April, 1995

Dear Silicone Survivors and Friends:

I attended the NIH meeting in Washington, DC in March. The material presented related silicone to a wide array of disorders, including monoclonal gammopathy which can lead to multiple myeloma, a form of cancer. About 90% of the presentations showed problems with silicone implants. This NIH meeting will be summarized by Dr. Ari Vojdani of Immunosciences Lab and will be mailed to all of you soon along with some other exciting new information and some exciting new tests that are available, both from Immunosciences Lab and from BALCO Labs. An important aspect of having silicone issues discussed at NIH is that it is the first step in having our problems recognized by the medical profession. From what I saw and heard, Dow and other manufacturers should feel very nervous.

If you are going to be in the Denver area for surgery with Dr. Linda Huang, to see Dr. Daniel Hoffman, or to seek any other medical treatment, we have several women who are willing to share their homes with you and help get you to doctor's appointments. Call at least a couple of weeks in advance if you know when you are coming and we'll see what we can do to help you with this type of arrangement.

We are extremely sorry to report that Janie Cruise of Silicone Scene has discontinued her newsletter because of her illness. She needs to focus on her own health now. She has dedicated 5 years to this issue and now deserves to take a break and have time for herself and her family. She is tired and ready to move on with her life. Silicone Scene and Silicone Scene newsletter will continue and will be run by Carol Mancini of S.I.N.G., P.O. Box 721630, San Diego, CA 92171-1630.

You can find our newsletter on the Internet on World Wide Web, URL http://bcn.boulder.co.us/health/silicone.html. They are available from May, 1994.

We have changed our professional newsletter subscription rate to $25.00, the same rate as for consumers.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Remember the May conference and march on the Washington Mall!! May is beautiful in Washington, DC and I cannot think of a better way to spend Mother's Day than to call the entire nation's attention to the problems with silicone implants. I hope that every one of you will attend. It is May 13-14, cost is $85.00 consumer (MC & Visa accepted), hotel space is available at reduced cost, and the list of speakers is tremendous. Added to the list that I gave you last month are Dr. Larry Wolford, DDS; Dr. James McNair, Opthamologist; Dr. Graham Wood, Plastic Surgeon; Dr. Bernard Patton, Neurologist; and tentatively, Dr. Samuel Epstein, Oncologist. Contact Jill Stone at (910) 854-5338 for registration information. If you can't walk well enough to march, come and get a wheelchair and we will push you. Send the names of women who are too ill to march or of those who have died of silicone related illnesses. Ask all your environmentally ill friends to come and march also. We all have environmental illnesses from these implants.

LEGAL INFORMATION: In Texas, in the case of Gladys Laas, District Judge Michael Schneider reversed the jury and decided that Dow Corning was 100% responsible for the $5.2 million settlement and that Dow Chemical was not 20% liable. If this decision is not reversed upon appeal, then Dow Chemical still has not been found liable in any breast implant suit. Let's hope that Judge Pointer is wise enough to see through all the legal mumbo jumbo and hold them accountable.

Class action lawsuit: Women who missed the deadline for the class action lawsuit may register as a late registrant by FAXing a request for a packet to (513) 621-6420 or by calling (513) 651-9770.

If you have not received the FYI letter from the class action lawsuit, you have until June 1st to fill out the attached forms and send them to the address they provided if you wish to make a claim under Funds I-V. If you have qualified for the current disease compensation program (the Grid), you do not have to fill out these forms. You can if you have had a rupture or an explantation, but any $$ you would receive under these funds would be subtracted from any grid settlement. If you have not received the forms or you have misplaced them and you think you should send them in, you can call (800) 600-0311 or (513) 651-9770 or you may send $1.00 and a SASE (self- addressed stamped legal size envelope) to C.O.S.S. and we will mail you the forms. Please don't overlook sending in these forms if you registered by March 1st, 1995 and you did not get placed on the current disease grid.

