Re: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this post

[Guest guest]

I have a friend I went to hs with that lives in Houston. He is a reporter for one of the TV stations down there. His name is Wragge (used to be a reporter on ET). Has anyone heard of him? He actually did some reporting for NBC during the Olympics--he was focused mostly on men's speed skating. He might be someone whom would do a story on the dangers of implants?????? e ----- Original Message ----- From: ~*Patty*~ Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 4:42 PM Subject: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this post http://www.click2houston.com/hou/health/stories/health-145118020020510-110513.html Obituary Includes Breast Implant Warning Woman's Dying Wish Fulfilled Posted: 11:38 a.m. CDT May 10, 2002Updated: 3:02 p.m. CDT May 10, 2002 HOUSTON -- A Houston woman used her obituary to warn others about what said were the dangers of breast implants -- a danger that took her life. Dot Sauer lovingly remembers her best friend, , who died on March 20. "Most of the time in obituaries, they don't state particularly what somebody has died from and she felt there are so many forgotten women out there that she wanted it in print," Sauer said. So Sauer fulfilled one of ' last requests. "When she died, one of the requests she made of me was to be sure her obituary stated it was from complications of breast implants," Sauer said. "She had heart problems. She had lupus symptoms. She had a blood clot. She had migraines." In 1981, got silicone breast implants to improve her looks. "Basically just for the firmness. Basically so she didn't start drooping later in life," Sauer said. By the time silicone became a household name a decade later, ' friends said she was already getting sick. "It was as dramatic a decline in a person as I have ever seen. She was, after all, just about 40 years old," friend Bert Moser said. "When they removed the breast implants, instead of the clear color they are when they put it in, it was almost a mustard yellow with red streaks of blood," Sauer said. Every day became painful for , according to friends. "She and I talked a lot about her death because she felt she would die at a young age," Sauer said. "I don't know if anyone else truly believed that. I did. Maybe it was because we were so close." Sauer said that hoped that one day a woman would see her obituary, and then change her mind about getting implants. "It didn't surprise me because I thought she wanted other people to get something from her life and that way, she would find meaning in her own," Sauer said. "I think is watching me and the only reason I'm doing this is it is the very last thing I can do for my very best friend I have ever had. I miss her and I just think she would be smiling on me." is survived by her husband, Ben, a daughter and two sons. Implants Are Tested In 1994, the Food and Drug Administration pulled silicone breast implants off the market after thousands of women said they had medical problems after their implants ruptured. Scientists have searched for the missing link between symptoms, ruptured implants and certain diseases, but so far, there has not been any concrete evidence. "We have been able to find no correlation between silicone gel implants and any disease process -- lupus, arthritis, breast cancer or others," said Dr. Friedman, with the Baylor College of Medicine. But the FDA moratorium has not kept silicone breast implants off the market completely. Women can get them through research protocols offered by implant makers. "The only person who is not a candidate for the study is a primary breast augmentation patient. Basically, a patient who has never had implants before," Friedman said. Saline implants contain silicone in the outer shell, according to industry experts. Keeling said a link has not been found between symptoms and ruptured implants because the diseases have not yet been named. "It seems to be not typical lupus, not typical rheumatoid arthritis, not typical scleroderma," Keeling said. Several women gave what was left of their implants to forensic toxicologist Dr. Ernie Lykissa for testing. "It is similar to cigarettes that not everyone who smokes is going to get lung cancer. We think there's a genetic factor here. We think there may be an environmental trigger," Lykissa said. Researchers said they are now looking at a genetic link. The National Institute of Health will release the final results of the largest and most comprehensive study of silicone breast implants later this year. The results will focus on the connection between silicone implants and connective tissue disorders.

[Guest guest]

e,

I haven't heard of him, but it is worth checking out. Can you make contact with him?

