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Cosmetic Talc Litigation Media Coverage August 15, 2016
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Welcome to MND on Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer
Aug 13, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device News Desk
For five years Mesh News Desk has covered primarily the injuries coming from mesh created to be permanently placed in the pelvis in women. There are now more lawsuits consolidated in one court than for any other dangerous consumer product. -
Talc and Cancer: How Does Talc Get to the Ovary?
Aug 12, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
Many were surprised to hear that Johnson & Johnson was directed to pay $55 Million to the family of an ovarian cancer victim. -
Talc & Cancer: Epithelial Ovarian Tumors are Most Common
Aug 15, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
The most common type of ovarian cancer comes from an epithelial tumor. Epithelial is the medical term for cells that line organs, cavities, and blood vessels. You can think of epithelial cells as a type of internal and external skin cell. -
Talc & Ovarian Cancer – Staying Healthy after Treatment
Aug 11, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
As part of our series on the use of talcum powder and its suspected link to ovarian cancer, author Eva Hvingelby, NP PhD writes about keeping healthy after you have been treated for cancer. -
Talc & Cancer: What are the Common Chemotherapy Side Effects?
Aug 14, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
As part of our ongoing series about the talcum powder/ ovarian cancer debate- here is news now that you need to know! -
Talc & Cancer : How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Aug 10, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
Chemotherapy uses drugs that have been designed to kill certain types of cells, often by interfering with their ability to reproduce. Chemotherapy is provided in a way that enables the entire body to absorb the medication. The goal is to kill cancerous cells at the site of the tumor, and cancerous cells that may have spread to other parts of the body.
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Welcome to MND on Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer
Aug 13, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device News Desk
Welcome to MND. For five years Mesh News Desk has covered primarily the injuries coming from mesh created to be permanently placed in the pelvis in women. There are now more lawsuits consolidated in one court than for any other dangerous consumer product.
The site was created to follow the issue and inform. It is not medical or legal advice.
There seems to be a disproportionate number of medical devices and consumer products sold to women. Major pharmaceutical companies know women are the primary consumers for most households. Drugs are often seen with females in commercials. Just consider depression medication – those commercials almost always feature a woman.
Big Pharma knows that some women are willing recipients of marketing. Other women are developing a critical eye toward medical marketing. That is probably a good thing.
The same thing goes for consumer products.
Talcum powder has been used for decades by women to “stay fresh” and its often used around the genital area. Some women put it in their underwear and do so every time they bathe. Even thought there were warnings 20 years ago about talc’s link to cancer (Check out the Cancer Prevention Coalition) , it did not make the mainstream media. Now, we are hearing the news. How many women have been affected because they didn’t know? For some, it is too late. That’s what the trials are showing us.
While the link is not conclusive, there are too many correlations to ignore the facts. With more than 2,000 cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed in the US each year, talc manufacturer understood the cancer risks associated with its talc products but failed to warn consumers. How many women might not have cancer if the Johnson’ Baby Powder or Shower to Shower contained a warning? The stories that follow are intended to inform the reader about the risks, what is know and what is speculative so you can be an informed consumer.
Dr. Greg Vigna, MD and JD would like to help you with consulting on your condition if you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Dr. Greg Vigna is a practicing rehabilitation physician, a certified Life Care Planner, and an attorney. He has cared for patients with serious, life threatening injuries for over 20 years. His vocation and life mission are to help patients regain the greatest quality of life possible.
Dr. Vigna became an attorney because of his frustration with changes in the health care industry that prevented patients from receiving the highest standard of care. He believes that both government and private insurance companies ration care to the detriment of patients who are disabled by their injuries.
In addition, pharmaceutical and device companies have profited from pushing products to market, and not completing adequate safety research despite warnings that their products were causing serious injury. Dr. Vigna and his staff have witnessed the life-long suffering these patients experience. Many patients lose their ability to work, pay bills, and receive adequate medical care.
As an advocate Dr. Vigna is uniquely prepared to understand the nature of your injuries, and advocate for you either via settlement negotiations or in a court of law. He is experienced in national level litigation and together with partner attorneys takes on multi-national businesses such as Johnson & Johnson, BP, and others.
Much of our writing is done by Eva Hvingelby NP, PhD is a Nurse Practitioner, writer, educator and researcher. She has been working in health care for over 25 years with a focus on traumatic injury and terminal illness.