Tort Reform: You can make a difference on whether or not the Senate passes new restrictive legislation that will severely restrict your rights to sue a manufacturer of a defective product. Most breast implant cases would have never gone to court if this type of legislation had been in effect a few years ago. What can you do to help?? The Senate will vote on this bill (S. 565) on April 24th. Send a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) to C.O.S.S. for information and for a list of Senators including their phone and FAX numbers. This information was compiled by Gail Armstrong and is very helpful. Don't be a victim and stand by and let this happen. Fight back for yourself and for future generations so all will have a right to seek legal remedies if they are injured by defective products. Passing this legislation would give manufacturers the right to kill and still make a profit because of severe restrictions on their legal liability.

I am often bombarded with questions on what is happening with the class action lawsuit, when we will receive some payment for our damages and how much I think we will receive. The appeals are still pending and Judge Pointer is working on whether to include Dow Chemical in the settlement (rumored date for his decision is April 6th), the date for settlement is at least a year away and may be two years or more, and, we will not receive anywhere close to the grid amount. The latest guess is less than 25% of the grid amount, probably closer to 15% or 10%. This is all typical of class actions, so be patient. For those who feel that they will opt out if the grid amount is so low, think carefully, because if there are major numbers of opt-outs, bankruptcy may be the solution of the manufacturers. Also, the current tort reform going on in Congress could affect your ability to receive a large punitive damage settlement. Some payment for suffering is better than none. Many cases are being won, but some are lost and many settlements out of court are not much higher than what women would receive in the class action, even if reduced by 75%. Carefully think all this through if you are considering opting-out!!!

MEDICAL INFORMATION: Preventing Osteoporosis: 1) Cut back on salt intake. Salt depletes your body of calcium and increases risk of bone loss. 2) Cut back on caffeine. Caffeine steals calcium from your diet and your bones. It interferes with calcium (and iron) absorption and increases calcium loss through the urinary tract. Taking more calcium may not help if you drink much caffeine. 3) Get plenty of vitamin D. Sources: The sun, salmon, mushrooms, liver, natural supplements, etc. 4) Avoid chronic dieting. This can cause bone loss. Low calorie sodas and high protein diets can rob your bones of calcium. 5) Ride a bike. Women who ride stationary bikes regularly increase bone mineral density in their spines. Those who don't lose the mineral density in their spines. 6) Eat less meat. Vegetarians lose less bone mass than meat-eaters. 7) Walk. Walking just one-half hour three times a week will strengthen bone density. 8) Take manganese if you are post-menopausal.

I recently heard a news report on pain killers. The study they were reporting had revealed that taking combination pain killers (more than one ingredient) on a daily basis may actually increase the amount of pain that one has. This includes pain killers such as aspirin or tylenol with codeine and many other painkillers like Darvon, Darvocet, etc. This study stated that avoiding the use of painkillers eventually led to a lessening of pain because the system's natural endorphins increased, thereby producing more pain relief.

Diabetes is considered avoidable for most people. Most adult-onset diabetes occurs after age 40 and is usually related to weight gain. Losing weight often controls it or makes it disappear. This is Type-II diabetes. The other type of diabetes, Type-I, is insulin-dependent and often of juvenile onset or occurs in young adulthood. Risk factors for Type-II diabetes are: Being over 30; being overweight, especially with weight concentrated in the upper body; having a close relative with diabetes; ethnicity of African-American, Hispanic, or Native American heritage & also having had many children. Diabetes affects the eyes (retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts), the nerves (tingling of extremities, effects on nerves that regulate bladder dysfunction, digestion, & blood pressure), problems with legs and feet (blisters, sores, not healing), and fatigue. Other symptoms are: Excessive thirst, frequent urination, especially at nighttime, weight loss (even with increased appetite), blurred vision, sudden loss of vision in either eye, spots, lines, flashing lights or black spots, and frequent infections, especially vaginal yeast infections. The best way to avoid diabetes is with diet. Low fat, low sugar, high fiber with lots of vegetables is a good diet to follow. Regular exercise is important.

