Feburary, 1995

Dear Silicone Survivors and Friends:

My trip to California to speak for the support groups went well, except for the fact that the sun did not shine for more than a few hours at a time. I certainly didn't need my sunblock! I spoke for five meetings instead of three and also did a one-hour radio talk show in San Diego. On February 4th I will be one of the speakers at the Boise, Idaho conference. I think I may stay home for a while after that and just try to catch up on paperwork and correspondence.

Dr. Tom Talcott recently underwent surgery and is now undergoing chemotherapy for cancer of the colon. We send him our best wishes and our prayers for a full recovery.

Please, please, please, register your problems with your breast implants with MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787. Write to them for a form or send a SASE to C.O.S.S. and we will send you one. Your registration can be confidential and it will help all our statistics if we have all women registered. I ask women at meetings how many have registered and it is always less than 25%. Most of the time it is 0 to 10%. If over 90,000 women have been registered and that is less than 25% of the affected women, then our illnesses are being seriously under reported. Perhaps we would have a better response from the FDA if we could get the real numbers registered. Send a form for each defective or problem implant or set of implants.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Idaho Breast Implant Information Group Boise Conference, Red Lion Downtowner, Boise, ID, February 4th, 1995 from 8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., $55.00 individuals. Presenters: Dr. Pierre Blais, Dr. Nachman Brautbar, Dr. Aristo Vojdani, Dr. Rahim Karjoo, Dr. Britta Ostermeyer-Shoaib, Marion Koch, co-author of the Untold Truth, and Lynda Roth, C.O.S.S. Contact Jill Wood, (208) 345-1972 for more information.

Judy Maag (517) 886-1412 of the Mid-Michigan Survivors of Silicone group will sponsor a seminar on April 1st. Speakers: Dr. Karjoo, Dr. Vojdani, Dr. Campbell, Dr. Ostermeyer-Shoaib, Dr. Feng, and others to confirm. Cost: Consumers $45.00 prepaid, of $65.00 at door, Couples $70.00 prepaid, or $90.00, Professionals $55.00 prepaid or $75.00. Continental breakfast and light lunch provided. Holiday Inn Conference Center, Saginaw, MI (517) 627- 3211. Mention MMSBI conference for discounted rate $65.00 per night (1-4 persons). Send registration: Judy Maag, 852 Elmwood #222, Lansing, MI 48917- 2070.

Remember the conference in Washington, DC and the march of the Washington Mall (which is what the area around the Capitol is called) on May 13-14. This conference will be on all types of implantable silicone devices. Washington DC Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th St. NW, Wash. DC (202) 898-9000. Hotel costs: $99 double, $109 triple, $ 119 foursome. Conference rates: $85.00 consumer, $160 couple, $110 professional. Visa and MC accepted. Send to Triad Silicone Network, P.O. Box 7631, Greensboro, NC 27417 or call Jill Stone at (910) 854- 5338.

S.I.S.T.E.R.S. has started a group in the Chicago area. For information on meetings and their newsletter, write S.I.S. Ltd., P.O. Box 566, Streamwood, IL 60107-0566 or call Stephanie at (708) 837-6255.

LEGAL INFORMATION: Class action lawsuit: Judge Pointer is considering whether to reopen the case against Dow Chemical. In Texas, a judge held that Dow Chemical could be included as a defendant in a breast implant lawsuit. Last year Judge Pointer issued an interlocutory order barring them from being liable for any amounts in the class action. It looks like all the evidence that has been uncovered may have changed the situation enough to show that they were part of this charade the entire time. An Italian subsidiary of Dow Chemical distributed silicone devices, which makes Dow Chemical's statements that they had no direct role in the distribution of implants incorrect. Meanwhile, the appeals are still ongoing and we don't expect them to be resolved by April, so if you planned to receive any monies early this year, don't hold your breath. I still believe that it will be late '96 or early '97 before the majority of women see a dime.

Public Citizen sued the FDA over the agency's delayed investigation of over 13,000 claims of injury from saline breast implants. Public Citizen, Ralph Nader's consumer organization, wants restrictions on the use of saline implants, much like the restrictions on silicone gel breast implants.

