Ovarian Cancer, Radical Surgery, and the Hidden Dangers of Talc

September 2024

“I’m facing radical surgery. What big companies will do to make a lot of money is shocking”

Fifty-eight year old Julie* started the year with plans to start her own gardening business. In March 2024 she began experiencing symptoms of a urinary infection.

Her GP gave her a course of antibiotics which failed to clear her symptoms. A second failed course prompted further medical investigations during which large lumps were found on either side of her abdomen.

Diagnosed with ovarian cancer three weeks after her initial GP visit, Julie said: “I couldn’t believe it when they told me I had cancer. My first thought was ‘I’m stuffed.’ My 82 year old mother was in hospital at the time with a UTI which prompted me to see my GP as soon as I had symptoms – I probably would have ignored it for longer otherwise.

“I never imagined that my seemingly harmless discomfort was actually cancer. There is no cancer in my family. The two tumours found were too big to operate on, so I was started on chemotherapy within six weeks. I lost all my hair and experienced significant pain in my legs for two days after each session.

“My tumours have responded well to the treatment so far and have shrunk by 60%. I still face a radical hysterectomy in a few weeks however, which will also include at least the removal of three lymph nodes and the lining that holds most of my organs in place.

“I’m autistic and have ADHD. I am terrified of being in hospital. My doctors can’t tell me how successful the operation will be as they won’t know the extent of my cancer until they operate. The sensory overload in hospital will be very difficult for me to cope with.

“I find it incredibly challenging to stay still due to my ADHD. The thought of at least a six week recovery period after my surgery is difficult – I’m not sure how I will get through this. I won’t be able to do much more than go for gentle walks and can’t even so much as lift an iron while I heal.

“My partner suffered with high stress levels even before my diagnosis, so this has also had an impact on him. I have never suffered with a significant illness before this. I am staying positive and keeping active playing golf and going to the pub.

“I used to use talc all the time after a shower all over my body. It made my skin softer, and the smell was lovely. I had no idea that something so innocent could have caused me so much physical harm. Why would Johnson & Johnson do this? What they have done simply to make a lot of money is shocking.”

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