September 2024 Update on the Sister Study and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
New medical studies and statements released this year confirm that talcum powder is strongly linked to ovarian cancer. Additionally, many prior talcum powder medical studies show that talc can cause ovarian and fallopian tube cancer. This is known as “genital use” of talcum powder.
This connection was recently confirmed by the “Sisters Study.” The study showed that women who used talc had a 24% to 32% higher ovarian cancer rate. Editors at the Journal of Clinical Oncology wrote that women “at risk of ovarian cancer, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, should be made aware of the potential risks.”
Johnson & Johnson Continues to Deny Talc Link to Cancer
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) recently stopped selling talc baby powder. Prior to this, women used talc in the genital area. There have been many jury trials regarding J&J baby powder and its association with cancer. Total verdicts are over $5 billion for women who used talc and developed ovarian cancer. J&J continues to deny any link between talc and ovarian cancer. However, J&J has proposed a $6.48 billion settlement plan for all pending and future cases. Many victims claim this settlement amount is too small.
Why is the 2024 Talc Ovarian Sister Study So Important?
The Sisters Study started over twenty years ago. There were over 50,000 sisters, where one sister developed breast cancer and one sister did not. Data was also collected on ovarian cancer and the use of talcum powder. As with all studies, the participants may not have a clear memory of their exposure to a product. There is a concern that some women may overestimate or underestimate their talc use. This study is important because it considers that reporting data may not be fully accurate. Still, the study found that there was an increase in ovarian cancer. Medical studies found that the chance of ovarian cancer increased the longer a woman uses talc and with larger quantities used.
Why is the IARC Safety Statement So Important?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that talcum powder is “probably carcinogenic to humans” causing ovarian cancer. IARC is a highly respected international organization. A group of 29 independent, international experts made this determination. Scientific data has been reviewed from human studies and animal studies.
IARC has different cancer classifications. Talc has now been listed as Group 2A. This means that talc is probably capable of causing ovarian cancer.
The IARC cancer groups are:
- Group 1: Carcinogenic
- Group 2A: Probably Carcinogenic
- Group 2B: Possibly Carcinogenic
- Group 3: Not Classifiable
- Group 4: Probably Not Carcinogenic
Will the Sister Study and IARC’s New Classification Help the Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Litigation?
For many doctors and scientists, the link between talcum powder and ovarian and fallopian tube cancers is clear. Many juries have agreed with this link and have returned substantial jury verdicts for plaintiffs. These verdicts included both personal injury and punitive damages. These new developments are important. Future juries will be able to assess this information in their decisions. This information is new and very supportive of prior scientific and medical support. Further, it will help counter many of J&J’s arguments.
What to Do If You Suspect Your Ovarian Cancer is Linked to Talcum Powder
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian or fallopian tube cancer and previously used J&J baby powder, you may be able to file an injury claim. It is advisable to keep any previously used products if you still have them and ensure you have access to all medical records, including test and scan results.
Rheingold, Giuffra, Ruffo, Plotkin and Hellman LLP is actively filing new J&J talc cases. Our Drug Liability Department is led by Partner David B. Rheingold. David has been integral in many high-profile multidistrict product liability lawsuits and assisted in significant settlements and settlement programs.
David specializes in litigation for cancer-causing drugs and products and stays abreast of the latest scientific and medical studies necessary to prove our clients’ cases in court.
David specializes in an active trial practice primarily involving drug products, medical device liability and product liability cases. On both a state and national level, he has obtained substantial client settlements through arbitration, mediation and direct negotiations with some of the largest national and international drug and medical device makers. David has been involved in multiple high-profile legal cases including the $2.5 billion DePuy ASR and DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant settlement plan and the $1.4 billion Stryker Rejuvenate metal-on-metal hip implant settlement plan.
