How Talc Can Change Ovarian Cancer Cells:
The country was shocked when the first talc lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson were filed. After all, Johnson & Johnson was once one of the most trusted companies in the U.S., building its wholesome image from sales of its talc-based baby powder and other products. Johnson & Johnson has aggressively defended its talc-based products for decades, even after thousands of lawsuits alleging that its products cause cancer. New research indicates that the talcum powder induces mutations in specific genes leading to ovarian and other cancers.
The Talc Lawsuits
In July 2018, a jury awarded claimants $4.69 billion in compensatory and punitive damages. While an appeals court slashed the award to $2.1 billion, the court upheld the verdict in a significant blow to Johnson & Johnson’s claims that their talc-based products are safe. In May of 2020, the company finally announced it would stop selling baby powder made from talc in North America. But Johnson & Johnson still faces more than 13,000 people have filed lawsuits against the company, alleging that its talc-based products led to their cancers.
How Does Talc Harm Users?
Many of the lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson allege that the mineral asbestos contaminates talc. Asbestos is a known carcinogen first linked to ovarian cancer in 1958. Talc, a soft mineral, is often found in mines that also contain asbestos. A study presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology in Honolulu, Hawaii, shows a link between talc and inflammation in healthy and ovarian cancer cells.Scientists identified the mechanism of action, showing that the powder induced mutations in the CAT, NOS, and GPX1 genes. Lead researcher for the study, Ghassan Saed, Ph.D., of the Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, Michigan stated that “This is the first in vitro study that shows a direct biological effect on what’s thought to be an inert substance on ovarian cancer cells and most importantly, normal cells coming from the fallopian tubes.”If you or a loved one were diagnosed with ovarian cancer that you believe might be linked to using Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products, call the Madeksho Firm at 888-910-6376 or contact us through our online form. Your consultation is free, and there is never a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
