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Avatar universal

Baby Powder and link to OVC

I know many of you know about the link between baby powder and OVC. Baby powder has tiny particles of asbestos. They tried to ban it several years ago, but decided it had such small doses of asbestos. The baby powder travels trough the tubes and remains in the ovaries to build up and later result in OVC. My doctor admitted this and I have have found it on many sights. My question is how many of us have used baby powder either in private areas or on the thighs? I wanted to see if I found a correlation of how many of us got to this point. I used it since 1984 and now have recurrent OVC.
Links: http://www.maacenter.org/asbestos/products/babypowder.php http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/talc.htm http://www.asbestos.net/asbestos-products/baby-powder.html

If you want to find info on your own, just type in asbestos in baby powder.

Please let me know about your use of baby powder. Thank you.
25 Responses
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Avatar universal
It's only the talc powder that's a problem, cornstarch based powders are ok
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Avatar universal
rzh
does this mean people should not use baby powder completely?!?!  I dont use the powder for my privates or thighs, but I do use for my back and chest areas.

When it gets really hot here...i tend to sweat. and the powder "freshens" me up.
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483733 tn?1326798446
No worries.  Some of us are just here to support and protect you ladies and didn't want you feeling one bit worse.  Appreciate the sentiment.
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Avatar universal
I just read your post, and I need to explain my reply regarding guilt. I completely know that none of us knowingly, or unknowingly "did it to ourselves", and no one should feel guilty for doing anything we had no knowledge of.

When I had told a relative that I had been diagnosed with OVCA, the comment was "I told you to lose weight years ago, you did it to yourself".
I was also told by the same person that if I don't go to Sloan Kettering, I'll die and that will  also be my fault."
We don't talk much any more!

I wasn't being serious, and I hope no one took me seriously. I'd never say anything to hurt anyone, or cause them to feel one iota of guilt.
Jane
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329994 tn?1301663248
Beachwalker33,
Caress soap has been linked to OVCA? I haven't heard that. I am sorry about your mom.  There is so much out there that causes all the different kinds of cancers, that we probably don't even know about. We use way too many pesticides on food and preservatives and additives. It is a shame.  Colleen
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Avatar universal
My Mom used Caress soap for years,she thought maybe that could have caused it,she also used the talc based baby powder.One doctor said to avoid baths,sometimes I suppose its ok,just not too often.I use bath gel,never soap.And if you do bathe avoid cleaning it with comet,use an organic product.There's so many things in our paint,carpet,even dishsoap, that cause cancer.If we keep our immune systems at peek condition,our healthy cells will fight off the cancer cells we all have in our bodies.Arsenic is in new clothes we buy,they say to wash everything before we wear it,I don't always do that,but should.They seem to never be able to pinpoint the exact cause of certain Cancers.Smoking of course is a cause,but not when it comes to Ovarian.What's this I've been hearing about a possible vaccine for Ovarian Cancer coming out soon? I like to learn about new things.Its to late for my Mom,but so many others need a cure.I would like to see a cure in my lifetime...God Bless,Jen
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Avatar universal
My doctor also told me about the problem with powder and OvCa. He said not to use it again. I to used it for years on my thighs. I did not know, so it is not my fault, but it is the fault of the govt., medical doctors that knew, and the powder companies that all know now. Shame on them. I use the Johns Hopkins site for my info, so here is the link there          http://ovariancancer.jhmi.edu/riskfctr.cfm

Below is from Wikipedia:  
Scientists have been aware of the toxicity of talc since the late 1960s, and in 1971 researchers found particles of talc embedded in 75 percent of the ovarian tumors studied.[8] However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers non-asbestiform talc, that is, talc which does not contain potentially carcinogenic asbestiform amphibole fibers, to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in cosmetics. [9]

Below is a warning from the American Medical Asso. concerning Talcum Powder:
http://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/09/29/41716.aspx

I threw out the powder and I tell everyone I see so I can save someone from going through this. I know there are other causes, but this is an easy fix.
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Avatar universal
I just read a book called "Not Just A Pretty Face".  It is all about the cosmetic industry and how the products are loaded with carcinogens.
Soap, deoderant, shampoo, creams, make up.... it's unreal.  AND the best part is how these products often have written on them "A portion of sales go to the fight against breast cancer...etc"  YET the stupid products contain chemicals known to cause cancer.

