What was DES?
they gave it to my mother so she would not miscarry me...?
so much for clinical trials -
I was in the womb -when - they "whoever they is" - more than likely the pharmaceutical industry
then they spoke to the doctors...

___________

DES (diethylstilbestrol) was the first synthetic estrogen to be created (1938). See DES Timeline. Years later, Sir E. Charles Dodds was knighted for his accomplishment. Never patented, DES was marketed using hundreds of brand names in the mistaken belief it prevented miscarriages and premature deliveries.

DES was prescribed between 1938 and 1971 (but not limited to those years). It was considered the standard of care for problem pregnancies from the late 1940s well into the 1960s in the U.S. and was widely prescribed during that time. DES was sometimes even included in prenatal vitamins so there are many individuals who were not actually prescribed DES but were exposed to it anyway.

In April 1971 the FDA told doctors to stop using DES for their pregnant patients, however it was never banned. Specifically, the FDA said DES was contraindicated for pregnancy use. In some rare cases American doctors either didn’t hear of, or simply ignored the message. Internationally, DES use during pregnancy continued for many subsequent years.

In the United States, an estimated 5–10 million people were exposed to DES, including women who were prescribed DES while pregnant and their children born during this time

____________

my mom died from breast cancer ---

DES Daughters are nearly two times more likely to
develop breast cancer after age 40 than unexposed women.
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, August 2006 - reported by by Julie R. Palmer of Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center.

Summary: A new group of women has been identified as having an increased risk for breast cancer. According to a study led by Julie R. Palmer of Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center, women who were exposed before birth to the anti-miscarriage drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) are nearly two times more likely to develop breast cancer, after age 40 than unexposed women. The study was published in the scientific journal, Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

__________________

Health Effects

Breast Cancer - The breast cancer risk is approximately 30% higher (considered moderately higher) than for unexposed women. This should be considered in decisions regarding hormone replacement therapy. When absolutely necessary, only the lowest dose of HRT for the shortest length of time should be considered. This current recommendation applies to all women, including DES Mothers. Additional recommendations for DES Mothers call for annual breast screenings, including clinical breast exams and mammograms. All women, including DES Mothers, are urged to practice monthly breast self-exams. See breast self-exams here or here.
Tell Your Children - Women who were given DES should tell their children about it. They should do so even if these children (now adults) have had no health problems. Research on DES Daughters, Sons and now Grandchildren is ongoing and may reveal currently unknown health effects. If the offspring are not told of their potential risk, they might not get the proper screenings and care they need.

Emotional Impacts – DES creates emotional trauma for all who come in contact with it: DES Mothers (and Fathers), DES Daughters, DES Sons, and DES Grandchildren.
For DES Mothers there is often a feeling of guilt – even though these women were doing what they were told to do by their doctors in order to have a healthy baby. (We now know DES didn’t work, but mothers took their prescriptions in good faith).

DES Mothers are victims, just as their children are, and many understand that intellectually - but often find it hard to reconcile emotionally. It is not easy shaking feelings of guilt, even though they did nothing wrong. Also, DES Mothers may find themselves anxious about medical problems for their children. Every new health issue linked to exposure may give rise to unfair self-blame and concern. Experience shows that keeping lines of communication open can be helpful. Staying current on the latest DES findings, and health screening recommendations, can open discussions with family members.

Taking action can reduce feelings of helplessness and pain. That includes being vigilant in urging family members to get proper medical care. Climbing on our soapbox now – joining DES Action can be another step toward healing. Members get new information throughout the year and feel good about doing something positive by supporting an organization actively pushing for more DES research.

Medical Records –
There may be no obvious signs of DES exposure. Women who were given medication to prevent miscarriage from 1938-1971, in the United States – might have been prescribed DES. It was frequently used if a woman had a previous miscarriage, diabetes, or a problem pregnancy with bleeding, threatened miscarriage or premature labor.

Up until the mid to late 1950s some women were given DES shots. After that time, DES was given primarily in pill form, because both doctors and their patients found it much easier to handle the drug that way.Complicating identification of DES exposure is the fact that some prenatal vitamins contained DES and were prescribed even if there were no problems in the pregnancy.

As years go by, it becomes increasingly difficult to prove DES exposure. However, if you want to try, here are tips for doing a Medical Records Search.

here's a pdf of the history of DES
http://www.asas.org/Bios/Raunhist.pdf


Hormones Nothing to Moo About

by James Politte





Photo by James Politte
Researchers are looking into what hormones beef cattle have been given to increase their muscle-building potential, and what effect they may have on the environment. According to a recent issue of Science News, farmers raise over 35 million cattle a year-two thirds of which receive hormone supplementation in some form. Although the practice has been widely accepted in the United States for decades, the European Union (EU) has banned the import of hormone-treated animal meat since 1988.
Many cattle are fed muscle-building androgens-normally testosterone surrogates-or estrogens, the primary female sex hormone. Farmers have given the synthetic hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES) to cattle, effectively chemically castrating male animals. Resources that previously went toward the reproduction process are diverted, effectively increasing the animal's growth rate. Researchers like John A. McLachlan have shown concern that approximately 13 tons of DES a year are released into the environment through beef cattle manure.

Hormones are given to cows in several ways, from the food that they eat to special pellets, which are implanted in the ear. Farmers receive a better financial return on their investment by using such techniques. Because treated animals are able to produce muscle with less feed, farmers increase their profits by up to $40 per animal. The cost of a hormone treatment for each cow ranges from $1 to $3.

Although the EU banned the import of hormone-treated animals, it appears that farmers in the Union are still using hormones to increase growth rates in their cattle stocks. According to Rainer Stephany of the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (The Netherlands), a "defensible overall estimate for the use of (hormone) compounds in the European Union, based on results from annual regulatory residue-testing programs, could be in the range of 5 to 15 percent" of beef cattle.

