Talcum powder can provoke deadly ovarian cancer

A coalition of public health experts, medical doctors and consumers organizations is petitioning the federal government for warning labels on cosmetic talcum powder products used by many women as part of their personal care regime -- a warning that frequent use is linked to ovarian cancer. The petition addresses Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt, and Commissioner of Food and Drugs Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., a former director of the National Cancer Institute. The group seeks labels with a warning such as, "Frequent application of talcum powder in the female genital area substantially increases the risk of ovarian cancer," on all talc products. The petitioners also seek a public hearing at which evidence can be presented that the genital application of talc can result in its translocation to the ovaries. Ovarian cancer is known as particularly deadly because it is a silent cancer that shows few symptoms until it is well advanced. Prevention is as easy as discontinuing the use of talcum powder, says lead petitioner Dr. Samuel Epstein, who chairs the Cancer Prevention Coalition, based in Chicago. "As Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, former director of the National Cancer Institute, is aware," said Dr. Epstein in a statement on May 15, "the mortality of ovarian cancer for women over the age of 65, has escalated dramatically since 1975, by 13% for white and 47% for black women. "There are about 15,300 deaths from ovarian cancer each year," he said. "This makes it the fourth most common fatal cancer in women after colon, breast and lung." One of the studies cited by the petitioners even suggests that women may be dying from exposure to talc on condoms.