DES linked to breast cancer

Anonymous · September 2011

I am a DES Daughter.

Some of you may be aware of having been exposed to DES, a synthetic estrogen, given to women in the 1950's to the 1970's. It was primarily given to women with a history of miscarriages; however, research showed that it did nothing to prevent miscarriages. It was still prescribed to women as late as the 1970's. DES has caused the daughters of the women who took this drug to have major health issues. Some of these include dysplasia of the vagina and a unique pattern on the vaginal tissue that indicates DES exposure, a T-shaped, abnormally small uterus, cervical abnormalities, ovarian abnormalities and of course vaginal cancer. There is also evidence that it has affected the immune system and neurological function. We don't know yet how DES will affect the third generation.

The lastest news, which is on the DES Action website concerns the link between DES and breast cancer, especially in women between the ages of 40-60. There is a historic breast cancer/DES hearing going on right now in Boston, MA. You can follow this hearing by going to either DES Action or Facebook DES.

Important to note is the recommendation that Daughters of DES do NOT take estrogen in any form. Also, if you go to the DES Action or CDC (Centers for Disease Control) you can download information on specific examinations that you should be having.

I am a DES Daughter and I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. For me, the 2 1/2 times more chance of getting breast cancer via DES exposure was 100%. My daughter was born prematurely, I had a miscarriage, and have had issues of being infertile all my life. My hope is that the attorney who is representing 53 DES women with breast cancer will be successful against the drug companies he's currently fighting.

If'd you'd like more information please let me know.

tuckertwo

thePuppetLady · September 2011

interesting...I, too, am a DES daughter and was diagnosed a year ago with BC. I had mentioned this to my onco last year but she didn't really react to the info....

Denise2730 · September 2011

Very interesting. I was born in December of 1954 and my mother had a lot of problems in the early part of her pregnancy with me but she can't remember if she took DES. She was 19 and back then many people just took whatever their doctors gave them without question.

I have had fibroids and after my first son was born my OB asked if my mother had taken DES because I had so much endometrosis. Had to have a partial hysterectomy in 1997 due to large uterine fibroids.

Last year my gyno prescribed Evamist for the hot flashes. Had a normal mammogram at that time. Exactly a year later I'm diagnosed with breast cancer. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Anonymous · September 2011

I'm so sorry to hear about your breast cancer diagnoses. I could never figure out how I got bc - had none of the risk factors and no one in my family ever had it. Now at least I can point my finger to the drug companies!! If you're Mom is able, it would be great if she could get her doctor's records. Some of the problems I ran into getting medical records is that they don't keep them when the doctor retires.

You gals should call Aaron Levine, the attorney representing us. His number is 1-888-868-5380. They would like to hear about more DES/breast cancer links. Thanks, ladies.

tuckertwo

Anonymous · September 2011

Fibroids can be a legacy of DES. I had them as well. Had a hysterectomy because of them in 1998.

tuckertwo

suebak · September 2011

I also am a DES daughter. I was born in 1963. I did a little research on DES and breast cancer when I was first diagnosed. I could only find, the woman, themselves, who took the meds were developing breast cancer. There was no connection between des daughters and breast cancer as of yet. I will have to do more research. I also mentioned this to my MO and he did not seem very concerned either. It will be interesting to see just how many of us on these boards are DES daughters. Great thread

Anonymous · September 2011

She didn't react to the info about breast ca and DES? Well, maybe have her take a look at DES Action and the CDC webpages. My onc here in Canada knew there was a 2 1/2 more chance of getting breast cancer due to DES. The knowledge does not seem to be evenly spread among physicians. Apparently, we should still be having specific vaginal exams (see CDC) as we have a higher incidence of vaginal cancer too!!!

tuckertwo

Anonymous · September 2011

Here is the link to the CDC to make it easier for you:

http://www.cdc.gov/des/

DES Action has current updates concerning the legal hearings. Let me know if you have trouble finding it.

Anonymous · September 2011

Specific page from CDC detailing DES and breast cancer risk:

http://www.cdc.gov/des/partners/download/DES&BreastCancerFS.pdf

tucker

Moderators · September 2011

There is also information about DES exposure on the main Breastcancer.org site, in the section on Risk Factors.

Judith and the Mods

bevin · September 2011

I am sorry to hear about your situation. We have a similar background. Dx at age 45, and I too am a DES daughter and didnt know it had a link to BC. I have suffered 5 miscarriages myself all around the 4 month gestation. My first full term child was born at 29 weeks. Thank you for sharing this. I have never heard of the link and appreciate you speaking out about this.

Good luck to you and prayers of strength as you go through your tx;s

Bevin

Anonymous · September 2011

Needed: As many women who have been exposed to DES as possible to attend hearing in Boston, MA!!!! Hearings will continue for another few weeks. The more voices, the better!!

