Fight for Survival: Ovarian Cancer and the Legacy of Talcum Powder

September 2024

“Johnson & Johnson baby powder has been used by my family for generations. It led me to a 20% chance of survival.”

Sixty year old retired social worker Beth* was living abroad when she started experiencing stomach pains in 2022. She suspected gallstones and visited her doctor. She was sent for a scan which revealed a mass and a diagnosis of extensive ovarian cancer. Her doctors advised that she needed an urgent operation the next day.

Beth had a radical hysterectomy. The surgeons also had to remove the membrane covering her abdominal organs, the fatty tissue supporting her intestines and lower abdomen, and 12 lymph nodes.

Still recovering and forced to return to the UK, Beth said: “I had lived abroad for eight years before discovering I had cancer which was an unexpected shock. My life literally changed overnight. I didn’t have time to process it.

“My doctors advised that they thought I’d been living with ovarian cancer for up to eight years. I may have had it when I decided to leave the UK to spend my retirement abroad. I was told it had spread extensively and I only had a 20% chance of surviving the operation.

“I was well looked after by the hospital, but I feel like I have been butchered. So much has been removed internally it feels like my remaining organs are literally rattling around and may fall out with no support left.

“Before moving abroad I had retired, sold my house, and planned to live abroad for the rest of my life. I spent my retirement pot funding my healthcare and am very lucky to be alive.

“I had to leave all my belongings behind to return to the UK as I am now reliant on my sister and children to look after me. I have no money left to buy my own house. I’m now not only reliant on disability benefits, but also on my family as my independence has been taken away from me.

“Johnson & Johnson talc was used by my grandmother, mother and myself. We used it on ourselves and our kids. It was available in hospital when I had my children. I loved the smell and used it all over my body after every shower and every bath.

“My doctors told me that I would have had one or two months left to live had they not discovered the cancer and operated quickly. I had no suspicious symptoms prior to this. It beggars belief that a large, trusted company like Johnson & Johnson knew of the risks of asbestos and did nothing about it.

“I am very angry. My financial and practical independence has gone. It could have been prevented. I’m still living with the effects of the dishonesty of a brand I loved and trusted. It’s likely that my daily pain, discomfort, and mobility limitations may remain for the rest of my life. They have to be held accountable.”

KP Law is taking action against talc manufacturer Johnson & Johnson who we believe knew about the risks of cancer-causing asbestos as early as the 1960s. It failed to stop selling the product until 2023, knowing it contained asbestos, and failed to warn consumers of the serious health risks.

Join our action today to hold Johnson & Johnson accountable.

*Names changed to protect privacy