DES and Breast Cancer

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Pat-I-Am
Pat-I-Am Member Posts: 33
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer
DES and Breast Cancer
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  • Pat-I-Am
    Pat-I-Am Member Posts: 33
    edited February 2008

    I had DES in 1961 to keep my daughter in the womb.  Now I have 2 1/2 times greater chance of breast cancer--and got it in both breast and have had bilateral mastectomy.  My daughter has had cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, and her ovaries and uterus removed.  She has breast crystallization and is being watched carefully for breast cancer.  Some researchers are even looking a the next generation--the granddaughters of DES mother.  I am writing this because many women do not know about this possiblity in their medical record.  pat

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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited February 2008

    This is so sad.  If we only had a crystal ball and could foresee the impact of the things we do (take) in good faith.  I have a friend, also born in the 50's (like me), whose mother took DES. She's very watchful but fortunately hasn't run into any problems yet.  Good luck to you and your daughter Pat.  I hope everything works out well for you.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2008

    Pat....Though I'm so sorry that you and your daughter have had such terrible and frightening repercussions from your having taken DES, it is clear that you did so in order to give her life. My own mother made the same choice and, if she hadn't, I most likely wouldn't have survived. So although I've had my own abnormalities and illnesses related to DES, including infertility and breast cancer, I'm deeply grateful that my mother did everything she could to give me life.

    Choices made out of love are never wrong, no matter what.

    ~Marin

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  • Sociologist
    Sociologist Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2008

    Hi Pat,

    I'm a DES daughter. My mom had to take it after 2 miscarriages to keep me in for the long haul! I agree with Twink, it only we had a crystal ball...We had to make some hard choices when our youngest son (now 25) was 2 years growth delayed (at 6 he looked 4). He was given Humatrope (synthetic growth hormone) for 2 years to give him a shot of being over 5' tall (he now 5'6"). The downside of our choice to give him a better chance of having a somewhat "normal" life is that he's sterile. I agree with Marin as well. We just have to take comfort in knowing we did the best we could with what we knew at the time. Best of luck to you and your daughter.

    Margaret

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  • Naniam
    Naniam Member Posts: 1,766
    edited February 2008

    Pat,

    I took DES with both of my pregnancies in the 60's.  I had problems getting pregnant and then maintaining the pregnancy.  I knew I had taken it and at the time, we didn't know the risk to us or our children.  Would I have taken it now if I knew the dangers - maybe it is selfish of me but yes, to have had them, held them, enjoyed the journey through life with them, yes, I would.

    My daughter is aware of the problems she could have- I took DES I think through the 3-4 month of my pregnancy.  Didn't take it as long with my son - his chance of testicular cancer has been increased by DES.

    Did you take the DES to get pregnant or to maintain the pregnancy or both?  I took DES in 1968 and then in 1970.

    Brenda 

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  • Pat-I-Am
    Pat-I-Am Member Posts: 33
    edited March 2008

    Hi Brenda--sorry I didn't check this sooner.  I  took the DES to maintain the pregnancy.  Thanks for replying.  Pat

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