Last Updated on June 24, 2022 by Shabnam Sengupta
The available scant evidence suggests that using talcum powder near genitals can cause ovarian cancer. However, the information is based on observational and case-control research, which does not prove that talcum powder can cause ovarian cancer. This is primarily based on the premise that talcum is a potential carcinogen that can cause ovarian cancer.
Natural talc or talcum is a clay mineral found on Earth, which is used widely to absorb moisture. Asbestos is another similar looking mineral that is found near the natural talc. A study has shown that asbestos is a major occupational risk factor for cancer. Asbestos often gets mixed with talc during mining to make talc a potential risk factor for ovarian cancer.
A recent study has shown that asbestos is also present in cosmetic talc. The inhaled asbestos while applying cosmetic talc can enter the lymphatic system to reach the peritoneum ovary and nearby tissues. Asbestos can also be present in the ovarian tumour tissue of talc users. As ovarian cancer is formed out of the tumour, regular use of talcum can be deadly for women with ovarian cancer.
However, there is no study that suggests human trials to confirm asbestos in talcum as the main culprit for ovarian cancer among women. More experiential studies are needed to prove the observational fact of talcum causing ovarian cancer.
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