A recent survey by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society found that nine out of 10 women wear shoes at least two sizes narrower than their feet. Women seemed to prefer a variety of styles rather than a good fit. 80% of U.S. women suffer painful foot deformities, such as bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses. Bunions are bony growths at the base of the big toe, combined with bone misalignment. Caused mainly by wearing narrow, pointed toe shoes, the preventive measure is to wear shoes with a wide toe and keep pressure off the big toe joint. Hammertoes are generally second and third toes that have permanently flexed at the middle joint. This condition can be hereditary, but often is caused by wearing shoes that are too short. Some will straighten out by utilizing orthotics or splints. Corns and calluses are thickened skin. Hard corns form on the tops of the toes, soft corns develop between toes, and calluses are found on the heels, balls of the feet and on the sides of the feet. These are caused by skin rubbing between bones or skin rubbing between bones and shoes. Ingrown toenails, heel pain (often from a bony protrusion), neuromas, and athlete's foot are other foot conditions that need help. Wearing the proper shoes can prevent many of these problems. To obtain a proper fit, buy shoes late in the day when your feet are a bit swollen. Make sure there is at least a quarter inch between the tip of your longest toe and the inside of the toe of the shoe. Measure while standing. Don't expect shoes to stretch. Have shoes spot-stretched at a good shoe repair place if they are tight in one or two spots. This process takes hours, so plan to leave your shoes. Avoid heels higher than two inches. Buy styles with cushioning in the forefoot and slip them off often. Spend your money on good shoes, not fancy ones with limited use.

Your feet need exercise just like the rest of your body. Exercises: 1) Flex your feet and hold for 5 seconds. Point your toes and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times. 2) Sit in a chair. Straighten your legs and raise 6 inches. Roll feet to the left 5 times and then to the right 5 times. Lower legs, then repeat 10 times. 3) Pick up marbles with your toes. Start with 5 marbles with the left foot and then 5 marbles with the right foot. 4) Place feet on a rolling pin and roll back and forth for a great massage.

Some of this information is from Women's Health Companion.

LABS: A test for monoclonal gammopathy by immunofixation for kappa and lambda IgG, IgM, IgA is now available from Immunosciences Labs for $75.00. This test detects multiple myeloma, one of the newest diseases that may be caused by silicone. Call (800) 950-4686 for information on this test.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: Beta-carotene: Orange plant foods (carrots, sweet potatoes) are rich in beta-carotene which can: 1) Strengthen cell walls and promote good circulation. 2) Help your body fight off bacteria and infection. 3) Protect delicate skin tissues. 4) Strengthen the stomach lining. 5) Guard the thymus gland which is crucial to a strong immune system. 6) Protect your body from damage from free radicals.

Phytochemicals are strong natural healers. These are contained in fruits, vegetables, and whole grain breads. Phytochemicals cause a series of healing reactions in our bodies to keep us healthy. Many have hormone-like effects on women's reproductive tracts and are useful in treating several female health problems. They also have cancer and disease-fighting properties. Nature has ways of undoing bad things that happen to our bodies if we allow it to do so.

Having close friends will lengthen your life span. People with the fewest social ties live shorter lives. Divorced women are twice as likely to die from heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and cancer as married women. They are 10 times as likely to be psychiatric patients. Having close personal friends to share with lessens the chances that women will have negative health effects. Touch is important also as it stimulates natural healing substances. Your skin contains a substance called tumor necrosis factor which is released when touched. It also contains imipramine, which works as an anti-depressant. Stroking your own skin can release these substances, so massage your own body if you don't have a partner or a masseuse to massage you. Touch can help reduce cholesterol. Massage stimulates your immune system, increases relaxation, lowers blood pressure and heart rates and is believed to release endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. Massage increases concentration and work productivity.