Thanks!

tucker

Anonymous · September 2011

The historic DES breast cancer cases are taking place RIGHT NOW through next week in the Federal Courthouse in Boston. There has been little press coverage and apparently little public attention. The chemical companies prefer it that way. It's just two lawyers for the plaintiffs and about 20 lawyers representing the chemical companies in the court room!

Please attend the hearings next week if you can. The hearings will likely begin at 9:30 a.m. and go until 4:30 p.m. each day, with lunch in between. The courthouse is at:

United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts - Boston

1 Courthouse Way

Boston, Massachusetts 02210

(617) 748-9152
Below is a message from attorney Aaron Levine about the cases:

Our firm is single-handedly presenting the case for 53 DES daughters with Breast Cancer. We have been fighting for three years now and have put together a team of world renowned scientists who have concluded DES pre-natal exposure causes a significant increase in the risk of Breast Cancer in the 40 years old plus, population.

The drug companies have fought hard and the attached brief sets forth our case against them. The case will be heard by Judge Bowler in Boston at the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse, Sept 7-23, 2011. The hearing is open to the public if you would like to attend.

If you want any more information or feel you could help our case in any way, please call Toll Free: 1-888-868-5380.

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Anonymous · October 2011

The link between DES exposure and breast cancer is discussed here:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/10/05/141094671/women-exposed-to-hormone-in-utero-face-lifelong-health-problems?ft=1&f=1001

It is an NPR news release. As well, Associated Press, USA Today, JAMA (Journal of American Medical Assoc) and many others all have articles this month on DES and breast cancer, as well as related health issues.

Tuckertwo

Anonymous · December 2011

The DES cases are moving forward and things are looking good. Judge Bowler (Boston) will likely make her decision to either allow the cases to go forward or not in February. In January, Plaintiffs - Aaron Levine and Assoc. Washington, DC will have closing arguments in January along with the drug companies (Eli Lilly, Squibb and many others) who will also be allowed a closing argument.

A big plus in our favor is the article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine which supported the link between DES exposure and breast cancer.

If you have had DES exposure I urge you to contact Aaron Levine @ 888-868-5380. There is no cost to you.

DES exposure can cause vaginal cancer as well as breast cancer in women over 40, so it is very important to find a doctor who can screen you for this.

tuckertwo

painterly · January 2012

I look forward to the judge's decision to allow the cases to go forward. My DH's golfing buddy is a retired lawyer who defended many cases of DES victims. He said the drug companies had many so called experts defending the drug and it was difficult to win a DES case. It was heartbreaking, he said.

Anonymous · January 2012

Hi and thanks for replying!

That may have been what happened with DES litigation years ago. However, is your friend's husband aware that the CDC, NCI and most importantly, the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine just published recently an article by Dr. Hoover of the NCI (Nat'l Cancer Institute)? This article is a study done by Dr. Hoover and many others and it concludes that there IS a link between DES and breast cancer. I have read the testimony of the defendant's so called experts. I would not call Dr. Bluming an expert That is all the drug companies could find since no one with a reputation to uphold would testify. The DES experts are knowledgeable scientists. Dr. Bluming is just an internist with a certificate in oncology...he does his 'studies' on the side. He really had no expertise to offer and the general attitude of the court was scorn for him - he's a bit of a buffoon. I think he insulted the Judge more than once. So, we will see what happens in February, unless the Judge makes her decision earlier. This hearing was called a Daubert hearing and if the Judge didn't think there was enough evidence to proceed, she would not have let it get this far. I think she is fairminded and can't be bought off by Big Pharma. I hope. Stay tuned for more info.

tucker

Anonymous · January 2012

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!

JUDGE BOWLER RULES IN FAVOR OF DES DAUGHTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will keep you posted.

tuckertwo

cp418 · January 2012

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/01/19/boston_judge_drug_cos_settle_breast_cancer_case/

Anonymous · January 2012

Thanks cp418 for the link!! Appreciate that.

tuckertwo

Anonymous · February 2012

AMAZING STORY OF CANCER SURVIVAL!!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-middleton/growing-bolder-cancer_b_875571.html

tuckertwo

comingtoterms · March 2012

Is there a way to find out if you were exposed to DES in the womb? My mother had a series of miscarrages and an infant death before I was born and more miscarriages between me and my siblings. She can't seem to remember if she had taken anything during my gestation and her doctor has died. Thank you, Tammy

tslsuekrewe2 · December 2021

you must get a colposcopy to see if there is a change in your cell structure in your cervix and or uterus it's called adenosis dysplasia pre cancer I am a DES d

tslsuekrewe2 · December 2021

yes it was given to pregnant woman

DES linked to breast cancer

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