Johnson's baby shampoo contains the hazardous substances formaldehyde and dioxane, which are not listed on labels. The two chemicals are known to cause cancer in animals, and formaldehyde can also cause skin rashes.

I know, I know, people say "everything causes cancer" and you really can't make yourself nuts worrying about it BUT it is good to share information.  As I use up products, I am trying to make more informed choices when I buy replacements.  Read the labels and try to see what is in this stuff (although they say sometimes not everything is listed).  Oh and according to the book, they believe there is a link between hair dye and OVCA.  They also think nail polish and remover are very, very toxic.


Helpful - 0
106886 tn?1281291572
When I saw this thread, I freaked a little bit. I tried to tell my husband years ago about the possibility that using powder in that area could cause the cells to mutate in the ovary after the product managed to travel up the falopian tube. He thought I was joking. Not that I use my spouse as a barometer to all of my concerns, but this is a topic that does not come up very often and I have always wondered if there was a connection here that we were missing.

I never had a doctor tell me there was a connection between using powder and the development of Ovarian Cancer, but around 1977 I shared an office with three women (we were all in our 20's) and when we had time for conversations, the topics were picked at random. The use of Feminine Hygiene sprays came up one day and I looked up to see several horrified looking faces. Several said they'd heard that using such products as well as talcum powder could put you at risk for Ovarian Cancer. From time to time since then, I have heard this concern brought up from time to time... mainly the concern about the powder. I think regarding the use of the sprays, I did hear that it was okay to spray the underware ... seemed that the problems arose if the skin of that area was sprayed directly.

I have probably used powder more than the average woman. The build of my body and the way I carried my weight in those days made it necessary to use powder all of the time unless I was wearing pantyhose. I was so very uncomfortable without powder and used it several times a day from the time I was about 15 until the late 1990's.

Severe Cervical Dysplasia came first when I was 45. Then when I was 47 malignant cells were found in a cyst that had been drained from my ovary. No more cancer was found during the hysterectomy.

This thread really hit home, though.

Mary
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Avatar universal
My Gyn Oncologist told me about this and told me not to use any more powder. I am so sorry Jane, that you misunderstood this and hope your tomorrow will bring new light and good spirits.  This is so helpful and a well known fact, just look at Johns Hopkins causes for Ovarian Cancer, the American Cancer Society, and a dozen other places and you will find it as a cause for cancer. Women should know this before it is to late and obviously drs. are not telling us. How could it possibly be our fault???  My husband's granny used powder everyday and she had Ovarian Cancer. We need to scream out this message to every woman we see. I made my whole family throw out their powder a year ago. I did not see how one would construe this as a blame on our parts. If we don't tell people, then we need to accept the blame for hiding our heads under the covers and saying it is just another story.  There is proof by major cancer centers.  I understood that this is just one way to get Ovarian Cancer among several. Thanks for the positive help in getting the word out.
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Avatar universal
I
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Avatar universal
You're right Becky,
You did get dealt a really crappy hand and life is so unfair. We've done nothing to deserve this disease, and we just have to keep trying to find the way to defeat it,and live a normal life when we can.

I think about what Forest Gump said about life being just a box of chocolates, you never know which one you're gonna get.
I'd add : unless you poke a hole in the bottom of each one!
Wish we could have done that, we'd all have chosen a different way to go.

