An ITV News investigation has heard from more than 100 women who believe they were exposed to a controversial drug linked to cancer – which was prescribed on the NHS for nearly four decades.
The anti-miscarriage drug Diethlystilbestrol, commonly known as DES, was given to hundreds of thousands of women, some of whom have developed rare cancers – and the harm has been "passed down generations”.
One woman exposed to DES in her mother’s womb has had more than 30 medical procedures she described as "barbaric" and is now preparing to take legal action.
Suzanne Massey, 56, from Liverpool believes the drug was given to her mother while she was pregnant and is to blame for a lifetime of "destructive" health problems that have left her unable to walk at times due to severe pain.
In response to our investigation, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Our sympathies are with anyone harmed by the historic use of Diethylstilboestrol (DES). We will continue to explore what support can be offered to those impacted by the use of this drug.”
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