Drug causing cancer in women given hormone after forced adoptions
Calls for awareness campaign over side effects
As a film about the silent dangers of a drug given to forced adoption victims is about to go into production, campaigners are calling on politicians to raise awareness of the medication’s cancer side effects.
Scotland is the only country in the world to apologise to victims given the drug Stilbestrol, also known as DES or diethylstilbestrol, a powerful synthetic hormone which was used to dry up the breast milk of mothers so their babies could be taken for adoption.
The practice continued into the 1970s until the drug was linked to a series of deadly cancers. Now the long-term effects of the drug have also been found to cause life altering side effects for second and even third generations of women given the pills.
Campaigner Marion Mcmillan, 72, who was given the drug when she was a victim of forced adoption, said: “Now we are aware of the dangerous side effects of this drug, we simply cannot stay silent or allow this scandal to be brushed under the carpet any longer.
“It was also widely prescribed to other women as a drug which was supposed to prevent miscarriage, or for other reasons linked with pregnancy. Now we know there is a risk of cancer and that the drug can affect the reproductive system of the children and grandchildren of the women prescribed Stilbestrol, we must have an awareness campaign so people can check on their health.”
UK medical watchdog the Medicines Healthcare and Regulatory Agency told the Sunday Post that no records exist from that time.
But Scottish Conservative
Shadow Social justice Minister Miles Briggs said: “That is just not a good enough reason to ignore the potential dangers of this drug which, for some, could be a silent killer.
“We know there were many other women who were given Stilbestrol. We must make them aware of the risks and I’m writing to Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer to ask what he is doing to make this happen.” US filmmaker Caitlin Mccarthy, whose mother was given Stilbestrol, is calling on the American government to issue an apology and awareness campaign over what is known there as the “silent Thalidomide”. She said: “We’re now seeing the effects, with people developing rare cancers and issues surrounding fertility.” Caitlin’s film, Wonder Drug, is soon to go into production with Hollywood star Tori Spelling as director.