Mariann Hopkins has finally prevailed in her case against Dow Corning. The US Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal, so the manufacturer of her defective implants will have to pay up. I was ecstatic when I heard this news. There is no-one who deserves this victory more that Mariann. She had the courage to take her case to court, even refusing a large settlement offer, when a lot of the information that we now have was not available. She took the risk in order to let everyone know how dangerous these implants were (and are). We congratulate her on her victory, which was both moral and financial.

On a sadder note, Jackie Hall lost her case in San Diego the same week that Mariann received the news of her victory. Jackie has been a group leader in the San Joaquin valley. We send her our love and empathy and hope her case is appealed. She sued Baxter, who still has a perfect record of no losses in cases taken to court. Of course, they have settled many out of court, so their record is not quite as good as they may like us all to think.

I'm not sure how many of you have heard about the Harvard Medical School Study on Breast Implants. Well, two doctors (Dr. Peter Schur and Dr. Matthew Liang) resigned from this study because of conflicts of interest. Guess why! They were providing testimony for manufacturers of implants in lawsuits against women. Does anyone think this is a study we can believe? Shades of the Mayo Clinic Study?? I wish they would just give the money to legitimate researchers so we could truly study our illnesses instead of buying researches to say we are not ill!!

There is still one trial going on in Texas. We won the trial against Dow Corning in Los Angeles. The verdict was for $1.6 million medical damages. No punitive damages were awarded. This does not mean that punitives will not be awarded in other trials. We will try to keep up with all the trials, but we may not even hear about all of them as they are happening with greater frequency now.

Since this win, several lawsuits over other silicone products have been settled out of court. These include a chin implant case, a cheek implant case, and a joint replacement case. I consider these moral victories.

Pressure is still being put on women who opted out of the global settlement. Letters are going out from the court to urge women to join in. After some of the losses we have heard about, I'm sure that some of the women will join rather than take a chance in court. Bear in mind, most cases settle out of court just before the trial begins. If you feel that you would be better off in the class action, discuss it with your attorney. These manufacturers and their attorneys will exploit any little thing they can, so be prepared for a battle if you go to court. Attend any trial you can and pay attention to tactics used by both sides. It is in your best interests to know exactly what to expect if you end up in court. If you are in the class action and have a trial in your area, please try to attend to give moral support to the plaintiff. She needs you!

Over 200 depositions have been taken for MDL-926 and more are in progress. Information from these depositions is also being utilized for trials around the country. I have heard from some women who state that their attorneys are not doing any research because they plan to just tap into the MDL files and get any information they need. I am glad these people are not my attorneys, but you can see the value many place on the MDL deposition work.

Phone numbers for the MDL claims office and legal assistance, etc.: Information line and for requests for registration forms (800) 887-6828, Legal assistance (513) 651-9770, Computer Bulletin Board (713) 951-9420, and Claims Administrator (800) 600-0311.

A Florida woman sued her insurance company over their failure to pay for her explantation procedure. She won about $8,000 plus attorney fees. This was a jury trial. If your attorney wants information on this precedent-setting case, have she/he call Louis Silber of Palm Beach, FL at (407) 655-6640. Please have only your attorney call for information.

MEDICAL INFORMATION: MIXED CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES (MCTD) and OVERLAP SYNDROME: Connective tissue is tissue that supports and connects other tissues and parts. Connective tissues have few cells and consist of an intercellular substance of matrix, the nature of which gives each type of connective tissue its particular properties. Connective tissues have many blood vessels except for cartilage. Causes for MCTD are not known, but immune factors are probably involved. Some types of connective tissues are mucous, fibrous, reticular, and adipose. The dense connective tissues include cartilage and bone. Mixed connective tissue disease generally initially present as undifferentiated disorders that can develop into a well-defined connective tissue disorder, but may never do so. One may have two or more different connective tissue diseases at the same time or sequentially (one after the other, which is called Overlap Syndrome). Overlap syndromes may be divided into specific syndromes that represent coincidental occurrence of two (or more) distinct connective tissue diseases in any one individual. Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is often described as the prototype of an overlap syndrome or as a connective tissue disease that is still undifferentiated. Some researchers believe that MCTD is a separate, very distinct, autoimmune disease. Manifestations of MCTD often resemble scleroderma, lupus, polymyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