Many women around the world use hormones in their reproductive years for birth control, and after menopause, they may use estrogen replacement therapy. A 1998 issue of Environmental Science & Technology reported that high levels of synthetic and natural hormones in wastewater have been linked to endocrine disruption in fish, according to a Michigan State University study. Gary Ankley, an Environmental Protection Agency toxicologist, noted, "This is a significant, if not a surprising, result."

The Food and Drug Administration approved specific hormones "for use in very small amounts to increase the rate of weight gain and/or improve feed efficiency in beef cattle and sheep." However, the government is continuing research into waste management and environmental protection.

Toward the end of his second term, President Clinton released the Clean Water Action Plan. The main goal of the plan was to protect water quality, in part through better sewage treatment. The plan identified polluted runoff as a flash point. The result was a unified effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency, which yielded the Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations.

Environmental concerns are being addressed on many fronts, yet there is still a lot to be learned. Approximately 10% of female and male hormones administered to cattle pass through their systems and are excreted into their manure. Better management of animal waste may help alleviate environmental concerns. The key is to increase awareness.



Last Updated: 2002-01-28

Copyright (c) 2007 American Chemical Society.
All Rights Reserved.

Estrogen Overdose


Definition
Estrogen overdose is poisoning that occurs when you receive more than the recommended amount of estrogen hormones. Estrogens are found in birth control prescriptions and hormone replacement therapy.

Poisonous Ingredient
Estrogen

Where Found
NOTE: This list may not be all inclusive.

Chlorotrianisene (Tace)
Conjugated estrogens (Premarin)
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
Estradiol cypionate (Depo-Estradiol)
Esterified estrogens
Estradiol (Estrace)
Estradiol transdermal system (Estraderm)
Estradiol valerate
Estrogenic substance
Estrone aqueous suspension
Estropipate (Estrone)
Ethinyl estradiol and ethynodiol diacetate (Demulen)
Ethinyl estradiol (Estinyl)
Levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol (Nordette, Tri- Levlen, Triphasil)
Mestranol and ethynodiol diacetate (Ovulen)
Mestranol and norethindrone (Ortho-Novum 1/50)
Mestranol and norethynodrel (Enovid)
Norethindrone (Micronor, Nor-Q.D.)
Norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol (Loestrin, Norlestrin)
Norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol (Brevicon, Ortho-Novum 1/35, Modicon, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Ovcon)
Norgestrel (Ovrette)
Norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol (Lo/Ovral, Ovral)
Quinestrol
Symptoms
Excessive vaginal bleeding (2-7 days following overdose)
Fluid retention
Breast tenderness
Discoloration of urine
Rash
Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Drowsiness
Mental changes
Home Treatment
Seek immediate medical treatment. Stop taking the estrogen. The poisoning is not usually life threatening.

Before Calling Emergency
Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
When it was swallowed
The amount swallowed
If the medication was prescribed for the patient
Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222)
can be called from anywhere in the United States.

This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning.
They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review Date:2/13/2006
Reviewed By: Stephen C Acosta, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland VA MedicalCenter, Portland, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Dx w/ PD 2003 - age 52

And I'm a DES mother.....took DES for first pregnancy in 1960. Daughter has all necessary tests yearly.

Really REALLY infuriating.

I am so sorry they wont stop poisoning us -
instead "they" will poison us -indirectly through the cows?


My mom had seven children, the oldest has cancer, our middle sister was dxd
Multiple Sclerosis, both brothers have sleep apnea, and I have PD, my other two sisters have degenerative spinal cord problems?

I do not take drugs from the doctor - as easy as I used to, I have no faith in
medicine.
My faith is in God...

I was a DES baby. It may have contributed to my breast cancer. There was a study of mice, exposed to hormones in utero, which made them more likely to get breast cancer.

You had Breast Cancer?
may I ask if you had it before your PD/ or at the same time?
so sorry to know this...

Hi Tena Louise,

Thank you for your concern!

I was diagnosed in September 2004 and had a lumpectomy. I had invasive tubulo-lobular breast cancer, which is pretty unusual. I had 4 sentinal nodes, so they removed them, and another 3 besides: all were negative. I had 7 weeks radiation (it was 8 mm so no chemo).

I take Arimidex now daily, which wipes out my estrogen (any I have left since I began menopause at about the same time).

My PD symptoms began in earnest in 2003. My breast cancer was not visible on a regular mammogram. I had calcifications and when they did a magnified view, they could see the tumor. It was probably there for about five years but was never seen (and could not be felt) because I have dense breasts.

Now I get yearly breast MRIs and digital mammograms because of my dense breasts. I was NEVER told I had dense breasts, although every mammogram said: dense breasts. Find out if your breasts are dense. It's hard to find cancer in dense breasts. Plus you're more likely to get cancer if your breasts are dense.

Mine is probably genetic. My mother got it at 80 and my aunt just got it too, at 75. I do not have the BRACA gene though; I was tested.

I think my PD is genetic, probably the ashkenazi gene LRRK2
(Glycine2019Serine). My father had PD, and 30% of ashkenazi family members with PD have that mutation. It's late onset, and often begins with foot dystonia, my first disabling symptom which brought me to a neurologist.

I'm going to have the LRRK2 genetic test done. It's available now. The breast cancer genetics counselor gave me all the info about it.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2006. Same kind as you but my tumour was 1.5 cm, and I'm on tamoxifen (after lumpectomy and rads) as I am still premenopausal. No chemo here either as apparently lobular cancer doesn't respond well and the fact that it could cause further neurological damage, was the deciding factor not to have it. My nodes were also clear.

I don't think I was a DES baby though. I was diagnosed with PD in 2000.