Vitamin E can reduce the risk of breast cancer, reduce the size of benign breast tumors, reduce the risk of mouth and throat cancers, prevent symptoms of PMS, relieve nervous tension and reduce fatigue, calm irritability, ease depression and decrease insomnia. Don't take excessive dosages. Take beta- carotene, Vitamin E and selenium to lower your risk of cancer by 50%. Magnesium can erase symptoms of heart disease. Vitamin A reduces average occurrences of lung, stomach and other cancers. Magnesium, linoleic acid, taurine, potassium and zinc can help reduce blood pressure. Niacin aids in digestion, promotes healthy skin and may make you smarter. For bleeding gums, take Vitamin C. For dry, cracked lips, take Riboflavin (B2), Thiamin (B1) and Niacin (B3). For leg cramps, take magnesium, potassium and calcium. For fatigue or lack of energy, take Vitamin E, Iron, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B Complex. Selenium helps keep skin looking young. Olive oil mixed with sugar (add olive oil to one-half cup sugar until it becomes mushy) massaged into face and body skin will remove dead cells and improve skin's clarity and softness. (I knew there was a good use for sugar, since eating it suppresses the immune system.) For a facial cleansing mask, get French green clay at your health food store, mix 2 tablespoons clay with purified water into a paste. If you have oily skin, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (fresh). If you have normal skin, add one tablespoon mashed avocado or papaya. If you have dry skin, add olive oil. Slather on face, leave 15 minutes, and rinse off with lukewarm water. A thin layer around eyes will reduce puffiness.

Cutting down on butter and high-fat foods can help bring you out of depression. Changing your diet and lowering your cholesterol can make significant changes in how you feel.

Sniffing vanilla oil 15 minutes prior to eating can help you lose weight. People in a study that smelled vanilla oil just 15 minutes before eating lost an average of 5 pounds a month, a total of 30 pounds in 6 months. The hypothesis is that the olfactory bulbs in your nose are a direct extension of the hypothalamus. This is the part of the brain that regulates your heartbeat, appetite, and sleep cycle. The hypothalamus also generates natural chemicals that influence emotion. There are studies that show that our emotional states can be influenced by smell, thus the aromatherapy treatments that some use.

Dieting can be dangerous, as 95% of all people gain the weight back within 5 years. Most gain it back in one year. Some research suggests that an extra 12-28 pounds may actually be beneficial to women's health. Eating disorders kill and injure hundreds of women per year. There is research that shows evidence that dieting can cause a variety of ailments, including gallstones, headaches, nausea, muscle aches, fatigue, infertility, anemia, cardiac disorders, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and even death. Yo-yo dieting shifts body fat to the abdominal area which increases your risk of heart disease and cancer death. High-protein diets increase your risk of kidney cancer. Diets can lead to infertility and interfere with sexuality. Take a moderate approach to weight loss. Increase your exercise gradually, decrease your fats and sugars and increase vegetables, fruits, and complex carbohydrates. Taking chromium 30-60 minutes before a meal helps many people lose weight. Don't try to lose the weight all at once. Starvation diets can cause your body a great deal of harm. 20-30 minutes of exercise three times a week with a moderate change in diet is usually the best way to lose weight. Learning to love yourself is often the best diet.

Tips for healing for women: 1) No matter how busy you are, take a few minutes for personal time. It will help keep your body in balance. 2) Spend time outside on a beautiful winter day. 3) Eating foods like blueberry pancakes, pasta, sweet potatoes, etc. will rev-up your body's natural healers. 4) Take a bath with lavender oil to reduce stress. 5) Treat yourself to a soothing massage or a facial to release your body's powerful natural healers. 6) Curl up with your favorite magazine or book and a cup of herbal tea to help prevent depression. 7) For soothing sleep, mix 3 drops each of basil, orange, rose geranium and clove oil and add to a warm bathtub or use these in steam to reduce stress and anxiety.