Have a good tomorrow,
Jane
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135691 tn?1271097123
I get that there may be a connection, but I fall in to the category of someone who did everything "right" and still ended up with ovca - at 26 no less.
I think it's definatley ok to question these things - I think we need to do more of it, actually - but no one should ever think they are responsible for their cancer.
I look at it this way - Life is like a card game... I got dealt a crappy hand and I won't know if I've won until the last card has been played.
Becky
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187666 tn?1331173345
Perhaps powder is just one of the many risks for OvCa. We can't be too simplistic about this. I think most every woman over the age of 40 had their bottoms powdered by their Moms when they were babies. Maybe that doesn't count since it wouldn't be forced up inside by tampons, etc. Just something to keep in mind I suppose.

And I agree with Trudi - women with OvCa should not be blaming themselves any more than women with breast cancer (how about those stories about deodorant and underwire bras?)
Helpful - 0
483733 tn?1326798446
No one does this to themselves.  There are still oodles of women who used powder and HRT and who are overweight who don't have ovarian cancer.  Guilt is not something you ladies need to put on yourselves.  
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Avatar universal
When I got my package of info. two+ years ago when i was diagnosed, it had a list of things that could cause OVCA, and powder with talc, HRT and being overweight were on the list.
I fell into all three catagories, so I guess I unknowingly did it to myself.
Being BRCA 2 positive didn't help either I'm sure.

Jane
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Avatar universal
We are not supposed to use any powder with talc. Yes, it still has asbestos in it, minute particles they thought would not be enough to harm us. Just think about cigarettes and we know they cause cancer, but they still sell them. How many men have prostrate cancer today, you have to wonder about their use of gold bond powder? We just don't know, but I would not take a chance. I think baby powder with cornstarch is o.k., but you need to do more research on that.
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Avatar universal
I asked my Gyn Oncologist about it and she said I no longer had Fallopian Tubes, but that was it. I would not use it, just in case. Better safe than sorry. It took several times of me talking about the possible link between powder and OVCA for my doctor to actually spout that fact out. It is like, she knew it, but was not supposed to tell. I also have stage II and it is now recurrent as of a month two months ago, 6 months out of chemo. I used cornstarch powder in those 6 months, but I doubt it is the reason it came back.
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Avatar universal
I am so proud of you. I did the same.  You have to wonder about all the men with prostrate cancer and the use of Gold Bond Powder. I just don't get why they let us use these products, but look at cigarettes. Did you read my comment above answering the question? My OB Gyn said it goes up the Fallopian Tubes and then rest in the ovaries. Think about putting powder in front of your mouth and then walking, just the presence would be absorbed.  I hope that makes sense. Megan
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792410 tn?1270315500
Hi Ireneo,

I was wondering the same thing about how the powder can get to the ovaries.  I am thinking that tampons, intercourse, pelvic exams, etc., would push the powder up in there.  In fact latex gloves (at least they used to) have powder on them.  I threw away everything with talc in it this morning.

Ramsay
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Avatar universal
I should have stated it was all powder with talc. I would not use any powder at all, but supposedly powder with cornstarch is o.k. My Gyn Oncologist tells me it travels up the Fallopian Tubes and rests in the ovaries. megan
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Avatar universal
Ive used baby powdwer for years, Never knew this, have stage 2 ovc. drs never mentioned this. Does this mean that if i still use it that the cancer is going to reaccur? Will have to research this, thanks for info
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187666 tn?1331173345
Does that mean all baby powders contain asbestos, even today? And what about other bath powders? And how many of us remember whether our Moms used powder on us when we were infants?

My husband has used baby powder for as long as I've known him (over 36 years). Any studies on the effect on men? Seems it should affect them as well.

My Mom probably used it on me but I'm fine, so far. Just had a 10cm cyst removed last year and I'm menopausal. Connection? Probably not.  Yep, I'm a little skeptical. Just wondering how the powder manages to crawl way up into a woman's body.
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792410 tn?1270315500
I used baby powder for many of my teen years.  That was in the mid to late 70's.  I have recurrent OvCa.
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