Following reports that more than 1000 cases of John & Johnson products being linked to ovarian cancer, Rio Tinto Minerals Inc are the latest group to be added to the lawsuit. This comes after it was discovered that Rio Tinto subsidiary during this period, Luzenac America, mined the “talc at issue”, which was then used in Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.
The plaintiffs of the case, from Louisiana in the US, are four woman who have ovarian cancer, and a husband of a woman who, in fact, has passed away. Court documents suggest that each of these women used the aforementioned Johnson products during 2011 and 2015, which lead to their cancer diagnoses.
Similarly, Johnson & Johnson have already paid out two women from Missouri in the US, who claimed that the talc used in this company’s products lead them to be diagnosed with terminal cancer. The court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay these women a total of $172million in damages.
Despite a spokesperson for Rio Tinto Minerals Inc stating that “multiple scientific and regulatory reviews have determined that talc is safe for use in cosmetic products and the labeling on Johnson’s Baby Powder is appropriate”, the numerous lawsuits piling up suggest something else.
According to the Cancer Council, those who have ovarian cancer may not show any symptoms. However, if they do, this is what doctors suggest to look out for:
Abdominal bloating
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
Frequent or urgent urination
Back, abdominal or pelvic pain
Constipation
Menstrual irregularities
Fatigue
Indigestion
Pain during sexual intercourse
If you have any of these symptoms, or would like to learn more about ovarian cancer, visit your local GP.