For diagnosis of MCTD, doctors look for symptoms such as: Edema or swelling of the hands; synovitis, or inflammation of the fluid which lubricates joints and tendons; myositis (biopsy proven or elevated CPK) or muscle inflammation; Raynaud's phenomenon (which may precede other symptoms by a number of years and which has progressed two or three phases); and acrosclerosis or sclerodactyly (stiffness and tightness of the skin of the fingers). If a person presents with all five of these symptoms, diagnosis is accurate to over 99%. Four criteria gives 94% accuracy, while three gives almost 92% accuracy, which increases to over 99% accuracy with the presence of the RNP antibody (antigen to ribonucleoprotein, gives a fine speckled nuclear pattern in immunofluorescent studies) at a titer of 1:1600. Though not uniformly present, it generally will appear at some time in the disease process. Often MCTD patients will have a fine speckled pattern in cell nuclei when skin biopsies are subjected to direct immunofluorescence. Other antibodies that may be present is the RF (Rheumatoid factor), which may appear and disappear at times throughout the disease. High antinuclear antibodies (ANA's) are often present. Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigen (ENA's) are often detected at very high titers. Antibodies to native DNA and LE cells are uncommon. The sed rate (ESR) is frequently elevated. Serum levels of creatine kinase and aldolase are elevated when active myositis is present. Moderate anemia and leukopenia (decreased white blood cells) occur in up to 40% of patients. Vasculitis may be present. Decreased T cells and increased circulating B cells may occur, similar to lupus. T-suppressor cell function may be decreased as they are in lupus. The function of NK (Natural Killer) cells is peculiar to MCTD. Other characteristics of MCTD are multiple rheumatoid knots on the forearms and hands, calcifications of the joint capsules, arthropathy or joint disease that deforms the hands, pitting edema of the forehead, trigeminal neuralgia (more common in MCTD than in other connective tissue diseases), perforation of the nasal septum, and cranial nerve pain. Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure of the lungs) is often a serious complication. Polyarthritis (inflammation of several joints at one time) can also occur. Kidney complications can develop in about 10% of patients. Neurological complications, including organic mental syndrome, aseptic meningitis, seizures, multiple peripheral neuropathies, and cerebral infarction occur in about 10% of patients. Disorders of the pericardium (fibrous membrane covering the heart and the beginning of the great blood vessels) can occur with all connective tissue diseases and occurs in about 30% of patients with MCTD. These symptoms are usually self-limiting. Myocarditis may be present, which leads to heart failure. Mitral valve prolapse occurs in about 25% of patients. 75% will have arthritis, much of which will not be deforming to joints. Other symptoms that may occur are: Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, fever, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, intestinal involvement similar to that seen in scleroderma, and persistent hoarseness.

MCTD affects women predominately at an even higher level than many other autoimmune disorders. It generally occurs in women in their twenties and thirties, but can occur in children and elderly patients. When it occurs in children, Sjogren's syndrome often accompanies it. Symptoms can appear and disappear, then new symptoms may appear, disappear, and old symptoms then return. Symptoms may fluctuate in severity also. Some symptoms that may come and go are sclerodactyly, sicca symptoms (dryness), difficulties in swallowing, lupus-like rashes, erythematous (diffused redness) patches over the knuckles, discoloration of the eyelids, diffuse, non-scarring alopecia (loss of hair), and Raynaud's phenomenon. Myositis and impaired pulmonary function may also occur at intervals, but can be treated. Patients often present with a fever of unknown origin.

