Calling our group members to action!

[Guest guest]

Dear Ladies,

Rogene was thoughtful enough to write Zuckerman about getting more of our stories told, and here is Dr. Zuckerman's reply. Please, I encourage you if you fit the criteria below CONTACT with your story! They would love to help you get the message out, so do it....for all of us! You can write Dr. Zuckerman at this address:

dz@...

Dear Rogene and Patty,

We have been collecting stories from women who write to us asking for help. Many are sick or have broken implants that they can't afford to explant, or are afraid to explant.

We tell them the risks of leaking silicone and send them to www.explantation.com for reassurance about how happy women who don't replace implants can be. We don't usually find out whether they get explanted or not.

At this point we have dozens of heartbreaking stories, and perhaps a dozen women who are willing to talk to press. But, we have trouble finding the kinds of women that reporters want to interview, such as:

Women under 35 Women who got their implants within the last few years, or at least since 1990 Women who can speak persuasively and sound calm (it's fine to be angry but important to keep their cool when talking to reporters)

The biggest problem is age: most women we hear from got their implants in the 1980's and are now in their 40's or older. Most women's magazines are aiming at younger readers so they like to interview younger women. And, reporters think that implants sold in recent years are safer than those sold in the 1980's, so they don't want stories of women with implants from the 1980's.

A lesser problem is "silicone fog" which makes it difficult for some women to talk to media coherently and makes some women very self-conscious about talking to media.

Of course, many women with implant problems are very angry, because they were misled and sometimes their doctors were of no help when they got sick. I absolutely understand their anger (I share it, after hearing heartbreaking stories for 13 years!) but unfortunately reporters often are turned off, thinking the women are "out of control" or even "wacky." The reporters don't really understand, and its easier to make them understand if we sound as rational as possible.

In addition, there are some women who have a laundry list of illnesses, and that is usually not persuasive to reporters. For example, even though I think gum infections could be related to implants, it sounds crazy to most reporters.

It would be a big help if you could help us find women who can talk to reporters who satisfy the 3 criteria outlined above. We'd love their stories and contact information. We can help them edit their stories to make them as persuasive as possible. We will add some to our soon to be redesigned website. And we can send them to the FDA also.

Best wishes,

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!