I’m 47. I sent you an e-mail a couple of days ago. If you didn’t get it, I can send it again.

Diane

From my understandng, if your mother took anything (or received injections) to prevent a miscarriage, then you can be just about positive it was DES. That’s what my mother had (injections to prevent pregnancy loss). Even if it was something with a different name, it had the same kind of chemical effects on the fetus.

Cancer runs really bad on my dad’s side of the family. I have a first cousin who died of ovarian cancer. Both of her sisters needed hysterectomys because of cancer. And none of them were DES daughters. We just have lots of cancer on that side of the family. Someone even had sinus cancer.

One of my doctors described my uterus as a tickng time bomb. I wish had the guts to have my stuff taken out even though that’s tough too. Ignore my spelling as I haven’t been to bed yet. Well, enough about me. I think t’s due to the DES because that type of cancer is rare, isn’t it?

Keep geeting better!

Diane

Although it’s true that clear cell has a horrible reputation, my oncologist does not agree. She thinks clear cell is no worse or better than any other ovarian cancer cell type.

I have a good friend who is a 10-year survivor of clear cell, and she’s been in remission all that time. I’m 8 years out from my diagnosis, and I too have been in remission the entire time.

Besides, not everyone exposed to DES gets cancer. Cancer is a complex disease, with many causes interacting. That’s why we see trim, fit non-smokers get cancer, and twinkie-loving, booze-swilling, 3-packs-a-day folks live into their 80s.

We don’t yet understand cancer very well, which is one reason we we see so many superstitions and quackery surrounding this disease.

I was wondering if you happen to be a DES daughter. I am, and the thought of getting clear cell cancer scares me. I am also a poet. I wish you all the best.

Diane