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Has anyone been exposed to diethylstilbestrol (D.E.S) in utero?

Gynecologic Cancers | Last Active: Mar 5, 2024 | Replies (25)
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@sepdvm

I also am a DES daughter, born in 1953. I had an abnormal Pap test while I was on birth control in my 20s. That led to research into the possible DES exposure. My mother had a couple of miscarriages. I stopped oral birth control then and never went back and Pap tests became normal. I did have a benign growth on one ovary and ovariectomy. I struggled with infertility but we were blessed with 3 beautiful children. I was treated for incompetent cervix with each pregnancy and was lucky to carry each baby to full term. Currently at 70 I have had metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma for 12 years. Numerous surgeries and radiation and now immunotherapy have me clear for the moment. I also have had hot flashes for 25 years but those are tolerable.
And as a side note, I have been a veterinarian for over 40 years and we have always had access to DES for canine incontinence. The dose used is miniscule compared to what pregnant women were given. In all my years I have never seen cancer or bone marrow issues in the treated dogs that was related to their intermittent DES treatment.

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Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Mar 4, 2024

@sepdvm I was born in 1952 and I learned as an adult that my mother miscarried between my birth and my brother who was born in 1955. I wondered if my mother was prescribed DES but I never asked. When I was in my 20's and 30's and had annual Pap smears none of these were abnormal. I remember when I was in my late 20's finding out that one of my colleagues who was about the same age as me learned she was a DES daughter and how frightened she was at the time. Could she have children? Would she develop cancer? I've lost track of her over the years and wondered occasionally what happened.

Your experiences as a veterinarian (is there any peer-viewed published evidence?) that DES does not affect canines in the same way it affected humans is rather telling, isn't it? And that the amount you prescribed for canines was very small in comparison to what pregnant women were prescribed back in the day with no signs of cancer or bone marrow problems in these dogs related to the intermittent DES treatments.

Bravo that you now have these three beautiful children. It must be wearing and exhausting to go through all the surveillance and treatments for metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma for 12 years.

Thank you for sharing your story, Sue.

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