Eva completed a Master of Science and Nurse Practitioner degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She then completed a Master of Arts in Organizational Systems, and a PhD in Human Development at the Fielding Institute; she pursued the PhD to better understand why individuals make both healthy and unhealthy choices throughout their lifetimes. Eva is a strong patient advocate. She believes every patient deserves to understand their rights, and all medical options available to help them gain the best quality of life possible.
MND was founded by Jane Akre five years ago. She learned about the talcum powder link to cancer 20 years ago when she was warned by Dr. Samuel Epstein professor emeritus of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, and Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition; and former President of the Rachel Carson Trust. His awards include the 1998 Right Livelihood Award and the 2005 Albert Schweitzer Golden Grand Medal for International Contributions to Cancer Prevention. Read Epstein writing on more preventable environmental cancers at Physicians for Social Responsibility. MND will continue to follow the issue and is in the process of creating Women’s Health News Desk to include all products that may present a danger to women.
http://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/welcome-mnd-talcum-powder-ovarian-cancer/
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Talc and Cancer: How Does Talc Get to the Ovary?
Aug 12, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
How Does Talc Get to the Ovary?
Many were surprised to hear that Johnson & Johnson was directed to pay $55 Million to the family of an ovarian cancer victim. The jury in this case felt J & J did not adequately warn women about the possibility of getting ovarian cancer from its baby powder products, which are made of talc. There have been numerous concerns raised by scientists over the past 40 years that talc could cause irritation, which could eventually lead to ovarian cancer. However, J & J neither changed their formulation, nor told women this was a concern.
So how do talc based baby powder products cause irritation to the ovaries? There are a number of physiologic reasons this might be possible for women who use baby powder around the opening of the vagina, and on sanitary napkins.
The Anatomy
A woman’s sexual organs have an open pathway that leads from the ovary, to the opening of the vagina, and back.
Each month one of the ovaries releases an egg. This egg travels into the fallopian tube and makes its way down to the uterus. If the woman does not become pregnant it leaves the body through the vagina when she has her period.
Following the reverse pathway of the egg, sperm, bacteria, and talc can all enter through the vagina, make their way into the uterus, up through the fallopian tubes and reach the ovary.
Scientists have been able to find small pieces of talc in tumors that grow on the ovary, so we know it’s possible for these particles to travel from the outside of a woman’s body, to the ovaries.
During Your Period
There is something called “retrograde menenses.” What this means, is that during your period blood can back up into the fallopian tubes and enter the abdominal cavity.
Some researchers think it’s possible that talc is carried from the uterus to the ovary on menstrual blood, via the retrograde menenses mechanism. These scientists propose that using baby power and other talc based products on sanitary napkins during your period is more risky than day to day use.
It’s Possible
There is little controversy that it is possible for talc to travel to the ovaries, and that talc may cause irritation which could lead to cancer. Johnson & Johnson was aware of this, as demonstrated during recent court cases. The jury felt J & J had a responsibility to warn women, which never happened. Now, many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, who regularly used talc based products around the vagina, are wondering if their disease was caused by baby powder.
http://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/talc-cancer-talc-get-ovary/
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Talc & Cancer: Epithelial Ovarian Tumors are Most Common
Aug 15, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
Epithelial Ovarian Tumors are Most Common
The most common type of ovarian cancer comes from an epithelial tumor. Epithelial is the medical term for cells that line organs, cavities, and blood vessels. You can think of epithelial cells as a type of internal and external skin cell.
Non-Cancerous Tumors
The good news is that most tumors of the ovary’s epithelium are not cancerous. They stay on the ovary and do not spread to other organs. When a tumor is not cancerous, it is called benign. Here are the names of some benign ovarian tumors:
Brenner Tumors
Mucinous Cystadenomas
Serous Cystadenomas
Benign tumors can go away on their own. If they cause uncomfortable symptoms, continue to grow or start secreting hormones, they can be removed by surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is most often used to remove these tumors, since it is the least invasive. In some cases the entire ovary needs to be removed, for example if it surrounds the ovary and can’t be surgically separated.
Tumors not Likely to Become Cancer
Low malignant potential tumors (LMP) are made of cells that are replicating in an unnatural way, but have not spread to other tissues. They also do not invade the ovaries, uterus, or organ where they started. Instead, they just sit on top and grow bigger. Some other names for LMP tumors include borderline tumors, or atypical proliferating tumors.
Since LMP tumors become uncomfortable as they grow bigger, it is common to have them surgically removed. During the removal process, the abdominal cavity is examined for spread to any other organs or tissues. If there is spread, chemotherapy may be offered.
