Talcum powder is something that’s been part of women’s beauty routines for years. In fact, women used to wear talcum powder as part of their beauty routine, often called beauty dust. Talcum powder has been linked to ovarian cancer in various studies, yet there are still no warning labels, so women continue to use it. Eva Echeverria, 53 of East Los Angeles is one of the thousands of women who have sued Johnson & Johnson, claiming that their baby powder gave them cancer.
The medical receptionist was awarded $417 million in damages who says she developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson’s Baby Powder on her perineum, which is the area between the anus and the scrotum or vulva. While it may seem odd that women do this, it’s more common than you think, especially since women sprinkle baby powder on their inner thighs to prevent chafing when they wear dresses or shorts, as well as sanitary pads and underwear.
Echeverria gave a videotaped deposition since she was too sick to testify in court. She began using the talc powder when she was 11 and in 2007 she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and continued wearing it since she was unaware of the studies that linked talc to cancer. “She told me, ‘I’m not doing this for myself,’” Mr. Robinson said. “She knows she’s going to die. She’s doing this for other women. She wants to do something good before she leaves,” says Echeverria’s lawyer, Mark Robinson.
Johnson & Johnson argues that Johnson’s Baby Powder is completely safe and they are planning to appeal the verdict. “Ovarian cancer is a devastating diagnosis and we deeply sympathize with the women and families impacted by this disease,” said Carol Goodrich, a spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson in a statement. “We will appeal today’s verdict because we are guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder.”
They argue that even though there are studies that link genital talc use to ovarian cancer, the research findings have not been consistent. Scientists believe that talc might lead to cancer because the crystals can move up the genitourinary tract into the peritoneal cavity, where the ovaries are and may create inflammation, which plays an important role in the development of cancer.
In 2006, The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified talcum powder as a possible human carcinogen if used in the female genital area, but no federal agencies have stepped in to remove talcum powder from the market or even add warnings.