Dear Silicone Survivors and Friends:

It has been a hectic month. I attended the Vancouver, British Columbia conference (where I facilitated one of the evening workshops) and I spent some time with my mother in Oregon while locating a place for a conference there in September. I have been super busy since I returned home because we have four conferences in the works and I am helping with (or presenting) all four.

I heard the Sally Jesse Raphael show was great. Anyone who video-taped this, would you please send me a copy. I missed it and I have heard great things about it so would really like to see it.

A special thanks for all who have given the extra support I needed this month with my personal issues. As many of you know, I just filed for divorce and it has been tough. It is especially tough financially since our income sometimes helped to support the Coalition by paying my airline expenses, etc.

UPCOMING EVENTS: July 19th conference-- San Francisco. See our June newsletter for registration information or contact Diane Stevens @ (510) 757-8781. At the end of this newsletter is the registration information for the August conference in Orange County.

Orlando, FL, August 9th, Sheraton World Resort, 10100 International Dr., Stephanie @ (800) 234-8646 for rooms reserved under Toxic Discovery Network. Speakers: Drs. Ostermeyer, Puszkin, Campbell, Barnett, Pam Burrell, RN,, Al Lurey (Dow Bankruptcy Committee) and Kathy and Sandy of TDN, $45 singles, $80 couples, $125 professionals before August 5th, $10 more at door. Lunch not provided. For more information, contact Kathy Keithley-Johnston @ (573) 445-0861. MC/Visa accepted.

August 16th conference, Irvine, CA (Orange County), Orange County Airport Hilton. Confirmed speakers include: Dr. Nir Kossovsky, Dr. Mary White Stewart, Dr. Andrew Campbell, Dr. Aristo Vojdani, Sybil Goldrich (CTN), Dr. Linda Huang, Jama Russano (CATS). Several others pending. Cost is $60 consumers and professionals and $85 couples (including lunch) if registered (postmarked) prior to August 3rd, $10 more single or $15 more couple after that date Call Lynda @ (303) 469-8242.

Sept. 6th Conference, Portland, Oregon at the S. Portland Holiday Inn in Wilsonville. Speakers pending. Cost will be $50 for singles and $70 for couples (including lunch) if pre-registered (post-marked) by Aug. 25th. Contact Lynda @(303) 469-8242 for more details.

Sept. 20th Conference, Chicago. We will supply more information as we receive it.

October 4 Conference in Philadelphia at the Airport Hilton. Confirmed speakers include Dr. Britta Ostermeyer, Dr. Saul Puszkin, Dr. Andrew Campbell, more pending.

LEGAL INFORMATION: The Louisiana Class Action Lawsuit continues in New Orleans. We will update you when we have more information. It is slow, but it looks good.

From Medical/Legal Aspects of Breast Implants: Lessons to be learned from the Duke vs. 3-M Case (New Mexico). The Judge rejected defense motions to utilize Daubert vs. Merrill Dow to prevent specialists from testifying. The award was only $30,000 but attorneys may be able to also collect $150,000 in attorney fees. Arguments that part of the damage from leakage should be apportioned to Dow Corning (she had their implants for 2 years, but they hardened) or the plastic surgeon were rejected by the jury. The jury ruled that her injuries were caused by leakage by the 3-M implant. At the time of the trial, Nancy Duke was improved from her earlier condition, which had been severe. Most cases that defendants think they cannot win are not taken to court, so a win is a win.

A Judge in Massachusetts found Baxter liable for deceptive business practices related to implants received by an Everett, MA woman. He ordered Baxter to pay the plaintiff $590,805 in attorney fees and costs in addition to an earlier jury verdict worth over $1.5 million. Baxter is also liable for interest on the jury award that was decided last October. The Judge (Botsford) found that the breast implants were made of between 80% and 90% liquid silicone, the same liquid that had been banned for causing potential for disastrous systemic illness and fatal migration of the silicone to the brain, lungs and heart. He found that H-S top officers knew of possible disastrous consequences of indictable liquid silicone and were aware of the potential for migration of silicone from the breast implants. He decided that the company failed to adequately test its implants and failed to warn adequately of adverse consequences associated with breast implants, including chronic inflammatory and immune system responses, permanent muscle damage and scarring. He also found that H-S failed to warn physicians & thereby consumers that its implants could rupture from normal, untraumatic daily activities. The judge did deny the request for multiple damages that was requested because plaintiffs claimed that H-S actions were willful.