It is important to keep all follow up appointments and address any changes such as increased pain, bloating, constipation, nausea, diarrhea right away. Patients usually need to go to the doctor every 6 months for several years to determine if new tumors are growing and if they are becoming cancerous.
Cancer on the Ovary
About 90% of cancerous ovarian tumors are epithelial tumors. This means they grow out of the cells that line the ovary, and not out of the hormone or structural cells inside the ovary. Tumors that grow out of the same cell type, such as epithelial cells, can still have unique characteristics. These characteristics are important to understand when deciding what kind of treatment is most likely to work.
Determining the cellular characteristics of an epithelial tumor is done by looking at the cancer cells closely under a microscope. The cells may be further classified as:
Serous, clear cell, mucinous, endometrioid or undifferentiated.
Serous tumors are the most common.
Finally, the grade of the tumor (how abnormal the cells are) and the stage of the cancer (how far it has spread) needs to be determined.
Following Up
If you learn you have an abnormal growth on your ovary, remember that most growths are non-cancerous. However, it is critical that you complete all of the required tests and follow-up visits. Most cancerous ovarian tumors are first noticed once they have been growing for a while, which makes treatment much more difficult.
Once you have a complete diagnosis, you can talk to your medical provider about the possible causes of your ovarian cancer.
http://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/talc-cancer-epithelial-ovarian-tumors-common/
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Talc & Ovarian Cancer – Staying Healthy after Treatment
Aug 11, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
As part of our series on the use of talcum powder and its suspected link to ovarian cancer, author Eva Hvingelby, NP PhD writes about keeping healthy after you have been treated for cancer. Juries have found enough evidence to award plaintiffs $55 million in recent months so the evidence is mounting and convincing. If you are using talcum powder, baby powder or shower-to-shower type powders for feminine hygiene, you may want to reconsider that habit.
Hvingelby writes on Staying Healthy after Treatment.
If you were diagnosed and treated for ovarian cancer, there are certain things you need to do, to have the best possible chance of long term recovery. Keeping thorough records is key to ensuring everyone on your team knows what has been done. There will be many follow up exams required to determine how well you responded to treatment. You will also have to recover from common treatment side effects, and cope with the stress of having a life-changing diagnosis.
Staying Organized
Be sure you do not allow your health insurance to lapse. You will need additional follow up exams and tests. If there are any concerns about the cancer coming back, doctors may need to order expensive scans. Time is of the essence.
Keep a copy of your initial biopsy results, and any additional biopsies you’ve had.
Keep detailed records of all of your treatments.
Write down which drugs you took and for how long.Request a copy of your radiation summary report, if you had radiation therapy.If your tumor was surgically removed, keep a copy of your surgery report.
Keep a copy of any discharge summaries, if you were ever hospitalized.
Keep the originals of these documents in a folder at home. Also scan and upload the documents for safe storage. This way you can easily send the information to new docs, or if you are admitted to a new hospital they will be easy to access.
Regular Blood Tests
Son holds mother’s hand, WikiCommons
You will need to have frequent follow up evaluations after treatment. Depending on the type of ovarian tumor you had, blood tests will be ordered. Some common blood tests you may need include:
CA-125 levels
CA 19-9
CEA
HE-4
Alfa-fetoprotein (AFP)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
Estrogen, Testosterone, Inhibin
Blood test results are one element in determining if treatment was successful, if the tumor is shrinking, or if it is growing back.
Coping with Side Effects from Treatments
There can be both short term and long term side effects from cancer treatment. Common chemotherapy side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, anxiety, and headache. These usually resolve within 1-2 weeks after chemotherapy has ended.
Radiation can produce immediate symptoms such as flushing, peeling skin, and severe diarrhea. It can also lead to scar tissue and nerve damage that cause long term discomfort. Radiation oncologists can help guide management of complications that develop after radiation therapy.
Surgery can change the way your body functions. For example, you will no longer be able to have a baby if your ovaries and uterus were removed. If a section of your intestines had to be removed, you may have a stoma which is an artificial opening to the surface of your abdomen over which you will wear a bag to catch drainage. Stomas can sometimes be reversed so that normal bowel function returns. Surgery can also lead to scar tissue within the abdominal cavity. Follow-up with the surgeon for any new symptoms or complications is important.
