Fw: Bravo Marlene! Platinum in breast implants poses possible danger

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

From: " ilena rose " <ilena2000@...>

<ilena@...>

Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 7:22 AM

Subject: Bravo ! Platinum in breast implants poses possible danger

> Platinum in breast implants poses possible danger

>

>

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/healthsciencetv/stories/wfaa04021

7_am_platinum.1cdca87.html

>

> (you have to register to view this site ... there is also a video that

> accompanies the article if you do)

>

> 09:02 AM CST on Wednesday, February 18, 2004

>

>

> By JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA-TV

>

> The Food and Drug Administration is looking into new claims of illnesses

> caused by breast implants.

>

> Breast implant surgery is the second most popular cosmetic surgery, and

> millions of women have had the procedure. Now, some are alleging a metal

> found in all breast implants is toxic.

>

> In the 1980s, silicone breast implants were blamed for a variety of

> illnesses. Those claims resulted in an FDA ban for general use 11 years

ago.

> However, scientific studies since then have cleared silicone as the

culprit.

>

> Also Online

>

> Video:Janet St. reports

> Keeling believes, however, it was something else in the implant

that

> sapped her energy, caused shooting pains in her legs, and affected her

> memory.

>

> " It released significant amounts of platinum, " Keeling said. " My blood,

> urine, sweat, hair and nails were all tested and they contained

significant

> amounts of platinum. "

>

> Platinum is used to bind the shell of silicone gel and saline implants.

>

> Dr. Ernest Lykissa also uses it in his toxicology lab, where he keeps it

in

> a special sealed container.

>

> Said Lykissa, " You know why I have it in this container? I wouldn't dare

> open it unless I have personal protection. "

>

> Lykissa has tested small groups of women for platinum poisoning, including

> 32 women with ruptured implants. Of those, almost half had high platinum

> levels-as much as 60 percent higher than women who didn't have silicone

> implants.

>

> " I wouldn't let my dog have these things in him, " Lykissa said.

>

> Platinum has been used for years in dentistry and in medical devices,

> including pacemakers. It can also be found in pollution. However,

> researchers doubt normal exposure is great enough to cause the high

platinum

> levels found in women with ruptured implants.

>

> As president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, UT

Southwestern's

> Dr. Rod Rohrich acknowledges platinum leaches into surrounding breast

> tissue, but said the substance has never been linked with specific

> illnesses.

>

> " We do advocate further study because we care about our patients, " Rohrich

> said.

>

> For now, the Food and Drug Administration's official stance said platinum

> " does not pose a risk. "

>

> " Certainly, I thought if a doctor is putting them in me, they're safe, "

said

> patient Perkins.

>

> Perkins doesn't think so anymore. She's been diagnosed with multiple

> sclerosis, and has tested positive for an extremely toxic type of

platinum.

> She wants young women willing to have surgery to get a better body to see

> the price they might eventually pay.

>

> Doctors are still allowed to use silicone gel implants on patients who

need

> breast reconstruction. The FDA recently considered approving silicone

> implants for general use again, but they haven't yet given it clearance.

> Some speculate the agency refused to make silicone available to the

general

> public until researchers are sure platinum isn't a health risk-and FDA

> officials continue to investigate claims of platinum poisoning.

>

> E-mail jstjames@...

>

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

> www.BreastImplantAwareness.org