Talk Cancer

Question:

That is true, but the real danger to little girls is that talcum power use is associated with ovarian cancer in women. HUH?   Gotta love this kind of statement.   Heather –  whos wondering about Ovarian cancer and talcum powder! Actually, it’s true.  There is a link between talcum powder use and ovarian cancer.

I just saw this in the news too.  It made me nervous enough to switch from my favorite baby powder which is talc based to a cornstarch based one. Admittedly it is not as good, but my daughter’s health comes first. Mary

Response:

Why do you even need to use them?  I never used them on my kids because of the dangers involved.  We had no problems

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – this is dangerous [?] I think the danger is in getting the powder in the lungs or eyes.   Change her as early as possible when she’s wet.  I would let her air dry as much as possible.  Use zinc oxide ointment when a rash develops.   Personally I HATE zinc oxide.  Every one has a personaly preference.   I like A&D ointment.  Or plain vaseline. That is true, but the real danger to little girls is that talcum power use is associated with ovarian cancer in women. HUH?   Gotta love this kind of statement.   Heather –  whos wondering about Ovarian cancer and talcum powder!

Actually, it’s true.  There is a link between talcum powder use and ovarian cancer. — Patricia Whisler (To respond via e-mail, remove everything in caps.)

Response:

Why do you even need to use them?  I never used them on my kids because of the dangers involved.  We had no problems

It really depends on the child.  Both my children have very sensitive skin, and no matter how careful I am and no matter what diapers I use, I’ve had to deal with horrible, bloody diaper rash.  Diaper rash creams (and I’ve tried them all) never prevented/healed my daughter’s diaper rash.  Medicated powder was all that worked.  My son was just the opposite.  Powders made his rashes worse.  Creams did wonders.  Go figure?! Mary

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The childminder has told my wife that this is dangerous – can anyone confirm this as I am now worried. I believe I have heard that talc is dangerous if it gets into the lungs.  If your child is like mine the first thing they do when I put powder on them is to stick their hands in it and put it in their mouth. Fortunately you have a simple substitute.  At the grocery store, on the same shelf next to the talcum powder, is cornstarch powder.  I’ve been using this for about a year and can’t tell the difference.  And I feel better knowing it’s completely safe wherever it ends up on the kids! Jeffrey William Gillette

I was also advised by my daughter’s pediatrician not to use talcum powder, due to the danger of it being breathed in and getting into the lungs, but besides that I was listening to a radio program lately which featured a husband/wife doctor team and although I don’t remember the exact details, I believe that they were discussing that the use of talcum powder on the genitals of adult females was being linked to ovarian cancer.  I could be wrong about this, and don’t mean to sound alarmist, but I seem to remember that they also advised not to use powder on female babies.  Personally, I don’t use powder on my daughter simply because it doesn’t seem necessary, with diapers being so absorbent these days, and a little Desitin now and then, my daughter rarely gets a rash and if she does I just apply Desitin and it goes away overnight. Nicole Discher

Response:

I believe I have heard that talc is dangerous if it gets into the lungs.  If your child is like mine the first thing they do when I put powder on them is to stick their hands in it and put it in their mouth. Fortunately you have a simple substitute.  At the grocery store, on the same shelf next to the talcum powder, is cornstarch powder.  I’ve been using this for about a year and can’t tell the difference.  And I feel better knowing it’s completely safe wherever it ends up on the kids!

Has anyone else ever heard of this?  The possible exception to the safe use of cornstarch is the child who is prone to thrush and other yeast infections–yeast apparently thrives on cornstarch.  l.f.

Response:

this is dangerous [?] I think the danger is in getting the powder in the lungs or eyes.   Change her as early as possible when she’s wet.  I would let her air dry as much as possible.  Use zinc oxide ointment when a rash develops.   – Ron Low

That is true, but the real danger to little girls is that talcum power use is associated with ovarian cancer in women. k

Response:

The childminder has told my wife that this is dangerous – can anyone confirm this as I am now worried.

I believe I have heard that talc is dangerous if it gets into the lungs.  If your child is like mine the first thing they do when I put powder on them is to stick their hands in it and put it in their mouth. Fortunately you have a simple substitute.  At the grocery store, on the same shelf next to the talcum powder, is cornstarch powder.  I’ve been using this for about a year and can’t tell the difference.  And I feel better knowing it’s completely safe wherever it ends up on the kids! Jeffrey William Gillette

Response:

Hi,    I have a 14 month old little girl and regularly use Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder on her vagina and on her bottom. The childminder has told my wife that this is dangerous – can anyone confirm this as I am now worried. Thanks for any replies. Steve & Louise

I believe I read somewhere that it has been associated with the development of cervical cancer later in life.  J&J makes a pure cornstarch powder that should serve the purpose without the hazards. Leigh in raLeigh

Response:

Hi,    I have a 14 month old little girl and regularly use Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder on her vagina and on her bottom. The childminder has told my wife that this is dangerous – can anyone confirm this as I am now worried. Thanks for any replies. Steve & Louise —

Response:

this is dangerous [?]

I think the danger is in getting the powder in the lungs or eyes.   Change her as early as possible when she’s wet.  I would let her air dry as much as possible.  Use zinc oxide ointment when a rash develops.   – Ron Low Levity is the dearth of gravity.  Brevity is the height of clarity.  

Response:

Yes, I will back the statement about talc powder being linked to cervical cancer. Check the medical literature. Talc is no longer used to powder surgeons’ gloves either because the highly irritating nature of the powder particles in the abdomenal cavity may lead to peritonitis and other surgical complications.

Response:

This link between talcum powder and cervical cancer was discovered years ago.  I must admit that I am amazed that some people have never heard this:  why do you think cornstarch powder became so popular? The bigger question:  why bother using powder on a baby anyway?  My son is 5 months old and we do not use any powders, creams or lotions on him believing natural skin is healthy skin (we bathe him twice a week).  He has not had any rashes or problems.

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