Treatment is varied. Early diagnosis and treatment can mean a high remission rate. Often treatment is similar to treatment for lupus. Stopping the progression of tissue damage is the greatest problem. With pulmonary problems, vasodilators, corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide has been utilized. Steroids have been found to be largely ineffective for this in some studies. Steroids are useful for polymyositis, however, as are antimalarial drugs. Kidney problems are often treated with steroids. Prostaglandins and antihypertensive drugs (such as ACE inhibitors) are often used to treat vascular damage of the kidneys (which is rare, but does occur with MCTD). Treatment of the pericarditis is often with NSAID's. If there is leakage of the fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion), steroids have been effective for symptomology and to reduce or eliminate fluid. Severe disease processes may be treated with cytotoxic (chemotherapy) drugs. Long-term usage of drugs may contribute to death because of the toxicity of some medications. The scleroderma-like features of MCTD are the least likely to respond to drug treatment. The overall mortality rate is about 13%. Sustained remissions of many years on little or no maintenance steroid therapy have been seen.

Once again, I would recommend that if a woman still has an implant or any scar capsules remaining in her body, that these be removed so that the chronic inflammation can subside. I would then hope that less toxic treatments would initially be considered, such as detoxing the body and using nutritional supplements to rebuild the cells before one considers treatments such as steroids and other drugs. Every drug is a toxin and can contribute to a toxic build-up in the system.

This information comes from The Merck Manual, Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, and The Connector, Dec., 1994 (Newsletter of the Scleroderma Foundation).

LABS: Dr. Rahim Karjoo of A.M.D.L. states that his lab can now measure the silicone and silica in the tissue, quantitatively. Send tissues to American Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Inc., 15941 Kaplan Avenue, City of Industry, CA 91744 or call Dr. Karjoo at (800) 4KARJOO. Silicone may be found in the capsule, adjacent tissues, or in the lymph nodes and this migration can be documented. Especially if you have a case that is coming up for trial, you may wish to consider having tissues examined in this way.

BALCO Labs is setting up a test to determine the free radical burden in our bodies. Now, isn't it just a coincidence that we have just recently discovered that pycnogenol, the free radical scavenger, is helping many women feel better. This is because it scavenges the free radicals that are destroying our body's cells. Every woman with symptoms from implants or from autoimmune disease should have this test. Knowing our free radical burden and how to deal with it could save many lives. More next month on this test. BALCO also does a test for elemental silicon called SeraSil which is available for $95.00. For more information, call them at (800) 777-7122.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: We continue to hear from MD's who deride and deprecate those who seek alternative medical treatments. We need to have all our medical providers, alternative and allopathic, pull together instead of putting each other down. We have heard these doctors tell us how the women can't get it together. Come on, medical professionals!! Let's not deprive any woman the choice to seek the treatments that she feels help her. After all, we did not have a choice about our illness. We need to have a free choice in all health matters, whether or not it is agreed upon by all medical professionals. MTBE, the additive in your gasoline, is making a large number of people ill. It is an environmental toxin and this danger is being ignored by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). I have recently seen two television shows about this problem and it is much worse than I thought it was. Maybe we should all be wearing gas masks when we travel in places like Denver, NY, Los Angeles, and large cities with pollution problems that are forced to oxygenate fuels and thereby poison us.

While not strictly alternative medicine, this information sure belongs in the nutritional advice and information sphere:

"Effects of Nutrient Modulation on the Autoimmune Process: Summary of Experimental Animal Studies Which Have Successfully Reduced Autoimmune Diseases Utilizing Nutritional Manipulations:" Sources: Gershwin, M.E.; Beach, R.S.; and Hurley, L.S. "Nutrition and Immunity", 1985 pp. 324-353. Academic Press. Orlando, FL. Also Keen, C.L and Gershwin, M.E. "Nutrient Modulation of Autoimmune Disease", 1990. Annals New York Academy of Sciences. 587: 208-217. Prepared by BALCO Laboratories, Burlingame, CA.

