DES - prescribed to pregnant women in the 1950s may cause bc

Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns

You can read this entire article at Salon.com:  

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/08/testimony_set_to_begin_in_pregnancy_drug_case_2/

Tuesday, Jan 8, 2013 06:54 AM MST

Testimony set to begin in pregnancy drug case

A drug prescribed to millions of pregnant women in the 1950s may be linked to breast cancer

By Denise Lavoie, Associated Press 

BOSTON (AP) — Testimony is set to begin in a federal lawsuit brought by four sisters who believe their breast cancer was caused by a drug their mother took during pregnancy in the 1950s.

The case involves a synthetic estrogen known as DES, diethylstilbestrol, which was prescribed to millions of pregnant women between the late 1930s and early 1970s to prevent miscarriages, premature births and other problems. Studies later showed the drug did not prevent miscarriages.

The Melnick sisters, who grew up in Tresckow, Penn., say they all developed breast cancer in their 40s after their mother took DES while pregnant. They say their mother did not take DES while pregnant with a fifth sister, and that sister has not developed breast cancer. They are suing Eli Lilly and Co., seeking unspecified damages.

Opening statements and testimony are expected Tuesday in U.S. District Court.

The sisters’ case is the first to go to trial out of scores of similar claims filed in Boston and around the country. A total of 51 women have DES lawsuits pending in Boston against more than a dozen drug companies that made or marketed DES.

The drug companies argue that no firm link has been established between breast cancer and DES. It was eventually taken off the market after it was linked to a rare vaginal cancer in women whose mothers used DES.

Eli Lilly argues in court documents that there is no evidence that the Melnick sisters’ mother even took DES. She and her doctor are dead, and the drug company says there are no medical records documenting her treatment. A company spokesman said Eli Lilly believes the claims are without merit and is prepared to defend against them vigorously.

The Melnick sisters were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1997 and 2003 and had treatments ranging from lump-removal surgery to a full mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy.

The trial is expected to last several weeks.

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Something that some of us might want to keep track of...

Linda

cp418

DES Suit Settled By Sisters.

In continuing coverage, the AP (1/10, Lavoie) reports that the four Melnick sisters, "who claimed in a lawsuit their breast cancer was caused by synthetic estrogen their mother took during pregnancy in the 1950s have reached a settlement with the drug company Eli Lilly and Co." Diethylstilbestrol (DES), which "was not patented and was made by many companies," was "prescribed to millions of pregnant women over three decades to prevent miscarriages, premature births and other problems," but was removed from the market after it was linked to rare vaginal cancers in the daughters of women who took the treatment. The AP notes that "thousands" of suits have been filed over DES' side effects, and that many of those have been settled.

Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns

Well -- that didn't take long, did it?

And they didn't even have solid proof that their mother had taken the drug.

Sure leaves me wondering if my mother, (who was pregnant with me in the 50's) took DES...

cp418 -- Thanks for the update

Linda

doxie

The odds of these women all having bc and not being able to have children was too overwhelming.  

Even with moms still alive, finding health records to prove DES exposure is difficult.  When I was a teen, my mom told me she may have been given it during her difficult pregnancy with me.  There was no way she could check the health records. Right after I was born her doctor skipped town because of possible malpractice suits.  I knew to watch for vaginal cancer into my 30s, then I thought I was safe and forgot about it until waiting to find out if I had bc or not.  Because of the bc with so few other risk factors, my GYNE is assuming I was exposed and will have vaginal and pap tests yearly.  Hope to never have the definitive proof, clear cell vaginal cancer.