Many of these tips come from the Women's Health Companion.

Natural vitamins are far superior to chemically produced vitamins. Contact your natural healer or nutritionist or go to a health food store for information. Eating chicken soup can really reduce symptoms of colds and flu. Homemade, without additives, is far preferable to canned. Essiac is a major system detox and can help with migraine headaches. You can buy it in bulk at many major health food stores. Bilberry is a natural herb that help prevent dry eyes. Gotu Kola is a natural supplement to help concentration. If you have problems with ridges or spots on your fingernails or toenails or if your fingernails or toenails are opaque, you may have a zinc deficiency. Fasting, malabsorption, virus infections, toxic exposure, etc. can cause a shortage of zinc. Zinc and B-6 therapy can often reverse these symptoms.

Children who have used Lindane Shampoo for head lice are 4-5 times more likely to have brain cancer. Children whose families use pesticides on their yards are 4-5 times more likely to have childhood cancers.

SECOND GENERATION: by: Elena Kareores, Children's Advocate We, as adult victims of silicone, live a nightmare every day. Research has shown that the nightmare continues. Independent medical studies confirm that silicone passes from mother to child. These studies prove that silicone is not biologically inert and that it crosses the placental barrier. I am a twenty-three year veteran of silicone-gel filled breast implants. Two years ago, while compiling my medical records, the fears I had about my child's health were confirmed. By the grace of God, I received a copy of a 1984 mammogram report. At that time, my doctors, who had access to this did not inform me of the serious nature of its content. I, trusting the medical "experts", assumed all was well. It 1985, my son was born. Assured by my OB it was safe, I breast fed my baby. SAFE? Between the ruptures, the silicomas, the encapsulation and the fungus and bacteria, I should have been designated a TOXIC WASTE SITE! At four, my son was diagnosed with something called Environmental Asthma. For the first nineteen months of his life, I was his ENVIRONMENT...his own TOXIC WASTELAND. Silicone-gel was migrating throughout my body. It not only crashed through the placental barrier, but was leaking into the milk ducts. My precious mother's milk was contaminated. It was poison and I was nursing this lethal chemical into my child's body. Instead of building his immune system as mother's milk is intended to do, his immune system is abnormal and deficient, and he refers to himself as a "prisoner" who is chained to his Pulmo-Aide machine, carries three different inhalers, and is continuously monitored by a peak-flow meter. His life is a "living hell" and I wonder what his future will hold? My son suffers from all the problems I have plus more. His antibody levels are much higher than mine, his silicone antibodies are almost triple mine and eighteen fungi are in his body, mostly residing in his lungs.

There is documentation that, in Sweden in 1975, researchers and scientists understood that silicone was NOT biologically inert and that it crossed the placental barrier. There is definitely a second generation of silicone victims--our children. These same researchers were aware that silicone can cause male genital deterioration. What of the future? Will our children have children or will our daughters be barren and our sons be sterile? These facts imply that our children have been exposed to a deadly chemical which will affect them all their lives. I have vowed to fight for our children. Please help me. We need to network. We need to make the world aware that, we as adult victims of silicone are not mad and that there is indeed a second generation of silicone victims.

Our children need special doctors, knowledgeable about silicone and aware of its devastating effects on the body. I am in the process of combining efforts with a variety of doctors. What we desperately need is statistics. To achieve this ne need data, histories, evaluations, examinations, and BLOODWORK. I am working closely with Dr. Robert Ira Lewy, Houston, (713) 791- 9311. He is a believer that silicone has affected a second generation. Dr. Lewy offers a Silicone Sensitivity test. These tests will be valuable. We need to know HOW MANY children are ill. Please call me for details.

My organization is called SECOND GENERATION. I am compiling a list of symptoms, and an informational packet will be available soon. If you suspect that your children suffer from any medical conditions related to silicone, feel free to call me. Keep me informed by making me aware of your children's problems. The SECOND GENERATION can only achieve victory with your help. For the Children, Elena Kareores, 4175 Toulouse St., New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 488-9006.

