On  7/08/2006 the Daily Mail ran a front page story headlined "Birth Drug's Cancer Legacy". This can be re-read here. The BBC also covered the issue on their health website, and this can be seen here.

The research paper that sparked these news stories is in Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention Journal. The research is in the August 2006 issue, and is available here as a PDF.

Taking the raw figures quoted on the BBC:

4,817 women, all over 40, exposed to DES in the womb

2,073 women of the same age, who are known not to be exposed

102 cases of cancer amongst both groups

The DES group had 1.9 times the risk of developing the cancer, compared to the control group.

Though this is new research, the group at Boston has been investigating DES and breast cancer for some time. Earlier research from 2002 showed a 40% increase in breast cancer for DES exposed women - similar to the new research.

As to advice if you are worried about this issue, our sister group in the US has included this advice in a press release:

"What we are telling DES Daughters is that they should get annual breast screenings after the age of 40" says DES Action Program Director Kari Christianson. She points out that the American Cancer Society makes the same recommendation for all women. However, she adds, "DES Daughters should remain extra vigilant. That means having your health care provider do a clinical breast exam when you go in for your yearly gynecological screening, having an annual mammogram, and doing routine breast self-exams". According to Christianson, "for many years DES Daughters were focused primarily on their increased risk for other reproductive cancers. Now they must pay attention to their breast cancer risk as well"

Copyright(c) 2006 DES ACTION UK. All rights reserved.
info@des-action.org.uk