Patty

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

From: e Rene

Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 7:12 PM

Subject: Re: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this post

I have a friend I went to hs with that lives in Houston. He is a reporter for one of the TV stations down there. His name is Wragge (used to be a reporter on ET). Has anyone heard of him? He actually did some reporting for NBC during the Olympics--he was focused mostly on men's speed skating. He might be someone whom would do a story on the dangers of implants??????

e

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

From: ~*Patty*~

Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 4:42 PM

Subject: Dr. Lyki ssa is mentioned in this post

http://www.click2houston.com/hou/health/stories/health-145118020020510-110513.html

Obituary Includes Breast Implant Warning

Woman's Dying Wish Fulfilled

Posted: 11:38 a.m. CDT May 10, 2002Updated: 3:02 p.m. CDT May 10, 2002

HOUSTON -- A Houston woman used her obituary to warn others about what said were the dangers of breast implants -- a danger that took her life. Dot Sauer lovingly remembers her best friend, , who died on March 20. "Most of the time in obituaries, they don't state particularly what somebody has died from and she felt there are so many forgotten women out there that she wanted it in print," Sauer said. So Sauer fulfilled one of ' last requests. "When she died, one of the requests she made of me was to be sure her obituary stated it was from complications of breast implants," Sauer said. "She had heart problems. She had lupus symptoms. She had a blood clot. She had migraines." In 1981, got silicone breast implants to improve her looks. "Basically just for the firmness. Basically so she didn't start drooping later in life," Sauer said. By the time silicone became a household name a decade later, ' friends said she was already getting sick. "It was as dramatic a decline in a person as I have ever seen. She was, after all, just about 40 years old," friend Bert Moser said. "When t hey removed the breast implants, instead of the clear color they are when they put it in, it was almost a mustard yellow with red streaks of blood," Sauer said. Every day became painful for , according to friends. "She and I talked a lot about her death because she felt she would die at a young age," Sauer said. "I don't know if anyone else truly believed that. I did. Maybe it was because we were so close." Sauer said that hoped that one day a woman would see her obituary, and then change her mind about getting implants. "It didn't surprise me because I thought she wanted other people to get something from her life and that way, she would find meaning in her own," Sauer said. "I think is watching me and the only reason I'm doing this is it is the very last thing I can do for my very best friend I have ever had. I miss her and I just think she would be smiling on me." is survived by her husband, Ben, a daughter and two sons. < H3>Implants Are Tested

In 1994, the Food and Drug Administration pulled silicone breast implants off the market after thousands of women said they had medical problems after their implants ruptured. Scientists have searched for the missing link between symptoms, ruptured implants and certain diseases, but so far, there has not been any concrete evidence. "We have been able to find no correlation between silicone gel implants and any disease process -- lupus, arthritis, breast cancer or others," said Dr. Friedman, with the Baylor College of Medicine. But the FDA moratorium has not kept silicone breast implants off the market completely. Women can get them through research protocols offered by implant makers. "The only person who is not a candidate for the study is a primary breast augmentation patient. Basically, a patient who has never had implants before," Friedman said. Saline implants contain silico ne in the outer shell, according to industry experts. Keeling said a link has not been found between symptoms and ruptured implants because the diseases have not yet been named. "It seems to be not typical lupus, not typical rheumatoid arthritis, not typical scleroderma," Keeling said. Several women gave what was left of their implants to forensic toxicologist Dr. Ernie Lykissa for testing. "It is similar to cigarettes that not everyone who smokes is going to get lung cancer. We think there's a genetic factor here. We think there may be an environmental trigger," Lykissa said. Researchers said they are now looking at a genetic link. The National Institute of Health will release the final results of the largest and most comprehensive study of silicone breast implants later this year. The results will focus on the connection between silicone implants and connective tissue disorders.

