If you are diagnosed with cancer after years of using talcum powder, the powder might be to blame. Thousands of lawsuits are pending by those claiming talcum powder contaminated with asbestos causes cancer. If talcum powder use led to your cancer, you may be entitled to compensation.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys have successfully represented people diagnosed with asbestos-related cancers caused by their talcum powder use. If you’re in this situation, contact us at 855-385-9532 to learn more about how we can help you obtain compensation for your injury.

What Is Talcum Powder?

Talcum powder is made from talc, a soft mineral found in the earth. Talc is one of the softest minerals on the planet. When ground into a powder, it absorbs moisture and reduces friction. It has been used for more than 100 years in baby powder, body powder, and many cosmetic products such as blush and face powder.

Talcum powder is used by millions of people every day. Parents have dusted it on babies. Women have applied it for personal hygiene. Men have used it in body and shaving products. It also has industrial uses.

How Can Talcum Powder Contain Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals made up of tiny, durable fibers. Scientists and doctors have known for centuries that inhaling and swallowing asbestos fibers can cause serious health issues. It’s the only known cause of the rare and deadly cancer mesothelioma. The US government recognizes asbestos as a cancer-causing substance.

Talc and asbestos are both natural minerals, and they often form close together deep in the ground. When companies mine talc from the earth, asbestos may be mixed in. If it is, fibers may end up in the finished powder product.

If someone uses talcum powder containing asbestos, they may inhale these cancer-causing fibers. Women using this powder for personal hygiene have it enter their bodies through the female reproductive system. Over time, these fibers may cause inflammation, scarring, and genetic mutations that lead to cancer. This process may take up to 50 years after exposure, which may make it difficult to trace the cancer back to talcum powder.

What Cancers Are Linked to Asbestos?

Scientists and health organizations have linked asbestos to several cancers, including the following:

• Mesothelioma:A rare and aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, abdominal organs, and heart. Asbestos is widely accepted as the main cause of mesothelioma
• Ovarian cancer:Studies have found a link between long-term use of talcum powder in the genital area and a greater ovarian cancer risk
• Lung cancer:Asbestos may cause lung cancer, and the risk of it sharply increases if the person also smokes tobacco

Other cancers that asbestos may cause include those of the throat, colon, rectum, and stomach.

Which Talcum Powder Brands Have Been Named in Lawsuits?

Many brands and companies have been named in lawsuits by people claiming their cancers were caused by asbestos in talcum powder. If products are still being sold, the talcum powder has probably been replaced with corn starch. Some of them include the following:

• Johnson’s Baby Powder is the most widely known product in this litigation because it was the biggest-selling talcum powder. Shower to Shower is another Johnson & Johnson talcum powder brand. Tens of thousands of legal claims have been filed against the company
• Cashmere Bouquet was a talcum powder sold by Colgate-Palmolive for more than 50 years. It was widely marketed for feminine hygiene and everyday use.
• Gold Bond body powder, now owned by the health care company Sanofi, is another brand named in lawsuits
• Mennen was a well-known brand of body care products whose talcum powder products have faced legal challenges. Colgate-Palmolive now owns the brand
• Old Spice Dusting Powder and Clubman Pinaud powder have been linked to asbestos through their talc supplier, Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, which provided talc used in these products
• Avon Products sold a wide variety of talcum powder products, including Avon Night Magic Talcum Powder and Skin So Soft Satin Talc Powder
• The luxury brand Chanel sold talcum powder products, including Chanel No. 5 Bath Powder, which it had sold since 1924

Asbestos has been found in samples of DynaCare Baby Powder, made by Dynarex Corporation, and the company issued a recall. 

How Can Someone Hurt by Talcum Powder Get Compensation?

If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, or another illness that you believe was caused by asbestos in talcum powder, you may have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills, pain, suffering, lost wages, and other costs.

A lawsuit allows you to ask a court to hold the company that made or sold the product responsible for your harm. Juries across the country have already awarded substantial verdicts to people harmed by talcum powder.

In Kentucky, you have one year from when you were diagnosed, or from when you should have known that talcum powder caused your illness, to file a claim. Because these deadlines are strict, it is important to act quickly.

Some companies, including Avon and Imerys Talc America (a major talc supplier), have filed for bankruptcy and set up special trust funds to pay claims. These trusts hold hundreds of millions of dollars set aside specifically for people harmed by their products. We have successfully filed many such claims for our clients.

If you live in Kentucky and you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, and you have a history of using talcum powder, contact Satterley & Kelley. Our attorneys have years of experience fighting for people harmed by asbestos and other dangerous products. We can help you understand your rights and your options. There is no fee for an initial consultation, and we only get paid if you win.

Get Help If You Have Been Diagnosed with a Talcum Powder-Related Cancer

If you are diagnosed with lung cancer, mesothelioma, or ovarian cancer after using talcum powder in the past, focus on your medical treatment and quality of life while we focus on your legal rights.

Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your accident by calling our Louisville office at 502-589-5600 (toll-free at 855-385-9532).