There is currently talcum powder lawsuits where women, that have a history of using talc products; Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Body Powder on their genitals, were found to have ovarian cancer. Scientific research and the WHO have identified an association between long term genital use of talcum powder and cancer. During talc lawsuit , Cancer Prevention Research shared a study which concluded females with a history of using talc containing powder on their genital areas have a twenty to thirty percent increase in risk of contracting ovarian cancer. Presented with scientific determination, expert testimony, and factual evidence, a jury in St. Louis determined that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn consumers regarding the risk of ovarian cancer connected to the genital region usage of its talc-based powders. Company documents shared during the trial show that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the research and attempted 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 Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower® Body Powder.
The Connection Between Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer The earliest scientific paper to outline a possible link between talc and ovarian cancer appeared in 1971. Chronicled were pathology examinations of tissue samples from 10 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The scientists discovered talc in every one 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 study conducted by Dr. Daniel Cramer of Brigham & Women’s Hospital showed a statistical link between a history of genital talc containing product usage and ovarian cancer.
Results of the research reveal an increase in risk of ovarian cancer. An article regarding Dr. Cramer’s research appeared in the August 1982 edition of The New York Times. The study examined the wellness history and genital talc usage of 215 women that were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and compared them to women who didn’t use talc. The results indicated an association between the genital use of talc and ovarian cancer. Over the ensuing years, no fewer than 15 studies have demonstrated that long term, frequent, genital application of talc-containing powder by women created a 33% increase of the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Though a few studies have suggested no connection between the usage of baby powder and ovarian cancer, those studies have been discredited for not holding into account the length of time and regularity of talc usage which is the only proper 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 expose company worries about asbestos contaminated talc dating back several decades and that the company waged an intense effort to hide data, 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 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 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 exposure to asbestos contaminated talc powders and the appearance of ovarian cancer, the litigation is continuing to evolve and being joined by hundreds women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
More News Regarding Ovarian Cancer Ovarian Cancer and Its Subtypes Ovarian cancer is a generic term which combines several subtypes which are known and distinguishable by their various characteristics and their location. Most ovarian cancer is found in the epithelium, which is the layer of tissue that surrounds the ovary. About 90% of all ovarian cancers are found in the epithelium. There are numerous subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancers that includes serous cell and endometrioid.
Another subtype is peritoneal ovarian cancer. A small percentage of ovarian cancer issues originate in the peritoneum that is bodily tissue that is separate and distinct from the ovaries. The peritoneum is a thin membrane that surrounds, protects, and assists in supporting 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 covers the ovary. In 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 diagnosed cases of ovarian cancer. When diagnosed, serous cell epithelial ovarian cancer is frequently classified as either low grade or high grade depending upon the nuclei and mitotic characteristics of the cells.
Endometrioid ovarian cancer This subtype is known by its relationship to the endometrium, which is the membrane which is the interior lining of the uterus. Endometrioid ovarian cancer may often develop in connection with other cancers, diseases, or abnormalities which may affect the endometrium such as endometriosis.
Mucinous, Clear Cell, and Unclassified/Undifferentiated Those three are less common subtypes of ovarian cancer. Though distinguishable for testing purposes, the prescribed treatment for each is the same.
Peritoneal Ovarian Cancers Peritoneal ovarian cancer originates out of the ovaries, in one or more areas of the peritoneum tissue. It might spread to other locations 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 which includes, 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 covers the ovaries. Because of this, treatment of epithelial and peritoneal cancers is frequently similar. However, peritoneal cancer can be confined to the peritoneum and not affect the ovaries. It could develop in women that have had their ovaries removed. Primary peritoneal cancer can occur anywhere in the peritoneum and not include the ovaries.
Peritoneal ovarian cancer usually 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 signal each other and, in this way, cancer cells may migrate, 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 understand its severity and possible 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 while the tumor is limited to the inside of the ovary. There’s no cancer in the outer surface of the ovary. There are no ascites present that contain malignant cells. The capsule is intact.
Stage IB — Presence is confined to both ovaries minus any tumor on their outer surfaces. 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 appear: tumor is present 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 — Growth of the cancer includes one or both ovaries with pelvic extension.
Stage IIA — The cancer has extended to and includes the uterus or the fallopian tubes, or both.
Stage IIB — The cancer has moved to other pelvic organs.
Stage IIC — The tumor is classified as either Stage IIA or IIB 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 containing malignant cells or with positive peritoneal washings.
Stage III — Growth of the cancer includes one or both ovaries, and one or both of the following are present: the cancer has extended beyond the pelvis to the lining of the abdomen; and the cancer has spread 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 observable in the abdomen and it has not spread to lymph nodes. However, when biopsies are observed under a microscope, very small amounts of cancer are discovered in the abdominal peritoneal surfaces.
Stage IIIB — The tumor 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 size. The cancer hasn’t expanded 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 spread to lymph nodes; and the amounts of cancer are bigger than 2 cm in diameter and are found 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 happened. Finding ovarian cancer cells in pleural fluid is additionally evidence of stage IV disease.
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