In NY, 150 breast implant plaintiffs move to join their cases. They all rejected the class action settlement. The defendants in this case are 3-M and McGhan. These claimants are represented by Rob Gordon of Weitz and Luxenberg of NY.

Baxter has subpoenaed all women's health records utilized by an Arizona Rheumatology Clinic in a study published February in Lancet. The Plaintiff's Steering Committee of the MDL is objecting to this blanket request for information. They have grounds to object, as this type of subpoena has been denied prior to this (in another study).

A Federal Appeals Court has ruled that Dow Chemical is not liable for injury claims by those who received Dow Corning's silicone Jaw Implants. This upheld a lower court ruling. The court ruled that testing did not constitute legal grounds for holding Dow Chemical directly liable to the plaintiffs.

Southfield, MI. The husband of a breast implant patient, apparently dissatisfied with her healing progress, took her doctor hostage. The husband surrendered after a two-hour stand-off. (This information is provided for those who don't think that families are harmed by the effects of silicone.)

In mid-May, the Claims Office reported that 340,000 Notification of Status letters had been mailed to U.S. registrants who had sent in forms registering for MDL-926. 90,000 of these notices were sent to those who had submitted Proof of Manufacturer forms for Revised Settlement, 42,000 were classified current claimants. Advance payments ($5000 or $1000) sent to almost 58,000 women and explantation funds sent to almost 11,000 women. 9700 claimants have received additional checks ranging from $5000 to $95,000. 38,000 women opted out.

MEDICAL INFORMATION: A recent publication was authored by Dr. Saul Puszkin in the Journal of the Argentinean Biochemistry Society. The article, entitled Pathological, Anatomical and Histological Alterations Associated With Silicone Gel Breast Implants, was published with thirteen color pictures and illustrates the pathological complications associated with silicone breast implants. The contents are a condensation of numerous interviews between Dr. Puszkin and Dr. Osatinsky regarding the scientific aspects of these prosthesis. Dr. Puszkin gave the keynote speech at the society's annual meeting in 1995. The peer-reviewed article, originally published in Spanish, was the cover article for the November 1996 issue and has a clear explanation of all the major problems which are directly associated with the implants, their silicone gel and the medical problems found in the major tissues targeted by silicone gel infiltration. The article shows the damage done to lymph nodes by silicone and polyurethane foam breakdown products. It suggests that the disease induced is called Adjuvant Breast Complex Disease (ABCD). Much research remains to be done with Public Agencies support funds. For a copy of this article, send $3 and SASE ($.52 postage to COSS.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have called for a study to explore biological responses to silicone and the development of a scientific definition for atypical rheumatic disease. The summary issued by NIH also acknowledged the need for more research into the body's response to silicone, calling into question Dow Chemical's claim that the substance is inert. (It is happening, maybe too late for some of us, but the truth will out!)

Men who are controlling and dominant in conversations (tend to interrupt, finish others' sentences and who try to control the flow of the conversation) were 60% more likely to die during the next 22 years than their non-dominating peers, according to a study at Duke Univ. Medical Center. Apparently it takes a lot of energy to keep controlling others. Women's health doesn't seem to be affected by social dominance. (Sounds like time for a new world order, doesn't it?!)

For premature babies, skin to skin contact seems to help spur physical development. I'll bet it helps other people psychologically also!

Some women are coming up with false positives on tests for syphilis. We have especially heard of this from tests coming out of Methodist Hospital in Houston, especially from certain doctors. This may be coincidental. Be careful who does tests.

