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Ovarian Cancer Symptoms & How to Determine Whether Talc May Be Responsible

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms & How to Determine Whether Talc May Be Responsible

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms & How to Determine Whether Talc May Be Responsible

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death among female cancer patients. Although new ovarian cancer diagnoses have been slowly declining over the past two decades, this year alone in the U.S.:

  • About 22,440 women will be newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer. About half of these diagnoses will impact women who are 63 or older.
  • Ovarian cancer will kill nearly 14,100 women.1

Now consider this: Using talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes may increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer by as much as 33 percent.2

Determining whether the use of talcum powder contributed to a case of ovarian cancer is important to figuring out the legal recovery options – and whether affected women have a potential claim against talcum powder makers like Johnson & Johnson.

Have You Been Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer after Use of Talcum Powder?

Call (713) 352-7975, Text (281) 612-8024 or Email Our Firm
for a Free Case Evaluation & Helpful Legal Advice Regarding Your Potential Claim

The attorneys at the Amaro Law Firm are ready to explain your legal recovery options and advocate your rights to compensation. We represent women and families from across the U.S. in talcum powder lawsuits, and we offer virtual and mobile consultations to those who are unable to visit our offices.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms & Diagnoses

The first step in determining whether use of talcum powder has been harmful lies in definitively diagnosing the presence of ovarian cancer.

Given that the ovaries are comprised of three types of cells, there are three different types of malignancies that can impact the ovaries:

  • Epithelial tumors, which develop on the ovaries’ outer cells – About 85 to 90 percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have epithelial tumors, making this the most common type of ovarian cancer.
  • Germ cell tumors, which develop on the ova (egg-producing cells)
  • Stromal tumors, which develop on the hormone-producing, structural cells.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer can vary, according to the stage and type of malignancy a woman has. Generally, however, ovarian cancer symptoms can include (and may not be limited to):

  • Abdominal inflammation
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Changes in bowel movements and/or menstruation
  • More frequent and urgent need to urinate
  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Difficulty emptying the bladder
  • Fatigue and lack of energy
  • Lower back or pelvic pressure
  • Pelvic pain
  • Pain during intercourse.

When women exhibit these symptoms, doctors may proceed with some combination of the following to determine whether a woman has developed ovarian cancer:

  • Personal and medical history evaluation to uncover whether there is a family history of ovarian cancer and/or whether other risk factors are present – Risk factors for ovarian cancer can include (and are not necessarily limited to):
    • Age (being 50 or older)
    • History of smoking
    • History of undergoing fertility treatment or hormone replacement therapy
    • Certain types of genetic mutations.
  • Imaging tests, like CT scans or MRIs to see if an abnormalities have developed on the ovarian tissues
  • Blood tests, which can detect whether certain cancer-related proteins are present on ovarian cells
  • Biopsies to test tissue samples for the presence of malignant cells.

Evidence That Use of Talcum Powder Contributed to Ovarian Cancer

When ovarian cancer is definitively detected, the following factors can be important to determining whether use of talcum powder contributed to the malignancy:

  • The type of ovarian cancer – The most common type of ovarian cancer, epithelial ovarian cancer, is more likely to be associated with use of talcum powder than the other types of ovarian cancer.
  • History of using talcum powder – Women who have regularly used talcum powder (for feminine hygiene purposes) for at least five years are also more likely to have developed ovarian malignancies due to talc powder use. Additionally, the longer a woman has used talcum powder, the more likely it will be that talc contributed to her ovarian cancer.
  • Biopsy results – Biopsies can reveal whether talcum powder particles are present in malignant cells. The presence of these particles can be a strong indicator that use of talcum powder played a role in the development of ovarian cancer.
  • The absence of certain genetic disorders – A lack of genetic disorders (like BRCA 1 or 2) must also be established when determining whether talcum powder (or other factors) contributed to ovarian malignancies.

Find Out If You Have a Claim: Contact a Talc & Personal Injury Lawyer at the Amaro Law Firm

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and has a history of using talcum powder, contact a talc & personal injury lawyer at the Amaro Law Firm for answers about your potential claim and recovery options.

Call (713) 352-7975, text (281) 612-8024 or email our firm for a free consultation.

Relentless and experienced, our attorneys are dedicated to advocating the rights of the injured and helping them obtain the financial recoveries they deserve. Let us get you on the path to compensation and justice so you can focus on healing and restoring your life.

Our history of outstanding representation and success in talcum powder (and other product liability) cases has earned us 5-star ratings on Google and Facebook.

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1: All statistics from the American Cancer Society (ACS)
2: According to this study