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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A large US study of nearly 50,000 women found no overall link between talc-based body powder use and lung cancer. But there's a notable exception: never-smokers who used talc under their arms as teens showed a higher lung cancer risk. Researchers say the findings don't confirm a true effect, but some subgroup signals may warrant further investigation.
A prospective cohort study of nearly 50,000 US women found no consistent association between talc-based body powder use and lung cancer. Researchers analyzed data from the Sister Study — a group of women aged 35–74, each with a sister diagnosed with breast cancer — looking at talc use during adolescence and adulthood. After adjusting for smoking, socioeconomic status, BMI, and other factors, overall talc use showed no meaningful increase in lung cancer risk.
That said, a few subgroup findings raised eyebrows. Among never-smokers, adolescent underarm talc use was associated with a higher lung cancer risk, and frequent adult underarm use showed a suggestive link to lung adenocarcinoma. Researchers cautioned that these findings were inconsistent and based on small case numbers, limiting their reliability.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Talc products have faced intense legal and public scrutiny over cancer links. This study offers some reassurance on lung cancer, but the underarm-use signals in never-smokers keep the conversation open — and underscore the need for larger, more targeted studies.
