Hello,

As I was doing some research on Lymphedema I came across a website
that held particular interest for me.  The DES Cancer Network.  I was
exposed to DES in utero. I have had many of the known side effects of
the drug. I had an incompetent cervix and spend 4 out of 9 months
lying in a hospital bed with my cervix sewed closed and an alcohol
drip running in my veins to keep me from going into labor. (Don't
think I haven't spent many a sleepless night about that one when Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome became widely known) I had an ectopic pregnancy that
almost killed me. I had endometriosis so bad that I would regularly
faint from the pain of my menstrual cycle.  I had a total hysterectomy
at 33 because I had 8 abnormal pap smears, we did everything - I used
laughingly say we sliced it, diced it, cooked it, froze it and now the
only thing to do was get rid of it! And we did. However the reason I'm
posting here is I came across an interesting statistic. On September
30, 2002, in an article titled, "Pregnancy Drug Linked to Cancer, "
The BBC news reported that, "The DES daughters have a 40% increased
risk of breast cancer with the risk being 250% higher in a subgroup of
women over 40."  I started reading the time line and became so annoyed
I had to quit, I'm so angry right now I'm close to tears those SOBs
(Drug Companies) sold the American Public and some American physicians
a total bill of goods.  How many of you have been exposed to DES?
Many of our mothers didn't even know they were taking the drug as it
was passed off to them as a prenatal vitamin. My mother was a R.N. and
she did know she took the drug, but certainly had no idea what the
long term effects would be. She had been contacted in the early 70s by
a group of student nurses who were reviewing her obstetrician's
records and they let her know about the side effects for the children
born of those pregnancies. I'm so glad my mother has passed since she
was devastated when I ended up having to have my hysterectomy at such
an early age, I can't imagine how she would feel about this! It was
not my mother's fault, she was just following her doctors direction.
I followed my doc s direction when he pumped me full of alcohol when I
was 5 months pregnant.  I'm not so complacent anymore!  I have dozens
of questions and don't accept anything until my questions are answered
to my satisfaction.  Let me know if any of you may fall into this
group.  It does answer one question for me though, I have had no other
female relatives who have had breast cancer!
Darla