Daily doses of ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers and kidney disease and can also shut down bodily production of prostaglandins. Two types, E1 & E3, are known to keep your red blood cells from sticking together (helps prevent heart attacks). Use an alternative medicinal plant such as bosvellia, which fights Alzheimer's also but without negative side effects. Take 300-500 mg. per day.

In Israel, doctors recently used ultrasound to break up blood clots that had blocked the flow to the heart. In 13 of 15 people, the sound waves immediately stopped the heart attack. The device was used from inside the body, so a device needs to be designed to be utilized from outside to avoid surgery. Wow!! What progress!!

RECENT STUDY As may of you have probably heard, JAMA printed a study recently entitled Lifestyle Characteristics Need To Be Considered When Evaluating Safety Of Breast Implants: Confounding Factors May Increase Risk Of Illness. If you haven't read this, you should. This one is a direct slam at the lifestyles of women in an effort to divert blame from defective products. It purports to claim that women who had augmentation for breast implants were nearly 3 times as likely to drink seven or more alcoholic drinks a week (In Rome or Paris, that would be wine with dinner), more than 1 &1/2 times as likely to be pregnant before age 20, twice as likely to have terminated at least one pregnancy, more than 2 times as likely to have taken the birth control pill, over 4 times more likely to have ever used hair dyes, nearly 9 times as likely to have had at least 14 sexual partners, and much less likely to be overweight.

Now for the hard part! If any of you find any correlation between these stereotypical behaviors and migration of silicone through-out the body, will you please let me know!! And tell me this, if these factors caused women who had augmentations to become ill, please explain to me why those of us who had reconstruction because of mastectomies have all the same symptoms!!

We already know that one of the authors of this study served as an expert witness in litigation (for the manufacturers). Another has been a consultant for several law firms (on the side of the manufacturers). Does that make the study credible in their eyes? We all know they will do anything, support any research, and use almost any tactic (witness the former call girl episode in Texas) to try to find ways to get out of paying for what they did. They will go to great lengths to blame us for what their faulty products did to us. NEVER BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE TO BLAME FOR WHAT THEY DID!! I don't care if you did dye your hair!! P.S. Only 80 women who had some (each) of those characteristics were studied. Hardly a study even worth mentioning, but they blew it up to seem to be a major piece of scientific evidence. This type of research sorta reminds you of the past when they blamed the woman who was raped for being provocative because she wore shorts (or something revealing)!! For a copy of this journal article, send $2 and a SASE.

LABS: Remember to have a fungal panel done to check for fungus. Most women with implant diseases have high fungal levels. I ordered Fungal Antibody Panel II, Immunosciences Labs. They also do a panel that shows parasites. Mine came back with several, so check those also. Call them at (800) 950-4686 for information on which panel to have your doctor order.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: I find there is a real dichotomy between women who are finding their way back to health by using alternative medicine and those who are using allopathic medicine. The women who continue to use mostly allopathic medicine seem to resent hearing about the alternative medical treatments. I have had some women decide not to renew newsletters because they don't want to hear about the alternative medical things that have worked for me and are continuing to save the lives of many other women. I find this sad, but denial is an amazing thing, and women who think that pills and chemicals will cure them will continue to seek out those doctors who will prescribe them (and there are many such doctors) so they can relieve their symptoms. Just remember, relieving symptoms is not curing or healing your body. Every drug and chemical you put into it will add to the toxic load on an already toxic body. Please educate yourself about this, as many women are dying by taking a number of prescription drugs and adding to the toxicity of their bodies. There are some people who need heavy-duty drugs (maybe 5% of those who take them), but most would do far better by detoxing their bodies and rebuilding their immune systems with nutrients, vitamins and supplements.

To stop an allergy sinus attack, mix a few drops of essential oil of lavender into some olive or sesame oil, massage it into your face and your congestion will disappear.