[Guest guest]

I absolutely can get in contact with him. He and I exchange emails about every 2 months or so. I can email him and see what he thinks..... I will feel him out and maybe if he agrees, we can send him our stories, or contact him. e ----- Original Message ----- From: ~*Patty*~ Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 7:36 PM Subject: Re: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this post e, I haven't heard of him, but it is worth checking out. Can you make contact with him? Patty ----- Original Message ----- From: e Rene Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 7:12 PM Subject: Re: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this post I have a friend I went to hs with that lives in Houston. He is a reporter for one of the TV stations down there. His name is Wragge (used to be a reporter on ET). Has anyone heard of him? He actually did some reporting for NBC during the Olympics--he was focused mostly on men's speed skating. He might be someone whom would do a story on the dangers of implants?????? e ----- Original Message ----- From: ~*Patty*~ Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 4:42 PM Subject: Dr. Lyki ssa is mentioned in this post http://www.click2houston.com/hou/health/stories/health-145118020020510-110513.html Obituary Includes Breast Implant Warning Woman's Dying Wish Fulfilled Posted: 11:38 a.m. CDT May 10, 2002Updated: 3:02 p.m. CDT May 10, 2002 HOUSTON -- A Houston woman used her obituary to warn others about what said were the dangers of breast implants -- a danger that took her life. Dot Sauer lovingly remembers her best friend, , who died on March 20. "Most of the time in obituaries, they don't state particularly what somebody has died from and she felt there are so many forgotten women out there that she wanted it in print," Sauer said. So Sauer fulfilled one of ' last requests. "When she died, one of the requests she made of me was to be sure her obituary stated it was from complications of breast implants," Sauer said. "She had heart problems. She had lupus symptoms. She had a blood clot. She had migraines." In 1981, got silicone breast implants to improve her looks. "Basically just for the firmness. Basically so she didn't start drooping later in life," Sauer said. By the time silicone became a household name a decade later, ' friends said she was already getting sick. "It was as dramatic a decline in a person as I have ever seen. She was, after all, just about 40 years old," friend Bert Moser said. "When t hey removed the breast implants, instead of the clear color they are when they put it in, it was almost a mustard yellow with red streaks of blood," Sauer said. Every day became painful for , according to friends. "She and I talked a lot about her death because she felt she would die at a young age," Sauer said. "I don't know if anyone else truly believed that. I did. Maybe it was because we were so close." Sauer said that hoped that one day a woman would see her obituary, and then change her mind about getting implants. "It didn't surprise me because I thought she wanted other people to get something from her life and that way, she would find meaning in her own," Sauer said. "I think is watching me and the only reason I'm doing this is it is the very last thing I can do for my very best friend I have ever had. I miss her and I just think she would be smiling on me." is survived by her husband, Ben, a daughter and two sons. < H3>Implants Are Tested In 1994, the Food and Drug Administration pulled silicone breast implants off the market after thousands of women said they had medical problems after their implants ruptured. Scientists have searched for the missing link between symptoms, ruptured implants and certain diseases, but so far, there has not been any concrete evidence. "We have been able to find no correlation between silicone gel implants and any disease process -- lupus, arthritis, breast cancer or others," said Dr. Friedman, with the Baylor College of Medicine. But the FDA moratorium has not kept silicone breast implants off the market completely. Women can get them through research protocols offered by implant makers. "The only person who is not a candidate for the study is a primary breast augmentation patient. Basically, a patient who has never had implants before," Friedman said. Saline implants contain silico ne in the outer shell, according to industry experts. Keeling said a link has not been found between symptoms and ruptured implants because the diseases have not yet been named. "It seems to be not typical lupus, not typical rheumatoid arthritis, not typical scleroderma," Keeling said. Several women gave what was left of their implants to forensic toxicologist Dr. Ernie Lykissa for testing. "It is similar to cigarettes that not everyone who smokes is going to get lung cancer. We think there's a genetic factor here. We think there may be an environmental trigger," Lykissa said. Researchers said they are now looking at a genetic link. The National Institute of Health will release the final results of the largest and most comprehensive study of silicone breast implants later this year. The results will focus on the connection between silicone implants and connective tissue disorders.

