Talcum Powder Uterine Cancer Lawsuit Filed for Wrongful Death Against Johnson & Johnson

Amid a growing number of talcum powder lawsuits filed by women nationwide who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer following use of Johnson’s Baby Powder or Shower-to-Shower, Johnson & Johnson faces a wrongful death claim brought by a husband who alleges his wife developed uterine cancer following use of the talc-based powders for feminine hygiene over a period of several decades.

The complaint (PDF) was filed last week by Tod Alan Musgrove in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, on behalf of himself and the estate of his late wife, Pamela Musgrove, who died of uterine cancer in June 2014.

Tod Musgrove indicates that his wife was born in 1965, and used the talc-based powder products manufactured and sold by Johnson & Johnson for nearly her entire life. She was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2012.

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Talcum Powder Lawsuits

Talcum powder or talc powder may cause women to develop ovarian cancer.

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Johnson & Johnson faces several thousand similar Baby Powder lawsuits and Shower-to-Shower lawsuits brought by women and families throughout the United States, including many talcum powder wrongful death claims.

Nearly all of the claims filed so far allege that side effects of talcum powder caused ovarian cancer, after the powder was applied to the genitals or placed in the underwear over long periods of time. Many indicate that evidence of talc was found in the ovarian tumors of long-time users of the popular products.

Musgrove alleges that the same mechanism of action caused his wife to develop uterine cancer, indicating that Johnson & Johnson knew or should have known about the link between cancer and talcum powder for decades, yet withheld information from consumers and continued to market use of the products in the underwear and around the genitals, which may cause talc to migrate through the vagina and increase the risk of cancer.

In addition to the risk of ovarian cancer, the complaint points to studies that have also examined the link with endometrial cancer, which is a form of uterine cancer.

“In 2010, one such study analyzed data from a 1976 cohort study of over 66,000 women, and found a statistically significant 21% increased risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer in postmenopausal women who had ever applied talcum powder in the perineal area,” according to the complaint. “This risk rose to 24% for postmenopausal women who applied talc in the perineal area “regularly,” defined as at least once a week.”

Musgrove notes that Johnson & Johnson CEO Ralph Larson was directly informed in November 1994 by the Cancer Prevention Coalition about the risks of talc, which had been noted in studies dating back to the 1960s.

“The letter cited a recent study by Dr. Bernard Harlow from Harvard Medical School confirming this fact and quoted a portion of the study where Dr. Harlow and his colleagues discouraged the use of talc in the female genital area,” the lawsuit states. “The letter further stated that 14,000 women per year die from ovarian cancer and that this type of cancer is very difficult to detect and has a low survival rate. The letter concluded by requesting that Johnson & Johnson withdraw talc products from the market because of the alternative of cornstarch powders, or at a minimum, place warning information on its talc-based body powders about [the] ovarian cancer risk they pose.”

The lawsuit also notes that other industries got the message, with the condom industry deciding to stop dusting condoms with talc due to safety reasons two years later.

In February 2006, the World Health Organization’s International Association for the Research of Cancer (IARC) classified perineal use of talc as a possible carcinogen.

So far this year, at least two cases involving allegations that women developed ovarian cancer from talcum powder have gone before juries nationwide, each resulting in multi-million dollar damage awards after finding that Johnson & Johnson failed to provide adequate ovarian cancer warnings.

Evidence presented in those cases included internal company documents that suggested Johnson & Johnson was aware of the potential link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer since the 1970s. However, even as recently as 1992, some documents indicate that the company specifically targeted sales towards women who were high users of talcum powder, without ever warning them of the possible cancer risks.

If additional juries respond with similar verdicts after considering the evidence, Johnson & Johnson could face substantial liability if talcum powder cancer settlements are not reached to resolve individual claims brought by women and families throughout the U.S.

12 Comments

  • KarriSeptember 24, 2022 at 2:36 am

    I went in for a routine check up and afterwards the doctor told me she wanted to do a biopsy. I was immediately alarmed, she said it's probably nothing but it needed to be checked. I told her that it was alright to contact me by phone with the results. I get a call not long after my doctor visit and she's telling me I have stage 1 cancer and that I need to see a surgeon right away. Within a week I[Show More]I went in for a routine check up and afterwards the doctor told me she wanted to do a biopsy. I was immediately alarmed, she said it's probably nothing but it needed to be checked. I told her that it was alright to contact me by phone with the results. I get a call not long after my doctor visit and she's telling me I have stage 1 cancer and that I need to see a surgeon right away. Within a week I'm in surgery, and I've been cancer free ever since. Because of they got to it fast, I never had to have chemo or anything else. They caught it as it was just beginning, it had barely taken hold and if it hadn't been for those two women doctors, both the OB/GYN and the surgeon, I would probably not be here today. My mother used Johnson & Johnson her whole life as did I, we usually follow what our mothers do right? She had a massive tumor that grew off of her ovary some years ago, about 25 I think. And she worked for Johnson and Johnson at one of their factory's for a short time as well. I've long wondered if there was a connection between them and my cancer after I discovered the ovarian cancer connection, and now I'm wondering what my mom had is connected as well. Johnson & Johnson has made who knows how much money off of the deaths of all those women who used their products on not only themselves, but their children also. They have made billions ladies at our expense, and now it appears they are "Taking the money and running." so to speak from what I have read. Corporations use the most despicable business practices available to them and sometimes not available to them. Why are they not held to the same standards as we are? It's almost like we are nothing more than guinea pigs too them to be used to make a profit on. I really hope that is not the case, but the evidence seem to point to the contrary. Take care Ladies.

