Breast Cancer Screening in Women Exposed In Utero to Diethylstilbestrol

Authors

Elizabeth A. Camp, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Ann L. Coker, University of KentuckyFollow
Stanley J. Robboy, Duke UniversityFollow
Kenneth L. Noller, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Karen J. Goodman, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Linda T. Titus-Ernstoff, Dartmouth CollegeFollow
Elizabeth E. Hatch, Boston UniversityFollow
Arthur L. Herbst, University of ChicagoFollow
Rebecca Troisi, National Cancer InstituteFollow
Raymond H. Kaufman, Baylor College of Medicine
Ervin Adam, Baylor College of MedicineFollow

Abstract

Purpose: To determine if women exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol (DES) are more likely than unexposed women to receive recommended or additional breast cancer screening examinations.

Methods: 1994 Diethylstilbestrol-Adenosis (DESAD) cohort data are used to assess the degree of recommended compliance of breast cancer screenings found in 3140 DES-exposed and 826 unexposed women. Participants were enrolled at four sites: Houston, Boston, Rochester, and Los Angeles. Logistic regression modeling was used to analyze mailed questionnaire data that included reported frequency over the preceding 5 years (1990–1994) of breast-self examinations (BSEs), clinical breast examinations (CBEs), and mammograms.

Results: DES-exposed women exceeded annual recommendations for CBEs (aOR 2.20, 95% CI, 1.04-4.67) among women without a history of benign breast disease (BBD) compared with unexposed women. There were no other statistically significant differences between exposed and unexposed women who reported performing BSEs, CBEs (age), and mammographies, regardless of BBD history.

Conclusions: The majority of DES-exposed women receive breast cancer screenings at least at recommended intervals, but over two thirds do not perform monthly BSEs. Future efforts should be focused on further educating this and other at-risk populations through mailed reminders and during patient consultations on the benefits of screening examinations.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2009

Notes/Citation Information

This is a copy of an article published in the Journal of Women’s Health © 2009 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.; Journal of Women’s Health is available online at: http://online.liebertpub.com/loi/jwh

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

http://dx.doi.org10.1089/jwh.2007.0580

Repository Citation

Camp, Elizabeth A.; Coker, Ann L.; Robboy, Stanley J.; Noller, Kenneth L.; Goodman, Karen J.; Titus-Ernstoff, Linda T.; Hatch, Elizabeth E.; Herbst, Arthur L.; Troisi, Rebecca; Kaufman, Raymond H.; and Adam, Ervin, "Breast Cancer Screening in Women Exposed In Utero to Diethylstilbestrol" (2009). CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles. 109.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/crvaw_facpub/109