Four sisters claim mother’s pregnancy drug caused cancer

A federal lawsuit has been brought by four sisters who believe their breast cancer was caused by a drug their mother took during pregnancy in the 1950s.

The case involves a synthetic oestrogen known as DES, diethylstilbestrol, prescribed to millions of pregnant women between the late 1930s and early 1970s to prevent miscarriages, premature births and other problems. Studies later showed it did not prevent miscarriages.

The Melnick sisters, who grew up in Tresckow, Pennsylvania, say they all developed breast cancer in their 40s after their mother took DES while pregnant.