Naturally occurring talc and asbestos are often in close proximity of each other in the earth and thus contamination is very likely to happen during mining operations. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies inhaled talc that contains asbestos as "carcinogenic to humans."
This conflicting information has resulted in substantial consumer concern regarding the safety of talc-based products.
Many people who have been diagnosed with cancer after using such items are left wondering whether they should get a legal practitioner involved. If you have been diagnosed with cancer after using talc-based products, you may be eligible to file a compensation claim, especially if you have a consistent history of using such products over a significant time period.
Most of the concerns have focused on whether long-term exposure to talc fibers might cause lung cancer among talc miners, and whether women who used the moisture-reducing agent for feminine hygiene had an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
While it was already reported in the literature that talc does not cause tumors in hamsters, a carcinogenesis inhalation bioassay of talc conducted in rats and mice by the U.S. National Toxicology Program in 1993, showed that it does not cause tumors in mice either, but induces some tumors in rats, especially female rats.
Consequently, there is an uprising concern about the use of talcum powder and the development of ovarian cancers. The frequent use of talcum powder as a hygiene product is believed to be the culprit in this respect, since it may occasionally be asbestos-containing or asbestos-tainted.
Talc accumulated in the lungs, scratches the surface of tissue in the respiratory system, leading to scarring that blocks the absorption of oxygen, causing irreversible lung damage that, in the end, can be fatal. Chronic inflammation caused by breathing in talcum powder can induce respiratory cancers such as pleural mesothelioma.
Some studies of talc miners and millers have suggested a link between talc and lung cancer risk. According to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, inhaling particles of the substance can cause DNA damage that leads to lung cancer.
Although not all possible links with other types of cancers have been studied extensively, some studies have demonstrated possible risks:
If you believe your ovarian cancer, endometrial ovarian cancer, or mesothelioma was caused by using talcum powder, the priority is having a paraprofessional legal assistant review your case; consultations are typically free, and they will be able to determine if you are legally entitled to file a claim. If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation that can cover your medical treatment, which can become extremely costly in the fight against cancer.
When you file a talcum powder claim, you could be eligible to recover: