Talcum powder sat in millions of American homes for generations, marketed as clean and gentle enough for a newborn. For some families, it carried a hidden danger. Talc can be contaminated with asbestos, and long-term talc use has been linked to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. The Illinois talcum powder lawyers at Collins Law Group, P.C. represent people across Illinois who were diagnosed with cancer after using talc products, and the families of those who did not survive. We serve clients in Naperville, Chicago, and throughout the state.
If you or someone you love was diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using talcum powder, call (630) 527-1595 for a free, confidential case review. There is no fee unless we win.
No fee unless we win. Decades of experience in asbestos and toxic exposure cases. Free consultations, available 24/7, with home and hospital visits. We come to you.
Get a free, no-obligation case review. We're available 24/7 and you pay nothing unless we win.
Talc is a mineral mined from the earth, and the problem starts with where it comes from. Talc and asbestos are both silicate minerals that can form right next to each other in the same rock. As a result, talc mined from certain deposits can be contaminated with asbestos. The American Cancer Society notes that talc is mined from areas where asbestos is sometimes also present. Asbestos is a known human carcinogen, and health agencies recognize no safe level of exposure to it. When asbestos-contaminated talc is used, a person can breathe in or otherwise take in the fibers, which is how a product sold for everyday hygiene can carry a cancer risk.
In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tested 52 talc-containing cosmetic products and found asbestos in nine of them. The affected products were voluntarily recalled. That testing confirmed what plaintiffs had argued for years, which is that asbestos can and does turn up in finished talc products.
In 2024, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified talc as probably carcinogenic to humans, pointing to evidence linking talc use to ovarian cancer. Talc that contains asbestos is treated as asbestos, which is already classified as a known human carcinogen.
It is worth being straight about the science. The American Cancer Society explains that talc contaminated with asbestos can cause cancer, while studies on asbestos-free talc and ovarian cancer have had mixed results. The strongest and least disputed concern is asbestos-contaminated talc, and that is where much of the litigation has focused.
Many women used talcum powder or baby powder for feminine hygiene over many years. Studies have linked long-term use of talc in the genital area to ovarian cancer, and thousands of women have brought claims alleging that talc caused their disease. The evidence on asbestos-free talc is still debated, but the risk tied to asbestos-contaminated talc is taken seriously by regulators and courts.
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, and asbestos-contaminated talc is one route of exposure. People diagnosed with mesothelioma who used talc products, or who worked around talc, may have a claim. Our Illinois mesothelioma lawyer page explains this cancer, its symptoms, and treatment in more detail.
Thousands of people across the country have filed lawsuits alleging that talc products caused their ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, and that the companies knew about the asbestos risk and failed to warn consumers. This litigation has been large and hard-fought, and its procedural status has shifted more than once, including through bankruptcy proceedings brought by manufacturers. Because that landscape keeps changing, the most reliable way to learn where a potential claim stands today is to speak with a lawyer who is following it closely.
A person diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using talc products can bring a personal injury claim against the companies responsible. When a person has died from one of these cancers, Illinois law allows the family to pursue a wrongful death claim through the personal representative of the estate, along with a survival claim for what the person endured. If you are not sure whether your history qualifies, that is exactly the kind of question a free case review answers.
For a personal injury claim, Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/13-202) requires the action to be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues. Illinois applies the discovery rule, so for a hidden disease the two-year clock generally starts when the person knew or reasonably should have known both that they were injured and that the injury was wrongfully caused.
For a wrongful death claim, Illinois law (740 ILCS 180/2) requires the action to be commenced within two years after the death of the person. Deadlines depend on the specific facts, and some circumstances can shorten the time you have, so it is best to speak with a lawyer promptly rather than wait.
The goal is to recover the full measure of what the disease has taken. Depending on the case, that can include:
Talc cases are part of the broader toxic chemical exposure and environmental work our firm has handled for years, and they draw on the same investigative approach we use in asbestos cases.
These cases turn on history and product identification. Proving a talc claim means reconstructing which products a person used, for how long, and what those products contained. We do that investigative work, identify the responsible companies, and press the claim toward the strongest possible result, at trial if that is what it takes. You can review our case results to see the outcomes we fight for.
We are plaintiff-side trial lawyers. We represent injured people and grieving families, never the companies that caused the harm. Our approach is to carry the legal fight so you can focus on your health and the people around you.
The two cancers most associated with talc are ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. The clearest concern is talc that is contaminated with asbestos, which is a known human carcinogen.
Talc and asbestos are minerals that can form next to each other in the same rock. Talc mined from certain deposits can be contaminated with asbestos, which is why testing of the finished product matters.
Yes. In 2019, the FDA tested 52 talc-containing cosmetic products and found asbestos in nine of them. Those products were voluntarily recalled.
It depends on your diagnosis and your product-use history. Many people do not know which products contained asbestos, and reconstructing that history is part of what a talcum powder lawyer does. A free case review is the way to find out.
For a personal injury claim, Illinois generally requires filing within two years after the claim accrues, subject to the discovery rule. For a wrongful death claim, the case generally must be filed within two years after the death. Because deadlines depend on the facts, it is best to speak with a lawyer promptly.
Depending on the case, recovery can include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, the cost of care, and, in a wrongful death case, compensation for the family’s loss and funeral expenses.
Nothing up front. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no legal fee unless we win your case. The consultation is free.
A cancer diagnosis in the family comes with legal deadlines, and the sooner you understand your options, the more of them you have. Waiting only narrows what is possible.
Collins Law Group, P.C. represents seriously injured victims and grieving families throughout Illinois. We offer free consultations, we work on a contingency fee basis, and you pay nothing unless we win. If you cannot come to us, we will come to you.
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