[Guest guest]

This just makes my heart ache for you, and I wish I could offer some hope for you. I wish I could make you feel better and make the feeling of illness subside and give you some rest. It is tragic that this is happening all over the world, and for such frivolous pursuits. We need doctors to recognize this illness and offer us hope for healing.

Bu that is why we have our group. I do hope you have been able to pursue some of the detoxing methods suggested on our site. All I ask is that you don't give up hope of ever feeling better. Thanks for sharing with us your feelings and thoughts.

Hugs,

Patty

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

From: JHH7

Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 8:18 PM

Subject: Re: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this post

Thank you for posting this.......I think this is a very courageous act of kindness. I am very sorry for thesuffering she went through and for the loss of her life and (Dot) the lossof your best-friend (a mother, a wife, a daughter, .......).I am sitting here tonight, barely with the strength to even log on and justcrying......from a medical apt that was just too much for me - with noresolve anyways. I couldn't even drive home. I had to take a train andtaxi for the first time in my life because I am too sick to even drive. Iobviously don't even have the strength to obtain the needed medical apt.'s.This just makes us even sicker and then it is all a downwardspiral..............I can see how she lost her life. How can one be so sick that they can't even get to and from their medicalapts and obtain their own medical care? Travel for surgery? I can't eventravel to and from the city - it is too much! I fool myself into thinkingI can do things only to be painfully reminded that I can not!!! ----------From: ~*Patty*~ <fdp@...> Subject: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this postDate: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 7:40 PMhttp://www.click2houston.com/hou/health/stories/health-145118020020510-110513.htmlObituary Includes Breast Implant WarningWoman's Dying Wish FulfilledPosted: 11:38 a.m. CDT May 10, 2002Updated: 3:02 p.m. CDT May 10, 2002HOUSTON -- A Houston woman used her obituary to warn others about what saidwere the dangers of breast implants -- a danger that took her life. Dot Sauer lovingly remembers her best friend, , who died onMarch 20. "Most of the time in obituaries, they don't state particularly whatsomebody has died from and she felt there are so many forgotten women outthere that she wanted it in print," Sauer said. So Sauer fulfilled one of ' last requests. "When she died, one of the requests she made of me was to be sure herobituary stated it was from complications of breast implants," Sauer said."She had heart problems. She had lupus symptoms. She had a blood clot. Shehad migraines." In 1981, got silicone breast implants to improve her looks. "Basically just for the firmness. Basically so she didn't start droopinglater in life," Sauer said. By the time silicone became a household name a decade later, ' friendssaid she was already getting sick. "It was as dramatic a decline in a person as I have ever seen. She was,after all, just about 40 years old," friend Bert Moser said. "When they removed the breast implants, instead of the clear color they arewhen they put it in, it was almost a mustard yellow with red streaks ofblood," Sauer said. Every day became painful for , according to friends. "She and I talked a lot about her death because she felt she would die at ayoung age," Sauer said. "I don't know if anyone else truly believed that. Idid. Maybe it was because we were so close." Sauer said that hoped that one day a woman would see her obituary,and then change her mind about getting implants. "It didn't surprise me because I thought she wanted other people to getsomething from her life and that way, she would find meaning in her own,"Sauer said. "I think is watching me and the only reason I'm doingthis is it is the very last thing I can do for my very best friend I haveever had. I miss her and I just think she would be smiling on me." is survived by her husband, Ben, a daughter and two sons. Implants Are TestedIn 1994, the Food and Drug Administration pulled silicone breast implantsoff the market after thousands of women said they had medical problemsafter their implants ruptured. Scientists have searched for the missing link between symptoms, rupturedimplants and certain diseases, but so far, there has not been any concreteevidence. "We have been able to find no correlation between silicone gel implants andany disease process -- lupus, arthritis, breast cancer or others," said Dr. Friedman, with the Baylor College of Medicine. But the FDA moratorium has not kept silicone breast implants off the marketcompletely. Women can get them through research protocols offered by implant makers. "The only person who is not a candidate for the study is a primary breastaugmentation patient. Basically, a patient who has never had implantsbefore," Friedman said. Saline implants contain silicone in the outer shell, according to industryexperts. Keeling said a link has not been found between symptoms andruptured implants because the diseases have not yet been named. "It seems to be not typical lupus, not typical rheumatoid arthritis, nottypical scleroderma," Keeling said. Several women gave what was left of their implants to forensic toxicologistDr. Ernie Lykissa for testing. "It is similar to cigarettes that not everyone who smokes is going to getlung cancer. We think there's a genetic factor here. We think there may bean environmental trigger," Lykissa said. Researchers said they are now looking at a genetic link. The National Institute of Health will release the final results of thelargest and most comprehensive study of silicone breast implants later thisyear. The results will focus on the connection between silicone implants andconnective tissue disorders.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for posting this.......

