Shower to Shower from Johnson & Johnson is advertised as a “Fresh, absorbent body powder.” Adults typically use it for the same reason parents put baby powder on a child: to stay fresh and dry. Shower to Shower and its “time-released fragrance” comes in several different scents. Women frequently apply it to stay fresh and dry throughout their day. Others use the powder whenever they don’t have enough time to shower. Doing so can help skin feel cleaner, more comfortable, and it smells good. You can buy it at almost any drug or grocery store. However, plaintiffs diagnosed with ovarian cancer are now filing claims against Johnson & Johnson and seeking justice in court. Shower to Shower lawsuit information shows that medical research, as well as J&J’s own internal memos, have been admitted into evidence — here’s what you need to know.
Related: A History of Talcum Powder Lawsuits – Facts You Need to Know
Shower to Shower Lawsuit Information: What Makes Talcum Powder Dangerous
All Shower to Shower body powders contain talc, a clay mineral that makes up the word “talcum powder.” Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer stated that talc is “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” In the 1970s, researchers looked at 13 ovarian tumors and discovered talc particles embedded within 10 of them. This was the first study suggesting that talcum powder might be dangerous to women. Since then, researchers published several additional talcum powder studies.
In 1982, Harvard professor Daniel Cramer compared 215 women with ovarian cancer to 215 control subjects. He found that women using talcum powder perineally were 3x more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who didn’t.
Ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly cancers that women face today. Most women don’t undergo regular ovarian cancer screenings. In fact, doctors often mistakenly dismiss early symptoms as menstrual or abdominal pain. Currently, the ACS calculates the average American woman’s ovarian cancer risk at 1 in 70. But according to studies, talc use brings women much worse odds: 1 in 53.
Shower to Shower Lawsuit Information: Internal Memos Detail Marketing Push to Consumers Over Warning Labels
A 1992 memo from J&J shows that at the time, the company was trying to revive interest in their powder products; health community complaints such as dust, cancer linkage, and inhalation had brought negative publicity. That year, organizations were petitioning the FDA to add warnings to talc products due to research possibly linking talc to ovarian cancer. However, instead of adding a warning, as noted in the memo, J&J discussed the possibility of increasing sales. Execs spoke of marketing efforts directed specifically toward African-American and Hispanic women. Women from these two groups already accounted for a high number of their current sales. J&J planned a print advertising campaign to target these groups, and attempted to promote their products in Ebony Magazine. A recent study reported that among African-American women, genital talcum powder use is associated with a 44% increased invasive epithelial ovarian cancer risk.
How Cancer Victims Can Get Justice and Compensation
Johnson & Johnson needs to disclose that their talc-based products could potentially cause cancer. Adding a warning label could help women make better-informed decisions before using talc-based products. In addition, other consumer products that contain talc (like condoms and surgical gloves) do carry the increased cancer risk warning label.
In recent years, women who developed ovarian cancer began filing Shower to Shower lawsuits against the manufacturer. Complete a free talcum powder case review form today. Once you’ve submitted your information, an experienced lawyer will call to discuss your Shower to Shower lawsuit information and possible compensation options.
Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.