They are called DES daughters, and they are the women who mothers took the anti-miscarriage hormone drug DES during pregnancy. It is estimated that millions of pregnant women were given this drug between the 1940s and 1960s, and it's now been determined that the daughters born to these women have not only an increased risk of a rare vaginal cancer but also nearly double the chance of developing breast cancer.This sad finding has been addressed before but now more than ever, DES daughters are urged to stick to a strict breast cancer screening schedule.
A news brief published in the February 2007 issue of Good Housekeeping boldly reminds all women to comply with government guidelines that call for mammograms for all women every one to two years starting at age 40 and every year after the age of 50. But it's a different story for women exposed in utero to DES.
"If you were exposed to DES, be sure to let your doctor know and have a mammogram ever year, even in your 40s," says Julie Palmer, lead researcher of the DES study.
1. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer 3 yrs ago at 39 yr old. My mother took des in 1964 when she was pregnant with me. My Mother passed away from Breast Cancer in 2001. She did not know she was at risk. I am coming up on my 3 yr survivor anniv. DES - so sad for all of us. I am so sad for my mother......Very unfair. The lack of awareness for her is the real sad issue.
Posted at 10:46AM on Feb 18th 2007 by Carol