1) Moderate restriction of total calories: A. Significantly lowered circulating antibodies to DNA. B) Inhibited the progression of renal disease. C) Significantly lowered levels of circulating immune complexes. D) Markedly reduced deposits of immunoglobulin. 2) Moderate restriction of total protein intake: A) Significantly delayed the onset and progression of autoimmune disease. 3) Moderate restriction of Zinc: A) Reduced levels of serum immunoglobulins. B) Lowered anti-erythrocyte antibodies. C) Lowered circulating antibodies to DNA. D) Retarded the further development of autoimmune syndrome. E) Elevated levels of corticosteroids which reduced the pathological signs of autoimmune disease. 4) Moderate restriction of phosphorus: A) Resulted in a pronounced delay in the development of autoimmune disease. 5) Moderate restriction of amino acids (Phenylalanine and Tyrosine): A) Markedly reduced deposition of immunoglobulin in the kidney. 6) Moderate restriction of essential fatty acids (EFA) A) Inhibited the establishment of autoimmune disease. 7) Moderate dietary enrichment with Omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) (Purified fish oil): A) Significantly lowered antibodies to DNA.

Caution: Some dietary manipulations may exacerbate autoimmune disease. The potential for negative effects must be kept in mind when considering the extrapolation of experimental animal results to possible diet therapies for humans. It is likely that diet therapy will become a powerful tool in the treatment of autoimmune disease in the near future. In fact, a human clinical trial is in progress at BALCO Laboratories and the initial findings are encouraging. However it should be stressed that appropriate medical supervision is necessary and that physicians should exercise caution.

From Project Impact's newsletter: DR. EPSTEIN'S NEW ATTACK: Dr. Samuel Epstein's articles on how silicone implants increase the risk of cancer were published widely a few months ago. In an L.A. Times article reprinted by the Humane Farming Association, Dr. Epstein says that bovine growth hormone (BVH) which is made by Monsanto and administered to cows to increase milk production, poses a needless risk to women of increased breast cancer. The FDA recently warned dairy producers not using BVH to cease labeling their products hormone-free, saying there's "no significant difference between milk from treated and untreated cows." But Dr. Epstein says the BVH induces a "marked increase" in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the milk and that IGF-1 can cause breast enlargements in young children and breast cancer in adults. So, folks, try to use only hormone-free dairy products and contact your suppliers to ascertain that they are not using BVH. Also, write to the FDA to support labeling of hormone-free milk or even the cessation of such unnatural practices as giving cows hormones like BVH.

IMPORTANT: A word about power and power hungry people: Power is only ours to give away. There is no power to be held as a leader in this network. If you are doing your job, you are dispensing information and helping women with the support they need to gain or regain control of their lives. If you are in this for power, you are in the wrong field. The information is only ours to share, not to keep. No-one is making any money from this process. If we don't do what is right by the women, they will find someone else who will do it. If we try to grab power and use it in a negative, hurtful way, we will lose it to others who are truly trying to help the women.

Another word about financing support groups like ours (C.O.S.S.), like T.B.I.F., like S.I.N.G., like S.A.N.E., Project Impact, M.M.S.M.I., Car*i*net etc., etc., etc. While we would like to always provide everyone with free information, it is virtually impossible. I understand a few group members get upset when a basket is passed around or is sitting on a table for donations. Think about all the good information and support you receive from these groups and their informative meetings. So few have provided so much for so many. Please give a little back to your support group so that they may continue to give to you and thousands of others who now or in the future will need the same kind of help and support. Support groups are dying because of the lack of support of their own members--financial, moral and physical.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE: I recently received a copy of a new woman's quarterly entitled "Woman's Way, The Path of Empowerment". It is published in Boulder, CO and is a national quarterly. The Spring issue will be dedicated to breasts: Breast cancer, breast implants, society's pre-occupation with breasts, etc. I recommend that we start working on getting our information in publications such as these so that we can inform more women and the general public of the issues. To order this quarterly, send $12.00 for a one-year subscription and $22.00 for a 2-year subscription to Woman's Way, P.O. Box 19614, Boulder, CO 80308-2614. Woman's Way is looking for submission of articles, stories, poetry, journal excerpts, letters, and black & white or two-color artwork. They are particularly interested in personal stories of personal experience. For submission guidelines, send a SASE to above address. For a sample copy, send $3.00 to above address. Lynn Marlow, editor (303) 530-7617.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION: From Carol Mancini of S.I.N.G.: MY WISH LIST OF 1995: 1) I wish good health for you and your family members as they have suffered along with you. 2) I wish for an end to financial worry and burden as this stress is a much a part of causing continued health problems as illness itself. 3) I wish for the wisdom and knowledge of how to treat and care for our particular health problems to be imparted to physicians. 4) I wish for all those who have been touched by silicone to have at least gained insight into what they can do for themselves and learn now to live and cope with what will undoubtedly be a long-term proposition. 5) I wish for each of you to give a little of yourself to help someone who may be in need of a kind word, small gesture of love or just a sincere smile to show that you care. 6) Lastly, I wish for peace in your hearts to realize that there are things that you have no control over and must give to someone greater than ourselves. Prayer can work miracles and we must never forget to include this aspect in our lives. Do not lose hope or become so overwhelmed with the enormity of the problem that we forget to focus on the small things that we can do. MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU AND KEEP YOU IN HIS LOVING CARE.