I think this is a very courageous act of kindness. I am very sorry for the

suffering she went through and for the loss of her life and (Dot) the loss

of your best-friend (a mother, a wife, a daughter, .......).

I am sitting here tonight, barely with the strength to even log on and just

crying......from a medical apt that was just too much for me - with no

resolve anyways. I couldn't even drive home. I had to take a train and

taxi for the first time in my life because I am too sick to even drive. I

obviously don't even have the strength to obtain the needed medical apt.'s.

This just makes us even sicker and then it is all a downward

spiral..............I can see how she lost her life.

How can one be so sick that they can't even get to and from their medical

apts and obtain their own medical care? Travel for surgery? I can't even

travel to and from the city - it is too much! I fool myself into thinking

I can do things only to be painfully reminded that I can not!!!

----------

From: ~*Patty*~ <fdp@...>

Subject: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this post

Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 7:40 PM

http://www.click2houston.com/hou/health/stories/health-145118020020510-11051

3.html

Obituary Includes Breast Implant Warning

Woman's Dying Wish Fulfilled

Posted: 11:38 a.m. CDT May 10, 2002

Updated: 3:02 p.m. CDT May 10, 2002

HOUSTON -- A Houston woman used her obituary to warn others about what said

were the dangers of breast implants -- a danger that took her life.

Dot Sauer lovingly remembers her best friend, , who died on

March 20.

" Most of the time in obituaries, they don't state particularly what

somebody has died from and she felt there are so many forgotten women out

there that she wanted it in print, " Sauer said.

So Sauer fulfilled one of ' last requests.

" When she died, one of the requests she made of me was to be sure her

obituary stated it was from complications of breast implants, " Sauer said.

" She had heart problems. She had lupus symptoms. She had a blood clot. She

had migraines. "

In 1981, got silicone breast implants to improve her looks.

" Basically just for the firmness. Basically so she didn't start drooping

later in life, " Sauer said.

By the time silicone became a household name a decade later, ' friends

said she was already getting sick.

" It was as dramatic a decline in a person as I have ever seen. She was,

after all, just about 40 years old, " friend Bert Moser said.

" When they removed the breast implants, instead of the clear color they are

when they put it in, it was almost a mustard yellow with red streaks of

blood, " Sauer said.

Every day became painful for , according to friends.

" She and I talked a lot about her death because she felt she would die at a

young age, " Sauer said. " I don't know if anyone else truly believed that. I

did. Maybe it was because we were so close. "

Sauer said that hoped that one day a woman would see her obituary,

and then change her mind about getting implants.

" It didn't surprise me because I thought she wanted other people to get

something from her life and that way, she would find meaning in her own, "

Sauer said. " I think is watching me and the only reason I'm doing

this is it is the very last thing I can do for my very best friend I have

ever had. I miss her and I just think she would be smiling on me. "

is survived by her husband, Ben, a daughter and two sons.

