Taking a break from her usual cheery and inspiring posts, Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross shared a somber photo and caption on her Instagram yesterday following the death of her dear friend. “I lost my oldest friend Jackie (middle) to ovarian cancer today,” the caption read. “Please keep up on doctors appts and please DO NOT USE BABY POWDER on your PRIVATES.”
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time talcum (or talc) powder has been in the hot seat when it comes to ovarian cancer. And while it’s not crystal-clear how Cross’s dear friend developed the disease, her inclusion of #johnsonandjohnsonlawsuit gives us a pretty good idea.
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In 2017, Johnson & Johnson awarded an Alabama family $72 million in damages after Jacqueline Fox died of ovarian cancer she developed from using the company’s powder products on her body. According to the case, a pathologist found that the talc had inflamed Fox’s ovaries, which then developed into cancer. In 2018, a Missouri court ordered J&J to pay a record $4.69 billion to the 22 women who claim the company’s products contain asbestos and caused them to develop the same cancer.
As of last month, USA Today reported that around 13,000 plaintiffs were still seeking claims in pending lawsuits involving talc-based body powders. “The Company is cooperating with these government inquiries and will be producing documents in response,” Johnson & Johnson said in an SEC filing Wednesday. Until major strides are made in the formulation of the powders, it’s best to heed Cross’s advice and think twice (or three times) before using the powders. Instead, feminine products such as DeoDoc Daily Intimate Wash ($19.50) and VV Beauty Mist by The Perfect V ($25) keep the area fresh without having to worry about life-threatening repercussions.