"If you have a history of breast implants and are having alpha intrusions (memory loss, sleepy all the time, fall asleep at inappropriate times) and/or have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I would like to hear from you." Linda W. Newkirk, P. O. Box 17277, North Little Rock, AR 72117.

BOOKS: "Health Effects of Toxic Chemicals, Silicone, Asbestos, and Man-Made Fibers" Edited by Nachman Brautbar, MD, Andrew Campbell, MD and Myron Mehlman, PhD. This book is a bit technical for some silicone survivors (especially those who cannot remember anything they just read), but for those who prefer a little more scientific reading, this may be for you. It certainly demonstrates that we are just another group of people affected by environmental pollution. Published by Princeton Scientific Publishing, P.O. Box 2155, Princeton, NJ 08543. This book should be available at your local book store or call (609) 683-4750, FAX (609) 683-0838. Identify yourself as being a member of C.O.S.S. and you can receive the book for $35.00, otherwise it is $50.00. No shipping charges should be added, but check to make sure.

"Chemical Exposure & Disease: Diagnostic and Investigative Techniques" by Janette Sherman, published by Princeton Scientific Publishing CO, Inc. $35.00. See phone number above. This book details how environmental toxins cause neurotoxic effects, endocrine problems, reproductive problems, and cancer. Should be fascinating reading, since we are trying to establish a connection between silicone/saline implants and breast cancer.

"Woman and Nature: The Roaring Inside Her" by Susan Griffin. How we all perpetuate violence against the earth much as men commit violence against women and as many adults treat children.

"Evolutionary Medicine: Rethinking the Origins of Disease" by Marc Lappe`. Sierra Club, distributed by Random House. $30.00.

"Nutritional Influences on Illness: A Source Book of Clinical Research" by Melvin R. Werback, a Clinical Professor at UCLA. Third Line Press (818) 996- 0076.

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE: Remember to support your support groups as they support you!!! Check out these items available from silicone implant support groups.

Janie Cruise's Silicone Scene directories are available. These are in three- ring notebooks and are filled with valuable resources, including doctors and women who are support group leaders from coast to coast. These are wonderful. To obtain one, send $25.00 for consumers and $55.00 for professionals to Silicone Scene, 1050 Cinnamon Lane, Corona, CA 91720. Request the 1995 Directory.

Alaska Women Surviving Silicone (AWSS) is having a cookbook sale to raise funds for women and children in Alaska who are suffering from silicone toxicity and do not have the funds to pay for evaluation and treatment. These cookbooks contain over 600 family recipes, are only $19.95 and will be shipped in Mid-April. They will also contain some facts about silicone. Help the Alaska group help themselves by purchasing their cookbook. Mail orders to AWSS, P.O. Box 143061, Anchorage, AK 99514. For more information, call Donna at (907) 337-5551. Please let Donna know where you heard about her cookbook. She has a special place in my heart.

