Cancer cells in the ovaries, when left untreated, can spread to other parts of the body, but even in just the ovaries, it can cause quite a bit of damage. The ovary glands are responsible for producing eggs used in reproduction, as well as both female hormones progesterone and estrogen. But ovarian cancer is much more serious than people give it credit for. In a given year, over 22,000 women in North America will receive a cancer diagnosis for cancer in the ovaries. Of those 22,000 women, nearly 14,000 will die from the disease.
Of course, early detection and understanding of the risks of ovarian cancer can make all the difference in that battle. One of the biggest challenges that have come up and ovarian cancer recently is the use of baby powder or talcum powder. Johnson & Johnson have recently decided to pull baby powder from shelves and discontinue Manufacturing since they have lost so many lawsuits two people who have developed ovarian cancer after years of using talcum powder. If you’ve been a victim of these side effects, you should contact 0ur experienced mass tort attorneys right away.
Can Ovarian Cancer Really Come from Baby Powder?
Yes, one of the hallmarks of talcum, as a natural mineral, is that it is found alongside asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, as is talcum. Many baby powder Brands, including the well-known Johnson & Johnson, have boasted for decades that their product is safe because it is all-natural and only includes talcum powder. What they did not convey to the public was that the talcum powder look closely intertwined with asbestos, and there was likely still a presence of asbestos in the baby powder.
Talcum powder is often used not just on children or infants, but for adults who have problems with sweating and chafing. Adult facing sweating or chafing problems will often turn to talcum powder, especially baby powder, for its soothing element. Long-term use and a wave of lawsuits have shown that there is a direct correlation between talcum and ovarian cancer.
Early Symptoms
Early symptoms of all variety of ovarian cancers are often easy to dismiss. The most common symptoms include difficulty eating, an increased urge to urinate frequently, a greater feeling of fullness after eating, and pressure, pain, or bloating in the abdominal region.
Other common symptoms include back pain, constipation, heartburn, fatigue, indigestion, and even menstrual irregularity. But these are common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, and other side effects of female biologic function. These symptoms may arise for any variety of reasons and aren’t always associated with ovarian cancer.
In fact, these symptoms are so common that ovarian cancer has become the fifth leading cause of death in women because these symptoms go unnoticed, and the cancer is not caught early enough for effective treatment.
Detection and Diagnosis
Detection of ovarian cancer is difficult, but not impossible. Doctors now use a wide variety of diagnostic testing, as well as physical exams, to attempt to identify ovarian tumors before ovarian cancer has become overly aggressive. It is critical to report any symptoms of ovarian cancer that are persistent to your doctor.
During the diagnosis, your doctor will inform you what stage of ovarian cancer you are at. Stage one has three subsections where the first is that cancer is limited, and in only one ovary, but the final section of stage one is at the cancer is on the outside of the ovary. Stage two is the spread of cancer to nearby organs, including the uterus, Fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum. Stage three and four are even more progressive as this type of cancer spreads rampantly.
Take Your Cancer Case to Court
It is often a struggle to take these types of cases forward to court because many people are happy enough to have made it through cancer treatment. However, it’s possible that Johnson & Johnson and other major manufacturers of talcum powder could be responsible for the medical debt that she sustained during the course of treatment. If there is a chance of covering some of your medical costs through a tort case that holds the manufacturer responsible as they did not accurately provide information regarding the cancer risk, then you should give it a shot.
Calling our offices at Rueb Stoller Daniel law in Boston can get you the start that you need for your claim. If you’re not sure if you have a case at all, we’ll help sort through the information and medical diagnosis to determine if you meet the requirements for a case. Set up a meeting for an initial consultation with us and get all the information you might need to decide on how you will move forward.
