Talc was part of Mum's routine – we’re devastated it might have caused her death

12th September 2024

“Talc was a huge part of mum’s self-care routine. We are devastated that it might have caused her death”

Fifty nine year old Lucy* lost her mum 30 years ago to ovarian cancer. Her 72 year old mum Doris* had been fit and active enjoying gardening, dancing, bingo, crocheting and socialising. Weekly constipation symptoms led Doris to visit her GP. During treatment to clear what doctors believed may have been a block in her bowels, it was discovered that she had ovarian cancer that was described to Lucy as being “everywhere”.

Despite surgery and six months of chemotherapy, Doris died in Lucy’s arms within 12 months of being diagnosed.

A full time carer, Lucy recalls the events leading up to her mum’s death: “I was still living with my mum and we had a close relationship. She started suffering with constipation, but she was otherwise fit and well. I was in hospital with her when they gave me the unexpected news that it wasn’t a simple block in her bowel but ovarian cancer that had spread.

“Nothing could have prepared me for the shock. We had no cancer in our family and my mum had always been active. She suffered a painful and undignified death less than 12 months later. I remember she loved talc and would use it all over her body three times a week after her baths. Even today, 30 years on, the smell of talc reminds me of her.

“Friends would often buy her talc as gifts because they knew she loved it. She always commented if it wasn’t Johnson & Johnson as it was her favorite brand. She would be so angry if she knew that the product she loved, and used regularly, could have been the cause of her death.

“She became frail so quickly after her diagnosis. I was lost after she died. She used a product that she trusted and had faith in and loved using. It is absolutely disgraceful if the manufacturer knew it was a health risk and did nothing about it. It beggars belief that something so important can be buried to protect a company. There has been no care about what this has taken from families.”

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 1970s. 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