C.O.S.S. Note: Several doctors are researching the effects of silicone on children and many labs do tests for silicone sensitivity and silicone antibodies. Check around to make sure that you don't pay much more than necessary for medical treatment and for these tests. You should not have to pay $300-$600 for an office visit or a workup. The test panels done by BALCO Labs and Immunosciences Lab both have silicone tests and many other tests done in groups that save many $$. Immunosciences does the Smalley test (included in their new panel) and BALCO tests for elemental silicon as well as silicon dioxide. The tests recommended for children are the same ones done on breast implanted women. Don't pay double or triple for tests that can be done at a reasonable price. Call BALCO at (800) 777-7122 and Immunosciences at (800) 950-4686 if you have questions on lab tests. There are some questionable labs out there that you may wish to avoid. One was really panned at the NIH meeting in March. Jama Russano of CATS is also working with doctors that are researching this issue, including Dr. Jeremiah Levine, and these doctors have found second-generation effects. You can reach Jama at (516) 273-CATS.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Q. What will happen when I have my implants removed? Won't there just be a bag of skin hanging on my chest? A. With a good plastic surgeon, many women will look just fine. If necessary, have your plastic surgeon do a lift, or mastopexy, at the same time as implant removal so that any sagging skin is removed and the breast is uplifted. This will cost extra. Q. I've had my implants out for four years and I still have the same problems. My scar capsules were not removed. Do you think I would really benefit from having the scar capsules removed after all this time? A. You probably would. Every case is individual, but the scar capsule is a major retainer of gel bleed and silicone from both the shell and from any possible rupture. Many women do not begin to recover until the scar capsule is removed. This was true for me. Q. I talked to a woman who told me that our disease is hopeless and than she didn't know anyone who has gotten better after implant removal. A. Avoid negative people who give messages of doom. Many women have gotten better after removal, including myself. National experts have given statistics of from 50% to 90%. This varies depending on just how seriously ill the patients being researched were. In our experience, there is room for a great deal of hope. Keep positive thoughts, as these will help you to heal. Negativity breeds negativity, so try to avoid it.

IMPORTANT: People who have a good sense of humor suffer less constipation, acid stomach, and sensitivity to cold than those who don't. American Psychosomatic Annual Meeting.

Guess who was one of Newt Gingrich's campaign donors? You guessed it!! Dow Corning!!!

The Environmental Health Foundation raises and carefully allocates funds for unbiased medical research on treatments and cures for toxin-related illnesses, including "Sick Building Syndrome" and "Gulf War Syndrome". Joseph Czarnecky, President of this new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, can be reached at E.H.F., 1760 East River Road, Tucson, AZ 85718 (602) 577-5225.

I know I have stated this before and I probably will say it again. Don't plan your life around any settlement that you may receive. Take steps now to regain your mental and physical health. If your implants are still in and you are waiting for $$ from the class action to get them out, find another way. I have heard women say that they couldn't afford to take out their implants only to find out that they bought a new car just a few months later. Reorder your priorities. If you are broke and disabled, get on disability or get help from Social Services and get on Medicaid. They pay for implant removal. Get a loan from parents or friends. Find a doctor who will take a lien on a future settlement. All the time you are waiting, more toxins are leaking into your system. You can worsen very suddenly and damage your chances of a more complete recovery. Your health IS the most important thing that you have.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE: Silicone Scene's remaining sets of videotapes from their 2/13/93 national conference on breast implants are available from S.I.N.G. These were professionally taped and edited and are of excellent quality. They are $65.00 per set and you may receive them by sending a check S.I.N.G., P.O. Box 721630, San Diego, CA 92171-1630.

