Talc & Ovarian Cancer

Talc, the mineral compound found in these products, is similar to asbestos. In natural formations, talc and asbestos are commonly found together. Whereas pure talc is generally considered safe, asbestos-contaminated talc is a public health concern. In recent years, reports have emerged revealing that talc manufacturer Johnson & Johnson has been aware of trace amounts of asbestos in their talc since the 1970s (to learn more, read Reuter’s 2018 investigation here).

In recent years, numerous suits have been filed, and plaintiffs have been awarded not just millions but billions in damages. In July 2018, a Missouri circuit court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.69 billion to 22 women who developed ovarian cancer as a result of the company’s failing to properly warn consumers of the cancer risk associated with talc use (to learn more, read the New York Times article here). Punitive damages were a large part of the verdict as it was revealed in court that Johnson & Johnson had spent 40 years covering up the presence of asbestos in their talcum-based products. To this day Johnson & Johnson continues to insist their products are safe, refusing to add warnings or to remove the products from consumer shelves.

As a cancer survivor himself, Larry W. Harrison has navigated Hodgkin’s Lymphoma twice. He understands the misery of surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. He stands by those who bravely battle cancer. For a no-cost, no-obligation consultation, please call us at (281) 491-1300 or contact us.