PYCNOGENOL, the free radical scavenger that I now take, is available from COSS (See November newsletter for details). It comes in 20mg. tablets in a bottle of 60. The cost is $35.98 per bottle. Please send $2.00 shipping and handling for the 1st bottle and $1.00 for each additional bottle (per order). Colorado residents add $2.64 tax per bottle.

Juice Plus, the plant based enzyme products that are helping so many women, are now available through C.O.S.S. A four month supply of the basic fruit and vegetable enzymes are $179.00 ($45.00 per month if purchased in 4-month supply, which is cheaper than an MD appointment). We have heard great reports from women who feel that they have been able to survive (before they knew what made them ill) because they were taking this product. My Naturopathic Doctor recommended this product to me, so I am now taking it.

HUMOR: When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.

Previous issues of newsletters are available for $2.00 each U.S., $3.00 Foreign. January 1993 is the first available issue. Please indicate months' desired and enclose $2.00 (US), $3.00 (Foreign) each. Some subjects covered have been: Auto-Immune Diseases (1/93); Fibromyalgia (2/93); Testing (3/93); Sjogren's (4/93); Arthritis (5/93); Chronic Fatigue (6/93); Lupus (7/93); Irritable Bowel Syndrome & Inflammatory Bowel Disease (8/93); Insurance (8/93,9/93); MDL 926 (9/93-5/94); Miscellaneous Medical Information (9/93); Multiple Sclerosis (10/93); Spasmodic Torticollis (10/93); Hypoglycemia (11/93); Antibodies (12/93); Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (1/94); More Miscellaneous Medical Information (2/94); Scleroderma (3/94); Costochondritis (4/94); Peripheral Neuropathy (4/94); Class Action (5/94); Fungal Infections (6/94); Hypercalcemia (low calcium) (7/94); Raynaud's Phenomenon (8/94); Fibromyalgia Update (9/94); Sarcoidosis (10/94); Free Radicals (11/94); Porphyria (12/94); Interstitial Cystitis (1/95); & Legal (most issues). Almost all issues cover topics on Alternative Medicine.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the editor and any contributors and are not to be construed as medical or legal advice. Any articles or information submitted may be edited because of space, content or grammatical errors.

COPYRIGHT: Our purpose is to disseminate information and provide support. This material is copyrighted so that we may retain control over content. You may reproduce this document as long as it is not done for profit and as long as no material, including copyright and subscription information, is changed.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed here are those of the editor and any contributors and are not to be construed as medical or legal advice. Any articles or information submitted may be edited because of space, content or grammatical errors.

COPYRIGHT: Our purpose is to disseminate information and provide support. This material is copyrighted so that we may retain control over content. You may reproduce this document as long as it is not done for profit and as long as no material, including copyright and subscription information, is changed.

DONATIONS: The Coalition of Silicone Survivors is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation with over 4000 members world wide. Our editor, Lynda Roth, is a survivor having heard the dread word 'cancer' followed by the reassuring 'will look like a normal breast'. In addition to having helped start many support groups, Lynda has appeared before the FDA, congress members, national TV in the US and other countries and lectures internationally. Your donation will definitely help others receive information about the dangers of implants. IF READING THIS NEWSLETTER HAS HELPED YOU, AND YOU THINK OTHERS SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO RECEIVE OUR MESSAGE, WE URGE YOU TO GIVE GENEROUSLY. Donations are tax deductible in the United States. Yes, I want to help

As a member you will receive a highly informative information packet and this newsletter, including the CURRENT ISSUE for the next 12 months. Remember in the US it's tax deductible. Your help is critical.

If you do not wish to send your credit card information over the net you can call (303) 499-2765 and leave a voice message with the above information. Please also leave your phone number so we can call back if your message is unclear.

Checks. Don't leave this to memory. Write the check and address the envelope NOW. Silicone Survivors c/o COSS Newsletters 1705 14th St #191 Boulder, Co 80302-6265 URL http://bcn.boulder.co.us/health/silicone/silicone.html Copyright 1995 Coalition of Silicone Survivors

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