Baxter Gentry, who does a lot of documentary work, has an exciting new film out that everyone will want to see. It truly tells the story of silicone and should be shown on every Public Broadcasting Station in the country (and in other countries). I believe that it will be available for European and Australian systems as well as US videotape players. You will receive a flyer in our packet that is coming soon. I just finished viewing this documentary and it was great, hard-hitting and full of facts that will make a believer out of many who still have doubts. I think every group leader or support person in every city should obtain a copy of this tape ($39.95 + $4.90 S & H.) and take it to their Public Broadcasting Station (PBS) and recommend that they air it. Stations must purchase the right to air this or any documentary, so take the flyer from the packet (you will receive soon) to the station. Have the station call Baxter Gentry for information on broadcasting. After April 6th, (800) 449-8143 for ordering (Visa-MC accepted).

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION:

A PRAYER FOR DIVINE INTERVENTION by R.M. Rahn

We ask and beseech the Divine from beginningless time: * Have mercy on us in our suffering. We are tired and weak and need help. * Inspire us with moral strength and courage, so we may keep constant vigilance against the forces of inhumanity. * Bless us so we can cultivate a compassionate view, based on wisdom and equanimity. * Enhance our ability to recognize the misinformed and misdirected so we may avoid becoming tangled, unintentionally, in anything that might cause harm to ourselves or others. * Bestow on us recognition, justice and compensation, not as vengeance, but as the vehicle and tools for us to use to prevent this from ever happening again. * Guide us to plan and budget well so we may benefit to the fullest from the compensation we receive. Please help us to avoid the hypocrisy of investing in a company that poisoned us. * Endow us with the ability to more easily be of help to ourselves and others. * Have mercy on those whose ignorance, greed and misguided beliefs give rise to a callous indifference that breeds the violence and suffering which is so heartlessly inflicted upon others. * Inspire us so we may learn the lessons this opportunity provides with grace and humor. This being, so we may evolve into a more capable and humane people. This also being, so we do not unwittingly give up our ability to choose. * Bless the children who had no choice. * Bestow healing in our wounded lives and bodies and in our immediate and extended families. * Please help us all not to be seduced and deceived once again with the intangible and unproven hope of experimental treatments, their chemically induced diseases and their experimental treatments. In loving gratitude.

BOOKS: A magazine, "Women's Health Companion", is available for $39.00 year (12 issues) or $75.00 for 2 years. It is full of tips about health and alternative medicine including healthy alternatives to eating, dieting, stress relief, healthful beauty tips, etc. Send check to Women's Health Companion, 105 W. Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. 100% refund before 4th issue is mailed if not completely satisfied.

The book "Food Enzymes, The Missing Link To Radiant Health", is available from C.O.S.S. for $6.75, including postage. It explains what food enzymes are, what they do for us, and why we need them.

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE: Juice Plus, the live enzyme food supplement that aids in digestion and food absorption, is available from C.O.S.S. I have found that I have less digestive problems since taking this product. Cost is $179.00 for a four month supply or $50.00 for a one-month supply. Although I find this expensive, it is certainly cheaper than all the doctor bills I have been paying.

PYCNOGENOL, the free radical scavenger that I now take, is available from C.O.S.S. We have found a new product that contains both grape seed and pine bark, which is reportedly the best of both worlds. It comes in 50mg. tablets in a bottle of 60. The cost is $30.00 per bottle. We also have the original pine bark Pycnogenol in 20 mg. tablets available for $30.00 Please send $2.00 shipping and handling for the 1st bottle and $1.00 for each additional bottle (per order). Colorado residents add $2.21 tax per bottle.

CitriMax, a niacin-bound chromium product, great for weight loss and for improving glycogen storage in our bodies, is available for purchase. Chromium is often deficient in people who have gained a lot of weight, as many of us have because of the silicone exposure, and it also aids in weight loss. For information on this product, write SNAC, 345 California Dr. #34, Burlingame, CA 94010 or call (800) 697-2086. One month supply, $19.95.

Carol Ann Young has products for and information on detoxing. Call her at (503) 997-9260.

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.

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