\u201cI went from being a healthy young woman to a cancer patient overnight,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter experiencing severe bloating and a swollen abdomen, I was ultimately diagnosed with a large, cancerous, ovarian cyst, leading to aggressive treatment, and a complete hysterectomy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI live with the mental and physical impacts every day \u2026 I should have been thinking about starting a family \u2014 how does anyone ever recover from never being given the chance to carry their own children?!\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3f44203be25b8c4613004ce1784b46e6a1040566-16x9-x0y89w666h375.jpg\")
The cancer diagnosis forced Bradley into early menopause and a complete hysterectomy, leaving lasting physical and emotional effects. Credit: Shine Lawyers<\/p>\n
Her case forms part of a Supreme Court of Victoria<\/a> class action against J&J and related entities, alleging their talcum powder products were defective, unsafe and negligently supplied, and linked to ovarian and other reproductive cancers, as well as mesothelioma \u2014 an asbestos-linked cancer of organ linings.<\/p>\n Shine Lawyers said more than 1300 Australian woman have joined the writ since launching its investigation in 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cAustralians and people across the world trusted Johnson & Johnson\u2019s products for decades, applying talc to their and their babies\u2019 bodies under the assumption that it was safe to do so,\u201d head of class actions Craig Allsopp said.<\/p>\n \u201cTo find out that it wasn\u2019t safe is a deep betrayal of consumers\u2019 trust.\u201d<\/p>\n Talc is a naturally occurring mineral \u2014 mined worldwide \u2014 which can sometimes be contaminated with asbestos because the two minerals often occur together underground.<\/p>\n Even with modern testing, eliminating asbestos from talc is extremely difficult, experts say.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization (WHO) and other authorities recognise that no level of asbestos exposure is considered safe.<\/p>\n Johnson & Johnson\u2019s talcum powder products include a range of powders, the most well-known of which is their baby powder.<\/p>\n The Australian case will allege the products were \u201cdefective, unsafe, unfit for purpose and not of merchantable quality\u201d under consumer law, and that the company was negligent, Shine Lawyers class actions practice leader Sarah Thomson said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have heard from numerous women like Amanda who believe their cancers were caused by applying Johnson & Johnson\u2019s talc to their bodies, including their genital region,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n \u201cSome believe their cancer or mesothelioma was caused by inadvertently inhaling the talc when it was applied.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis class action seeks accountability and compensation for women and families who have suffered immensely.\u201d<\/p>\n Shine is urging women who regularly used J&J talc between about 1971 and 2023 and were later diagnosed with ovarian, fallopian tube, primary peritoneal, endometrial, uterine, vaginal or cervical cancer or mesothelioma to come forward and register their interest<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Australian action comes as US courts continue to deliver massive verdicts against J&J over similar claims.<\/p>\n In California, a jury ordered J&J to pay roughly US$966 million (about A$1.38 billion), including about $16 million in compensatory damages and $950 million in punitive damages, to the family of a mesothelioma victim after finding the company liable for asbestos-linked cancer.<\/p>\n In late 2025, a Maryland jury awarded more than $1.5 billion in one of the largest talc verdicts ever.<\/p>\n Juries have also backed ovarian cancer plaintiffs, with a Los Angeles jury awarding $40 million to two women who said long-term use of talc products caused their disease.<\/p>\n In the US, J&J has fought to settle or shield claims through repeated bankruptcy strategies, but judges have rejected proposals and left tens of thousands of lawsuits to proceed in regular courts.<\/p>\n Back in Australia, the class action is ongoing, with hearings expected to run over the coming months.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Veteran Channel 7 anchor overwhelmed by support following family loss<\/p>\n 1 min read<\/p>\n![\"Bradley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3d790bcd9bd9976cddfdcfcc4e45636ea686bbe5-16x9-x0y219w4721h2656.jpg\")
Bradley is one of more than 1,300 Australian women joining a class action over Johnson & Johnson talc products. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n