Implants Are Tested

In 1994, the Food and Drug Administration pulled silicone breast implants

off the market after thousands of women said they had medical problems

after their implants ruptured.

Scientists have searched for the missing link between symptoms, ruptured

implants and certain diseases, but so far, there has not been any concrete

evidence.

" We have been able to find no correlation between silicone gel implants and

any disease process -- lupus, arthritis, breast cancer or others, " said Dr.

Friedman, with the Baylor College of Medicine.

But the FDA moratorium has not kept silicone breast implants off the market

completely.

Women can get them through research protocols offered by implant makers.

" The only person who is not a candidate for the study is a primary breast

augmentation patient. Basically, a patient who has never had implants

before, " Friedman said.

Saline implants contain silicone in the outer shell, according to industry

experts.

Keeling said a link has not been found between symptoms and

ruptured implants because the diseases have not yet been named.

" It seems to be not typical lupus, not typical rheumatoid arthritis, not

typical scleroderma, " Keeling said.

Several women gave what was left of their implants to forensic toxicologist

Dr. Ernie Lykissa for testing.

" It is similar to cigarettes that not everyone who smokes is going to get

lung cancer. We think there's a genetic factor here. We think there may be

an environmental trigger, " Lykissa said.

Researchers said they are now looking at a genetic link.

The National Institute of Health will release the final results of the

largest and most comprehensive study of silicone breast implants later this

year.

The results will focus on the connection between silicone implants and

connective tissue disorders.

[Guest guest]

J

I am not sure how sick you are or what your symptoms are but whatever you do

you need to make yourself stronger or you will never get the implants out,

it sounds like to me your emotional state is the worse enemey you have now,

you have to fight girl you have got to get up and find help. What about Dr

Huang did that not work out either?

What are your symptoms that are causing you to be so ill, can you tell us so

that maybe we can help you with ideas of what you can do? Are you in pain?

are you on any medications or supplements? What are you biggest health

issues that make it impossible for you to travel? You have to try to

stabilize the symptoms as much as you can. I know it sounds impossible but I

was sick too and I managed to stablize the things that held me back as much

as I could so that I could make that trip to Ohio. I don't know how I did it

when I look back because I was so ill and so dizzy and in such a mental fog

and so much pain, but with the help of some supplemetns and some pain meds I

was able to do what I needed to do, I would say that you need to try to take

this one step at a time and try not to be so hard on yourself. Please try to

let us know more details, there are always ideas and some ways to maybe calm

things down so you can at least be strong enough to get on a plane. I can

remember thinking the same things, I can hardly get out of bed let alone go

to the Dr but somehow you can find a way to do that. You have to hang on,

you cannot give up.

Please J try to be strong, and please let us know what is going on.

Hugs

prayers

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

From: " JHH7 " <rogerlh@...>

< >

Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 9:18 PM

Subject: Re: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this post

> Thank you for posting this.......

>

> I think this is a very courageous act of kindness. I am very sorry for the

> suffering she went through and for the loss of her life and (Dot) the loss

> of your best-friend (a mother, a wife, a daughter, .......).

>

> I am sitting here tonight, barely with the strength to even log on and

just

> crying......from a medical apt that was just too much for me - with no

> resolve anyways. I couldn't even drive home. I had to take a train and

> taxi for the first time in my life because I am too sick to even drive. I

> obviously don't even have the strength to obtain the needed medical

apt.'s.

> This just makes us even sicker and then it is all a downward

> spiral..............I can see how she lost her life.

>

> How can one be so sick that they can't even get to and from their medical

> apts and obtain their own medical care? Travel for surgery? I can't even

> travel to and from the city - it is too much! I fool myself into thinking

> I can do things only to be painfully reminded that I can not!!!

