How is Talc Used in Cancer Patients

Talc is a is a magnesium silicate, a mineral that is mined around the world and found in certain areas in the United States, including in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and the Appalachian Mountains.  Talc has many uses because of its ability to absorb odors, moisture, and oil, and act as a lubricant and astringent. This mineral is well known as baby powder, but is also used in other products like foot powders and cosmetics.  Women who have developed cancer after use of this powder may be entitled to seek justice and compensation with an talcum powder lawsuit.

Common Talc Uses

You may be surprised to learn that talc is in some building materials, the plates and bowls we eat on, and the paints we use to color our lives. In fact, talc is found in the products and materials that we use every day.

• Talc is used in ceramic products, like pottery, dinnerware, bathroom fixtures, ceramic tile, and pottery. In most cases, talc is used as a filler that also helps gives these products added strength.
• Talc is also used as a filler in paint to thicken it, improve suspension of ingredients, and help the color stick to the walls without running. Because of its color, talc can also brighten paint, and its soft, smooth texture doesn’t abrade the equipment used to spray and apply paint.
• Did you know that talc is also found in paper products? It is used to fill in the gaps of the fibers of the materials used to make paper which creates a smooth surface for writing and coloring. Much like how it does in paint, talc also enhances the brightness of paper and increases ink absorption.
• Asphalt roof shingles also may include talc as it improves weather resistance and helps stop individual shingles from sticking together when bundled.
• The countertops we choose for our kitchens and baths and the statuary and figures we have in our homes and lawns may have talc in the form of soapstone, a type of talc.
• The sprays we use to prevent fungus and repel or kill bugs and insects in our homes and gardens may also have talc in them. Not only does talc help a pesticide or fungicide stick to the plant, but it also reduces abrasion on the sprayers these chemicals are applied with.

How Talc Is Used in Cancer Patients

Talc comes in different grades for different uses, i.e., industrial grade talc is used for industrial purposes, cosmetic grade talc is used in cosmetics, etc. Sterilized talc, a type of medical grade talc, is used in the treatment of some cancer patients and patients who have trouble breathing because of a build-up of fluid in the area between the lungs and the chest wall. Patients mesothelioma, lung cancer, and cancers that metastasize to the lung may suffer this fluid buildup called pleural effusion. To treat this fluid buildup or prevent it from occurring, physicians can spray this special grade of talc into the pleural space around the lungs to fill it and prevent fluid from collecting.

Talc has received a lot of attention over its connection to ovarian cancer in women who used baby powder for feminine hygiene. If you need more information about this link, contact a talcum powder cancer law firm. They can explain the connection and help you decide how to move forward.