not taking 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 involving Johnson & Johnson, documents have come to light that reveal company concerns about asbestos contaminated talc that dates back several decades and that the company fought an intense campaign to hide data, scientific details and other information that talc in its Baby Powder contained asbestos. The fact that Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder® and Shower to Shower® body powder, in addition to other brands of talc containing products may have been contaminated with asbestos, has re-focused much of the nationwide litigation. Though most asbestos lawsuits and claims focus on employment, military and industrial-related exposure to asbestos, and asbestos containing products as causing mesothelioma, the ever increasing recent litigation is now focused on the link between asbestos, talc and ovarian cancer.
Focusing on both the factual and scientific links between risk to asbestos contaminated talc products and the appearance of ovarian cancer, the legal landscape is evolving and being joined by numerous women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Additional News About Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer and The Subtypes
Ovarian cancer is a broad term which includes various subtypes that are identified and distinguishable by their various characteristics and their location. Most ovarian cancer is found in the epithelium, that is the layer of tissue that surrounds the ovary. About ninety percent of all ovarian cancers are located in the epithelium. There are various subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancers that includes serous cell and endometrioid.
Another subtype is peritoneal ovarian cancer. A small percent of ovarian cancer cases begin in the peritoneum which is bodily tissue which is separate and distinct from the ovaries. The peritoneum is a membrane that covers, protects, and helps support the stomach 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 covers the ovary. Within this group are the following subtypes:
Serous cell epithelial ovarian cancer
This is the most frequent subtype of all epithelial ovarian cancer, at approximately 60% of newly diagnosed 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 from its relationship to the endometrium, that is the membrane that is the inside lining of the uterus. Endometrioid ovarian cancer can frequently develop in connection with other cancers, diseases, or abnormalities that may affect the endometrium such as endometriosis.
Mucinous, Clear Cell, and Unclassified/Undifferentiated
Those three are less frequent subtypes of ovarian cancer. Though recognizable for diagnostic purposes, the prescribed treatment for each of them is the same.
Peritoneal Ovarian Cancers
Peritoneal ovarian cancer originates out of the ovaries, in one or more areas of the peritoneum tissue. It could move to other areas 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 that includes, for women, the uterus and each of the other female reproductive organs. The peritoneum consists of epithelial cells and, in this manner, is similar to the epithelium tissue that covers the ovaries. Because of this, treatment of epithelial and peritoneal cancers is commonly similar. However, peritoneal cancer could be isolated to the peritoneum and not affect the ovaries. It could develop in women that have had their ovaries removed. Primary peritoneal cancer can appear anywhere in the peritoneum and not implicate the ovaries.
Peritoneal ovarian cancer generally means that 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 way, cancer cells can 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’s then staged to determine its severity and possible treatment options. A common ovarian cancer staging protocol is as follows:
Stage I — Growth 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 inside of the ovary. There is no cancer in the outer surface of the ovary. There are no ascites appearing containing malignant cells. The capsule is intact.
Stage IB — Presence is confined to both ovaries without any tumor on their outer surfaces. There are no ascites present that contain 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 appear: 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 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 migrated to other pelvic organs.
Stage IIC — The tumor is classified 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 containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings.
Stage III — Growth of the cancer involves one or both ovaries, and one or both of the following are appearing: the cancer has migrated beyond 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 doctor may observe cancer including one or both of the ovaries, but no cancer is grossly visible in the abdomen and it has not migrated to lymph nodes. However, when biopsies are checked under a microscope, very small amounts of cancer are found in the abdominal peritoneal areas.
Stage IIIB — The cancer is in one or both ovaries, and deposits of cancer are appearing in the abdomen that are big enough for the doctor to observe but not bigger than 1 inch in diameter. The cancer has not 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 expanded to lymph nodes; and the deposits of cancer are bigger than 2 cm in size and are discovered 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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