"A more ominous series of studies linked talc to ovarian carcinoma; talc
was observed in a number of ovarian and uterine tumors as well as in
normal ovarian tissue.[1,3] It was hypothesized that deodorizing tales
placed on the perineum (or on the surface of condoms and diaphragms)
reached the ovaries via ascent through the fallopian tubes.[24] In support
of this hypothesis, retrospective analyses demonstrated that women who
used deodorizing powders on sanitary napkins, but who had blocked
tubesand/or hysterectomies, had a lesser incidence of ovarian carcinoma
thanwomen with patent tubes.[2]"

AND

MAJORITY OF CONDOMS USE TALC

Although tale is no longer used as a surgical glove-donning powder, it is
still used as a surface lubricant on the majority of condoms manufactured
in the United States and abroad.

Again, you raise an issue based on no real data, just a not
unreasonable hypothesis or speculation. You provide a quote and then a
cite--can I trust that the quote is accurate and from the cite? I
doubt it.

Given this is 2005, there are additional data since the 1995 worry was
raised. For example,
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_Talcum_Powder_and_Cancer.asp?
sitearea=

They state: "Several epidemiologic studies have examined the
relationship between talcum powder and cancer of the ovary. Findings
are mixed, with some studies reporting a slightly increased risk and
some reporting no association. A case-control study published in 1997
of 313 women with ovarian cancer and 422 without this disease found
that the women with cancer were more likely to have applied talcum
powder to their external genital area or to have used genital
deodorant sprays. Women using these products had a 50% to 90% higher
risk of developing ovarian cancer. Storing diaphragms with powder did
not significantly increase cancer risk."

A diaphragm might be of more relevance than a condom--yet no
particular concern has arisen.

Indeed, an associative risk of talcum powder use and ovarian cancer
showed only a slightly increased risk (see below). Condom use is not
associated with that risk.

This URL provides the complete letter, although with frequent
mispellings. At the end, they note:
"The last 10 years has seen a dramatic increase in the use of condoms.
If tale contributes to ovarian carcinoma and/or fallopian tube
sclerosis, we predict a significant increase in the incidence of
ovarian carcinoma and infertility due to the deleterious effects of
condom talc. We do not advocate abandoning condom use. To obviate the
risk of talc-associated morbidity in sexually active women, we
strongly urge condom distributors to eliminate all tales used in
condom manufacture."

They also predict an increase of ovarian cancer would be expected with
increased frequency of condom use. Where is the evidence since 1995
that this has occurred? Indeed, evidence suggests a DECLINE in
incidence. See:
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/

They state in part: "A joint study by CDC and the North American
Association of Central Cancer Registries found that recent trends
between 1992 and 1998 revealed a significant decline in ovarian cancer
incidence rates of 1.4% per year for all races combined, as well as
significant annual declines in white women and Hispanic women."

In Europe, the trends are variable between north and south:
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=5794

Indeed, diet may be a confounding factor in the development of ovarian
cancer (see second cite). High meat and low vegetable consumption may
have more relevance than use of condoms--which do not all contain talc
nor necessarily even talc with asbestos in it. Additionally, prior
breast cancer or use of combination hormone therapy are more likely to
be relevant risk factors in the development of ovarian cancer.

The presence of BRCA1 mutations may contribute far more substantially
to the risk of developing ovarian cancer:
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/8525697700573E1885256B82006E19C3

Others have investigated the value of condoms:
http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/english/6read/6issues/6network/v18-3/nt1837.html
In 1998, they wrote, sensibly: "Manufacturers are also aware of the
potential risk posed from using talc as a dry lubricant, and many are
shifting to cornstarch. However, since cornstarch may not be entirely
without risk, the search for a better and safer dry finishing powder
continues."

So while there may be some tiny risk, it is far outweighed by the
risks associated with HIV, STDs and unwanted pregnancies.

Thus, your hysterical arguments against condoms based on these data
are unsupported and unwarranted.

        George M. Carter

**
Gertig DM, Hunter DJ, Cramer DW, Colditz GA, Speizer FE, Willett WC,
Hankinson SE.  Prospective study of talc use and ovarian cancer. J
Natl Cancer Inst. 2000 Feb 2;92(3):249-252.

Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's
Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Dorota.Gertig@channing.harvard.edu

   BACKGROUND: Perineal talc use has been associated with an
increased risk of ovarian cancer in a number of case-control studies;
however, this association remains controversial because of limited
supporting biologic evidence and the potential for recall bias or
selection bias in case-control studies. In this study, we conducted a
prospective analysis of perineal talc use and the risk of ovarian
cancer. METHODS: The Nurses' Health Study is a prospective study of
121 700 female registered nurses in the United States who were aged
30-55 years at enrollment in 1976. Talc use was ascertained in 1982 by
use of a self-administered questionnaire: after exclusions, 78 630
women formed the cohort for analysis. Three hundred seven epithelial
ovarian cancers subsequently diagnosed in this cohort through June 1,
1996, were confirmed by medical record review and met inclusion
criteria. Proportional hazards models by use of pooled logistic
regression were used to derive relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence
intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In 1982, 40.4% (n = 31 789) of the cohort
reported ever using talc, and 14.5% (n = 11 411) reported ever using
talc daily. We observed no overall association with ever talc use and
epithelial ovarian cancer (multivariate RR = 1.09; 95% CI = 0.86-1.37)
and no increase in risk of ovarian cancer with increasing frequency of
use. There was a modest elevation in risk for ever talc use and
invasive serous ovarian cancer (multivariate RR = 1.40; 95% CI =
1.02-1.91). The risk of epithelial ovarian cancer for talc users was
not greater among women who had never had a tubal ligation
(multivariate RR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.71-1.32). CONCLUSION: Our results
provide little support for any substantial association between
perineal talc use and ovarian cancer risk overall; however, perineal
talc use may modestly increase the risk of invasive serous ovarian
cancer.

**
Schulz M, Lahmann PH, Riboli E, Boeing H.  Dietary determinants of
epithelial ovarian cancer: a review of the epidemiologic literature.
Nutr Cancer. 2004;50(2):120-140.

  Abstract: Ovarian cancer is commonly a fatal disease and, despite
advances in screening and treatment, the lack of understanding of the
underlying etiology has limited prevention strategies. This article
reviews the epidemiologic literature on the relationship between
consumption of major food groups and the risk of epithelial ovarian
cancer (EOC). We identified 7 cohort studies and 27 case-control
studies of consumption of major food groups (fruits and vegetables,
meats, eggs, fish, dairy products, grains, fats and oils) and EOC
risk. Vegetable but not fruit consumption was found to possibly
exhibit beneficial effects on the risk of EOC, whereas high meat
consumption may be associated with an increased risk. A protective
effect on risk of EOC for whole-grain food consumption as well as for
consumption of low-fat milk is suggested by the results of the
studies. However, evidence for associations of foods such as fish,
grains, milk products, and fats and oils with EOC risk is limited and
inconsistent, and further examination of these dietary determinants of
EOC are warranted. In conclusion, a typical Western diet, which is
high in meats and low in vegetables, may be positively associated with
ovarian cancer incidence. However, the association between specific
dietary factors and EOC risk remains unclear and merits further
examination. In particular, future studies need to address the effect
of milk products according to fat content and possible biological
mechanisms to explain observed effects.

**
Cramer DW, Welch WR, Scully RE, Wojciechowski CA.  Ovarian cancer and
talc: a case-control study. Cancer. 1982 Jul 15;50(2):372-376.

   Opportunities for genital exposure to talc were assessed in 215
white females with epithelial ovarian cancers and in 215 control women
from the general population matched by age, race, and residence.
Ninety-two (42.8%) cases regularly used talc either as a dusting
powder on the perineum or on sanitary napkins compared with 61 (28.4%)
controls. Adjusted for parity and menopausal status, this difference
yielded a relative risk of 1.92 (P less than 0.003) for ovarian cancer
associated with these practices. Women who had regularly engaged in
both practices had an adjusted relative risk of 3.28 (P less than
0.001) compared to women with neither exposure. This provides some
support for an association between talc and ovarian cancer
hypothesized because of the similarity of ovarian cancer to
mesotheliomas and the chemical relation of talc to asbestos, a known
cause of mesotheliomas. The authors also investigated opportunities
for potential talc exposure from rubber products such as condoms or
diaphragms or from pelvic surgery. No significant differences were
noted between cases and controls in these exposures, although the
intensity of talc exposure from these sources was likely affected by
variables not assessed in this study.

If JAMA published a letter from an AIDS dissident denying that HIV
causes AIDS, you would know better than to say "JAMA CLEARLY DENIES
HIV-AIDS LINK".  Why is this letter different?

JAMA's interpretation of the letter may be inferred from the title
they put on it: "Possible morbidity in women from talc on condoms"

"Possible" is a long way from "clearly linked".