Dealing with the Emotional Strain
A diagnosis of cancer is life-changing and can bring up many different emotions. It is natural to grieve the loss of any of your organs, or changes in how your body functions. Cancer may change how you view the world, and what you feel is most important in your life. There are excellent cancer survivor groups where others who have experienced what you are going through can share their stories. These groups are good for both the patient and their loved ones.
http://www.meshmedicaldevicenewsdesk.com/talc-ovarian-cancer-staying-healthy-treatment/
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Talc & Cancer: What are the Common Chemotherapy Side Effects?
Aug 14, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
As part of our ongoing series about the talcum powder/ ovarian cancer debate- here is news now that you need to know! Nurse Practitioner, H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD writes: What are the Common Chemotherapy Side Effects?
There is no chemotherapy treatment that only targets cancer, without damaging normal body cells as a side effect. Cancer cells started out as healthy and normal, but something caused them to mutate and develop abnormal DNA. Because there are still cellular similarities between cancer cells and healthy cells, chemotherapy drugs are able to affect both.
There are a number of common side effects most people who receive chemo, experience. These include:
-changes to digestion including loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
-skin cells damage causing foot and hand rashes
-mouth sores can develop
-depending on the drug used, there may be hair loss
If the chemotherapy drugs of choice also affect bone marrow, production of red and white blood cells may be slowed. This can result in bleeding or bruising from even minor injuries, extreme fatigue, or an increased risk of infection.
The good news is that most of these side effects only occur while actively taking chemo drugs, and clear up within about 2 weeks once the chemo cycle is over. The other good news is there are many medications that help counteract the negative effects of chemo. For example nausea medications, anti-depressants and medications to help with blood cell production are available, as needed.
Longer Lasting Effects
In some cases, chemotherapy causes lasting damage to healthy body cells. For example, chemotherapy can be very hard on the liver and kidneys, and without adequate hydration these organs can be damaged. You may receive IV fluids while getting chemo to make sure your body can adequately filter the toxins.
Another side effect is damage to the peripheral nerves, particularly those in the hands and feet. Chemo can lead to a condition called neuropathy. Symptoms include pain, tingling, and numbness in the extremities. Some chemo drugs can also affect the nerve responsible for hearing.
Most chemotherapeutic medications are toxic to babies, so be sure you talk to your provider about the best possible course of action if you are pregnant, or how to avoid becoming pregnant during treatment.
It’s important to understand all the possible side effects, what signs to look for that you may be experiencing a more serious reaction, and what can be done to minimize these side effects. When talking to your doctor it’s important to ask about the likelihood of having long term complications from the chemo, versus the risk of dying from cancer if you decide against the treatment.
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Talc & Cancer : How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Aug 10, 2016 | Mesh Medical Device Newsdesk
By H. Eva Hvingelby, NP, PhD
Chemotherapy uses drugs that have been designed to kill certain types of cells, often by interfering with their ability to reproduce. Chemotherapy is provided in a way that enables the entire body to absorb the medication. The goal is to kill cancerous cells at the site of the tumor, and cancerous cells that may have spread to other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy can be provided as a fluid directly into a vein. It can also be taken as a pill. Sometimes it is injected into the body, such as via a catheter into the abdominal cavity. When injected into a body cavity it works directly on cancer cells inside the cavity that would not have been reached via the blood stream. The chemo medication is also absorbed through the tissues and into the circulation with this approach.
One characteristic of cancer cells is that they divide much more quickly than other cells in the body. Many chemo drugs target cellular DNA in order to stop cells from reproducing. Even though chemo affects all cells in the body, the rapidly dividing nature of cancer cells means they are affected by the drug more quickly. The goal is to provide enough chemo to kill the cancer cells, but stop before there is permanent damage to other cells in the body.
How Much Chemo is Needed?
Every person’s chemotherapy regimen is tailored to the type of cancer cells present, how far it has spread, and any other unique characteristics of the cancer. It is most common to give two different types of drugs. This is called combination treatment. Combination treatment is effective because it targets the cancer in different ways, which makes it stronger. In other words, doctors try to kick the cancer when it’s already down.
There are usually three to six cycles of chemotherapy. During a cycle, chemotherapy is scheduled in regular doses, then there is a rest period. The rest period gives healthy cells time to recover before the next cycle begins. The goal is to repeatedly weaken the cancer cells, so that each cycle of medication kills the more effectively.
Many epithelial ovarian cancer tumors respond to treatment. It’s possible to see the tumors shrink on CT scan, and see tumor markers in the blood go down after treatment. Unfortunately, most of the time there are a few cancer cells left behind which start the process all over again. Chemo may be scheduled again six months to one year later, and repeated regularly, to stop the growth and spread of the original cancer.
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