this is fucked up -- ovarian cancer study

[rmd]

so, i participated in a "lifestyle factors" study done at the brigham comparing women who've had ovarian cancer and those who haven't. study population was about 2000 women split up into, a bunch who had ovarian cancer, and a bunch who were randomly selected from the general population.

some of the study results are out.

there's apparently a strong correlation between women who have used talcum powder near their nether bits and women who've had ovarian cancer.

in all of my dark "i brought this disease on myself somehow" catholic guilt moments, TALCUM POWDER is really not the thing i expected to be a strong factor.

Comments

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

Er, why not?

[unclebooboo.livejournal.com]

Because unlike your lungs (which are constantly moving air in and out so that they can scavange oxygen), the path up to the ovaries isn't nearly as open to the outside world.

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

Well, once the grains get into that warm moist environment, they could end up travelling just about anywhere, I'd think...

[unclebooboo.livejournal.com]

There are basically two ways for the particles to move through the fluid: advection and diffusion. The diffusion of particles of this size through your bodily fluids is way too slow to matter, and advection would require flow upward toward the ovaries, which isn't to be expected, since there's no particular place for the fluid to go once it has reached the ovaries.

[firni.livejournal.com]

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/talc.htm

Talc is toxic. Talc particles cause tumors in human ovaries and lungs. Numerous studies have shown a strong link between frequent use of talc in the female genital area and ovarian cancer. Talc particles are able to move through the reproductive system and become imbedded in the lining of the ovary. Researchers have found talc particles in ovarian tumors and have found that women with ovarian cancer have used talcum powder in their genital area more frequently than healthy women.

[unclebooboo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reference- I'm surprised that this has been shown to happen.

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

"not nearly as open" doesn't mean "not open."