Fw: Article about controversy about study on breast implants

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message ----- From: Zuckerman

Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 9:13 PM

Subject: Article about controversy about study on breast implants

Dear Friends,

I have attached a new article, published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, about the controversy about Louise Brinton's studies of breast implants for the NIH. I'm sending it as a PDF attachment because I can't copy it.

It's a story about how Milloy and others who think implants are safe have tried to undermine the credibility of Dr. Brinton.

Sincerely,

Zuckerman, Ph.D.PresidentNational Center for Policy Research (CPR) for Women & Families1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20006202 223-4000www.center4policy.org

Remember CPR when you give to United Way or CFC, by designating #9884!

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message ----- From: ~*Patty*~

Zuckerman

Sent: Friday, March 07, 2003 7:18 AM

Subject: Re: Article about controversy about study on breast implants

Hi ,

Thanks for the recent article on the Swedish study. I hope it will help to confirm the fact that implants carry more serious risks than now thought. However, this comment really gets to me.

"Given the well documented link between psychiatric disorders and a desire for cosmetic surgery, the increased risk for death from suicide may reflect a greater prevalence of psychopathology rather than a causal association between implant surgery and suicide.3 "

I have seen this allusion several times in regards to the women who have committed suicide after getting implants. Of course, we may not know the real reasons the women have killed themselves, but I can tell you that almost every single one of the women I have spoken to or communicated with that was sick has thought of suicide at one time or another. I think that most women don't carry out the actual act of killing, and so the numbers of suicidal women are way higher than these studies show. I speak from personal experience, as I was often suicidal, or had thoughts of wanting to die during my illness. Since I no longer feel that way, I take exception to the idea that I am psychopathic to begin with. That is simply not the case. I am a normal, average human being. The plain and simple truth is that the illness we suffer from, when our immune systems are destroyed and we cannot even function, is what causes us to have suicidal thoughts. We no longer feel the desire to struggle through each day. We no longer have motivation to live. We feel no hope or way out. We want our suffering to end. We don't see an end in sight, when doctors keep telling us that our illness is in our heads when we know darn well that there is something wrong but no one can tell us what or why or how to get better. I have had discussions with other women that confirms this tendency to suicidal thought, and I am astounded at how many have said they wanted to commit suicide because of their illness, but have not done so because of husbands, children or parents. This idea that we are psychopaths already and that is why there are more suicides is just plain wrong! It is the illness that makes us want to die, not a mental dysfunction that was already in place. How can we get that idea across? How can we make others understand just how devastating this illness is to us when all the other tests come out normal? How can this suicidal tendency from breast implants be quantified? This is one piece of the puzzle that needs answering, so professionals can understand just how devastating breast implants are for those that become ill, because all we ever hear is how much of a confidence builder breast implants are--and THAT IS TRUE UNTIL WE GET SICK. I had much more confidence in myself after I got breast implants. I was happier than I had ever been in my life. I was not a psychopath! But my illness at its worst took away my desire to live, and I felt like a social paraiah. I remember those dark days well, though I would rather forget.

Thankfully, I am doing so well today that I am almost back to normal. I do have Hashimoto's, thanks to implants. I will have to take thyroid meds for the rest of my life, and go back regularly for blood work to tweek my dosages. It isn't fun. But I think I walked away from my breast implant nightmare a lucky lady, relatively speaking. It was only by the grace of God that I didn't commit suicide and become one of those numbers.

Warmly,

Patty Faussett

----- Original Message -----

From: Zuckerman

Undisclosed-Recipient:;@...

Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 9:13 PM

Subject: Article about controversy about study on breast implants

Dear Friends,

I have attached a new article, published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, about the controversy about Louise Brinton's studies of breast implants for the NIH. I'm sending it as a PDF attachment because I can't copy it.

It's a story about how Milloy and others who think implants are safe have tried to undermine the credibility of Dr. Brinton.

Sincerely,

Zuckerman, Ph.D.PresidentNational Center for Policy Research (CPR) for Women & Families1901 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20006202 223-4000www.center4policy.org

Remember CPR when you give to United Way or CFC, by designating #9884!