Awaiting Picture

Michelle Cowen

Michelle is very keen to ensure that people who have been exposed to DES are given the facts so that they can deal with any outstanding issues which relate to their exposure. In that way they will be spared the search which Michelle experienced after an ectopic pregnancy in order to find out firstly what had caused her congenital abnormalities and then secondly how to ensure there were no further sequels in terms of ill health. She is able now to ensure she has regular check ups for DES and sees the appropriate gynaecologist at Hammersmith and other London hospitals.

Heather Justice

I was born in 1952 and my mother was prescribed DES tablets during her pregnancy with me.  She had had one miscarriage six years previously, and was told that these tablets ‘would make sure she did not lose this baby.’

When I was 24, while I was pregnant with my second son, I had a routine smear test.  This proved ‘inconclusive.’  After my son was born, I returned to the hospital for further tests.  After about nine months of repeat tests, it was decided to do a biopsy.  Within two weeks of this biopsy, December 1977, I was back in hospital for a hysterectomy and partial-vaginectomy.

I  was told that I had clear-cell adenocarcinoma, a very rare vaginal cancer, which was caused by the tablets my mother had taken.  My mother was extremely upset about this, as she thought that she was doing what was best at the time.

I still go for an annual examination, but fortunately I have had no recurrences.

In 1989 my consultant asked me if I would take part in a TV programme called ‘4 what it’s worth’. This programme brought the problems of DES to the publics attention, and from it, DES Action UK was formed.  The rest, as they say, is history.  I am a contact for DES Action UK, and have spoken to many people, mothers, daughters and sons, who have queries or worries about DES.

Jane Kevan

I've known I was a DES daughter since I was 13 when it was contraindicated for use in pregnancy in the UK as my Dad, a pharmacist, read about it in the Pharmaceutical Journal.

My MSc in 1993 thesis was "the longterm side-effects of the use of diethylstilboestrol (DES) and strategies to place the DES issue on the public policy agenda" and is the source for many of the charity's figures for the number of DES daughters.

After five miscarriages, I had a cervical stitch before becoming pregnant with Sarah. This and a regime of daily aspirin and heparin injections for antiphospholipid antibodies led to our beautiful daughter's arrival, a month early, in 2000. (Some research indicates an increase in autoimmune disorders in DES daughters, such as the antibody problem I had during pregnancy - but I don't know if this is definitely related to my esxposure to DES.)

My husband, Rob, organises the website.