6 Signs and Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
By Craig Knapp on April 4, 2016

News of talcum-based products causing ovarian cancer has made headlines in the past few weeks following a $72 million verdict in favor of Jacqueline Fox’s family, a 62-year-old woman who died from ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder (containing talcum powder) for more than 35 years. For women who have used the product for many years and still do, this news is startling. Could you be at risk? In short, yes. You’ll want to make sure your baby powder product does not contain talcum powder. And if it does – find another brand that doesn’t immediately. Even more worrisome – do you have ovarian cancer? You’ll want to consult your doctor with your concerns, but you should know the major ovarian cancer symptoms.

Here are 6 signs and symptoms from the Mayo Clinic that could indicate you have ovarian cancer:

1. Abdominal bloating or swelling
2. Quickly feeling full while eating
3. Weight loss
4. Discomfort in your pelvis area
5. Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
6. A frequent need to urinate

Keep in mind that early-stage ovarian cancer rarely causes any symptoms. Many of these ovarian cancer symptoms are seen in advanced-stage ovarian cancer, but as you can imagine, they are often mistaken for more common benign conditions, such as constipation or irritable bowel.

When seeing your doctor, make sure to tell him or her why you are concerned. Explain that you’ve been using talcum-based products for X amount of years and ask for testing. At this point, your doctor is likely to start with a pelvic exam, which entails the outer part of your genitals being carefully inspected. The doctor will then insert two gloved fingers into the vagina and simultaneously press a hand on your abdomen to feel your uterus and ovaries. A device called a speculum will also be inserted into the vagina to visually check for abnormalities.

From here, he or she may also recommend imaging tests, such as ultrasound or CT scans, of your abdomen and pelvis, a blood test, which can detect a protein called CA 125 found on the surface of ovarian cancer cells, or surgery to remove a tissue sample and abdominal fluid to confirm a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. For the surgical route, a minimally invasive or robotic surgery may be an option. If cancer is discovered, the surgeon may immediately begin surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible.

For more detailed information on ovarian cancer, visit mayoclinic.org.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder products (such as Johnson and Johnson products) on genital areas for feminine hygiene, contact the experienced Phoenix Talcum Powder Claims Attorneys at Knapp & Roberts in Arizona today for a free consultation. Call 480-991-7677 today.