  • KathySeptember 22, 2022 at 8:43 am

    I was born in 1948. I used JOHNSON AND JOHNSON talc all my life. I discontinued use & in January 2021 I received my expiration date. I have stage 4 endometrial cancer and stage 2 uterine cancer.

  • DeniseAugust 20, 2022 at 10:51 pm

    I was born in 1965. I was an overweight child and at times obese as an adult. I used Johnson and Johnson baby powder all my life until they finally removed the asbestos. I still use baby powder made with cornstarch not made by them because of the luck of trust in Johnson and Johnson. 2017 I was diagnosed with cervical and uterine cancer. I had a complete hysterectomy.

  • TJuly 28, 2019 at 9:28 pm

    I also used Shower-to-shower for about 25 years before an ectopic pregnancy; stands to reason - if the product/asbestos in the talc can migrate through the vagina/uterus and fallopian tubes to the ovaries it's going to cause damage and adhere to tissue in these areas too. Ectopic pregnancies are caused by inflammation of the tubes that prevent the fertilized egg from passing through normally. NOW [Show More]I also used Shower-to-shower for about 25 years before an ectopic pregnancy; stands to reason - if the product/asbestos in the talc can migrate through the vagina/uterus and fallopian tubes to the ovaries it's going to cause damage and adhere to tissue in these areas too. Ectopic pregnancies are caused by inflammation of the tubes that prevent the fertilized egg from passing through normally. NOW I UNDERSTAND. I am devastated. We need to do a new class action against J&J for ruining our lives. I almost died from the ruptured tube.

  • MargieJune 30, 2017 at 1:28 pm

    I had uterine cancer back in 2012. I had 4 ectopic pregnancies. One of my fallopian tubes was removed around 97 the other was completely block. I have used J&J baby powder and shower to shower most of my life. If the reason for me not being able to have children and being diagnosed with uterine cancer and have to have a hystorectomy is because of using these products it is very sad.

  • TKMay 9, 2017 at 5:04 pm

    My mom used J&J baby powder for as long as I can remember and 2 years ago she passed from uterine cancer. There was no other members of either side of her family that ever had cancer. I am trying to get a law firm to take on her case/wrongful death etc. I'm not a Dr., but I don't see how it can cause cancer in the ovaries and not just as well in the uterus. ???

  • RobertaNovember 28, 2016 at 4:36 pm

    they found Serous Cancer of the Uterus the day after thanksgiving in 2013. followed by a total hysterectomy in December followed by 6 months of double chemo and one month double radiation treatments. have been clear since but feel like, well you know what. Is talcum powder linked to uterus cancer or not, its got to go through there first.

  • PatriciaNovember 2, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    They help who they want my child used those products from in her teens till I her 40s when she died but no one gave a hoot told it was nothing they could do so who cares. So why her family couldn't and didn't receive anything

  • lynOctober 14, 2016 at 3:36 am

    i used johnson and johnson baby powder from my teens into my 40, i was diagnosed with uterine and cervical cancer and was told by doctors they did not know what caused this cancer it is a rare form, i was also told that i had acute inflammation that can not be explained, not every person is the same, as with allergies not everyone has allergies, how do we know that these woman did not have allergi[Show More]i used johnson and johnson baby powder from my teens into my 40, i was diagnosed with uterine and cervical cancer and was told by doctors they did not know what caused this cancer it is a rare form, i was also told that i had acute inflammation that can not be explained, not every person is the same, as with allergies not everyone has allergies, how do we know that these woman did not have allergies to the chemicals used to cause inflammation? if it is suspected that baby powder goes up through your vaginal, to your cervix, to you uterine, up your tubes to your ovaries, sure there are going to be cervical and uterine cancer cases as well it all goes up the track, and i would think more than ovarian and if it is caught early and before it reaches your ovaries.

  • LuciaAugust 9, 2016 at 7:01 am

    My Mother raised three babies on Johnson's and Johnson's Baby Powder and later on when we were teenagers Shower to Shower scented and Iscented punk and blue From 1959-1980 and continued tradition 1980-2004 raising 5 children Mother died 2002 terminal uterine cancer Sister cyst ovary 1978 Lucia birth of 3 Rd child 1995 ovary removed

  • JoanneAugust 7, 2016 at 11:13 pm

    I thought the lawsuits were only for women with ovarian cancer. A friend told me to check into it as I have had uterine cancer since 2009. Had a complete hysterectomy in 2009, followed by 3 rounds of radiation and 6 monthly chemo treatments. In 2013 the cancer returned and I have had monthly chemo treatments since. Will definitely look into this information.

  • LindaJuly 7, 2016 at 11:41 pm

    I'm not very happy at this moment since I found out about this lawsuit I have used these products my whole life for my kids whole life and not just powder I used almost every product they have and are lotions included because i have had cancer on my face so now what over half of america hopes our kids are safe from cancer I'm throwing all my Johnson and Johnson products

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