If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you’ve likely heard about more than 19,000 lawsuits that have been filed against Johnson & Johnson by people who say J&J products caused their cancer. The cases have been filed mostly by women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using the company’s talcum powder products.
This June, a Missouri appellate court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $2.12 billion to 22 women who said they developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson’s Baby Powder. It wasn’t until May of this year (after years of research showed that J&J talc products contained asbestos) that the company finally pulled their product from shelves. Asbestos has been implicated as the cause of several types of cancer including ovarian, fallopian, and the rare lung cancer mesothelioma.
If you were diagnosed with cancer after using talc-based products, you may be eligible to file a talc cancer lawsuit and recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other issues. In order to do this, you’ll need to work with a New York personal injury lawyer. I’ll tell you more about how to determine whether you are eligible and how a lawyer can help.
The Talc-Cancer Connection
Decades of research show that people who have used Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products have an increased risk of developing cancer. Women have been most impacted because they often use these products in their genital area as part of their hygiene routine.
The culprit is the asbestos that often shows up in talc products. (This is because asbestos is often found near talc mines in nature.) Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and has been linked to a wide range of cancers for decades. Women who use talcum powder products in their genital area are at increased risk for ovarian cancer and fallopian tube cancer because asbestos enters the body through the vagina, where it then causes ovarian cell mutations and tumors.
The fine particles that make up talc products can also be easily inhaled, allowing asbestos into the lungs where it causes scarring, inflammation, and the rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma. Both ovarian cancer and mesothelioma can also develop decades after asbestos exposure, so even someone who no longer uses talc-based products could be at risk.
What is most reprehensible about all of this (and this is a key aspect of the lawsuits) is that Johnson & Johnson knew their products contained asbestos, yet they kept them on the shelves and continued to market them as safe. (You can learn more about how the company hid this information from the public for decades in this Reuters report.)
Recent lawsuits allege not only that baby powder is dangerous because it contains asbestos, but that Johnson & Johnson severely exacerbated the situation since they were aware of the asbestos but refused to warn consumers about the risks.
Symptoms to Look Out For
The symptoms for ovarian cancer can be subtle, which is why it is often not diagnosed until the cancer is advanced. Symptoms you should look out for include:
- Bloating
- Weight loss
- Pelvic discomfort or pain
- Constipation
- Need for frequent urination
Mesothelioma symptoms may be more noticeable, and include:
- Chest pain
- A painful cough
- Lumps under the skin
- Weight loss
If you notice any of these symptoms and have used talcum powder products at any point in the past, get in touch with your doctor. If you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, it is in your best interest to get in touch with a New York personal injury lawyer right away to improve your chances of getting the compensation you are entitled to.
Compensation for Talc-Cancer Cases
New York is one of the best places to live when it comes to consumer protections claims because of our strong product liability laws. Any company that manufactures or sells products in the state of New York is held to exceptionally high safety standards. Companies are frequently held liable for selling dangerous and defective products in the state of New York. In fact, many successful cases against Johnson & Johnson have been heard in New York courts.
It’s important to keep in mind that the statute of limitations for product liability cases is three years in New York, so it is best to get in touch with a lawyer right away, as soon as you notice symptoms.
You may be eligible for a wide variety of damages under New York law, including:
- Medical expenses
- Nursing care or other home treatment
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
The best way to ensure that you are compensated for your losses in a talcum powder injury case is to work with a personal injury attorney in New York who has experience handling the details of these complicated cases. A lawyer will take care of investigating your case, gathering evidence, requesting medical records, and meeting key deadlines so you can focus on your health.
At Buttafuoco and Associates, we fight to ensure that our clients are fairly compensated for the extensive medical expenses and serious life changes that can occur with a serious illness such as cancer. Our talc powder injury lawyers are already successfully handling many talcum powder cancer cases and we may be able to help you too.
Consultations are always free. Contact us today to find out more about your rights. 1-800-NOW-HURT.