>

> ----------

> From: ~*Patty*~ <fdp@...>

>

> Subject: Dr. Lykissa is mentioned in this post

> Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 7:40 PM

>

>

http://www.click2houston.com/hou/health/stories/health-145118020020510-11051

> 3.html

> Obituary Includes Breast Implant Warning

> Woman's Dying Wish Fulfilled

> Posted: 11:38 a.m. CDT May 10, 2002

> Updated: 3:02 p.m. CDT May 10, 2002

>

> HOUSTON -- A Houston woman used her obituary to warn others about what

said

> were the dangers of breast implants -- a danger that took her life.

>

>

> Dot Sauer lovingly remembers her best friend, , who died on

> March 20.

>

> " Most of the time in obituaries, they don't state particularly what

> somebody has died from and she felt there are so many forgotten women out

> there that she wanted it in print, " Sauer said.

>

> So Sauer fulfilled one of ' last requests.

>

> " When she died, one of the requests she made of me was to be sure her

> obituary stated it was from complications of breast implants, " Sauer said.

> " She had heart problems. She had lupus symptoms. She had a blood clot. She

> had migraines. "

>

> In 1981, got silicone breast implants to improve her looks.

>

> " Basically just for the firmness. Basically so she didn't start drooping

> later in life, " Sauer said.

>

> By the time silicone became a household name a decade later, '

friends

> said she was already getting sick.

>

> " It was as dramatic a decline in a person as I have ever seen. She was,

> after all, just about 40 years old, " friend Bert Moser said.

>

> " When they removed the breast implants, instead of the clear color they

are

> when they put it in, it was almost a mustard yellow with red streaks of

> blood, " Sauer said.

>

> Every day became painful for , according to friends.

>

> " She and I talked a lot about her death because she felt she would die at

a

> young age, " Sauer said. " I don't know if anyone else truly believed that.

I

> did. Maybe it was because we were so close. "

>

> Sauer said that hoped that one day a woman would see her obituary,

> and then change her mind about getting implants.

>

> " It didn't surprise me because I thought she wanted other people to get

> something from her life and that way, she would find meaning in her own, "

> Sauer said. " I think is watching me and the only reason I'm doing

> this is it is the very last thing I can do for my very best friend I have

> ever had. I miss her and I just think she would be smiling on me. "

>

> is survived by her husband, Ben, a daughter and two sons.

>

>

> Implants Are Tested

> In 1994, the Food and Drug Administration pulled silicone breast implants

> off the market after thousands of women said they had medical problems

> after their implants ruptured.

>

> Scientists have searched for the missing link between symptoms, ruptured

> implants and certain diseases, but so far, there has not been any concrete

> evidence.

>

> " We have been able to find no correlation between silicone gel implants

and

> any disease process -- lupus, arthritis, breast cancer or others, " said

Dr.

> Friedman, with the Baylor College of Medicine.

>

> But the FDA moratorium has not kept silicone breast implants off the

market

> completely.

>

> Women can get them through research protocols offered by implant makers.

>

> " The only person who is not a candidate for the study is a primary breast

> augmentation patient. Basically, a patient who has never had implants

> before, " Friedman said.

>

> Saline implants contain silicone in the outer shell, according to industry

> experts.

>

> Keeling said a link has not been found between symptoms and

> ruptured implants because the diseases have not yet been named.

>

> " It seems to be not typical lupus, not typical rheumatoid arthritis, not

> typical scleroderma, " Keeling said.

>

> Several women gave what was left of their implants to forensic

toxicologist

> Dr. Ernie Lykissa for testing.

>

> " It is similar to cigarettes that not everyone who smokes is going to get

> lung cancer. We think there's a genetic factor here. We think there may be

> an environmental trigger, " Lykissa said.

>

> Researchers said they are now looking at a genetic link.

>

> The National Institute of Health will release the final results of the

> largest and most comprehensive study of silicone breast implants later

this

> year.

>

> The results will focus on the connection between silicone implants and

> connective tissue disorders.

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