A tomato a day keeps the doctor away. At least it keeps the oncologist (cancer doctor) away, according to an Italian study. The risk of digestive-tract cancers is reduced from 30-60%. In another study, prostate cancer was reduced by 2 or more servings of tomatoes, tomato sauce or pizza (21%). Scientist suspect that the cancer-fighting power of tomatoes comes from lycopene, a carotenoid that is far more powerful that its beta-carotene cousin. Lycopene interferes with the growth of breast, lung and endometrial cancer according to an Israel study.

For arthritis, try chrondroitin sulfate and glucosamine.

For depression, try St. John's Wort, available at health food stores. No known side effects or drug interactions. Sub-lingual (under the tongue) is fastest. I found this in Prevention Magazine, but the 6/27/97 airing of ABC's 20/20 also had good information on this. Seems it is the #1 prescribed anti-depressant in Europe and here it is available at Health Food Stores. Wonder how long it will be before they make it prescription only?? They will try, so beware and be ready to fight back.

For some people, tofu and soy milk help prevent migraine headaches. (Prevention, 6/96) People who eat soybeans in some form at least once a week have half the risk of developing the polyps that are precursors to colon cancer. (Amer. J. of Epidemiology, 12/96). Soy has estrogenic properties, and these estrogens are less harmful than those in prescriptions like Premarin.

Exercise increases natural endorphins that improve your mood. Try it regularly to see for yourself. Besides making you feel better because you look better, exercise is good for your brain and muscles. You think better when you exercise because you have better blood flow to the brain. Even if you have fibromyalgia, exercise is recommended. Start slowly and increase on a regular basis.

For canker sores or cold sores, take L-lysine. It helps quickly for most people. Take 3-500mg caplets A.M. and P.M. For stubborn ones, take 9 caplets per day. Drinking purple grape juice can also help. (My dentist gave me this tip years ago, and it has worked for me and many others). The Bible even mentions grape juice and wine for healing. Wine is made from grapes.

What's in the skin of grapes may be a great cancer-preventer. This substance, called resveratrol, prevents cancer in test tubes and in animals. This is not the same as grape-seed extract, which is good also. Drink organic grape juice or take an anti-oxidant with grape skin properties. The one I take is Activin OPC Oxygenic from HTN.

Regular consumption of garlic can help prevent pre-cancerous growths in the colon.

Glycerin soaps are the least drying to your skin. Check soaps for the most glycerin and try for unscented if you have chemical sensitivities.

Basically, anti-bacterial soaps do not work better than regular soap in the short run. The key is the length of time that you wash, not the soap. Anti-bacterials do have an advantage for underarm usage (and any place that collects a lot of bacteria) because the effects last longer. If you wash your hands frequently, an anti-bacterial will not be of much benefit unless you are fighting off a cold or other virus.

If you bicycle, remember that wider saddle seats better support the female pelvis. If your bicycle seat is uncomfortable, see your bicycle shop for a better fit.

To combat negativity, acting as if nothing is wrong can make you feel better. If your spouse or children are annoying you, try acting as if they were not. You may find that it really is true.

Don't use tap water for contact lens care. Rare and exotic infections can result, especially when you are traveling. Contact lenses should be disinfected properly before every use. Bottled water is not acceptable.

Healthy people over 65 years old who use supplements (vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, etc.) score higher in tests of cognitive ability. Prevention Magazine, 6/97.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Q. If I fire my attorney, can he still collect from my settlement? A. Probably. It would have to be pro-rated with any new attorney. If you don't hire a new attorney, he will probably still be entitled to the full percentage allowed in the revised settlement. Q. Are there still attorneys who will take cases. A. Yes, but we are having great difficulty finding any. If you know any, please let me know!! Q. What happens to claims against Dow Chemical since all action against them has been moved to Michigan? A. State Claims are now moot. They will be tried or settled as part of the Dow Corning Bankruptcy Action. This probably applies to Federal claims also.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE: An article in Health Counselor (June/July, 1997), page 12, discussed auto-immune disease triggered by silicone. For a copy, go to your local health food store. (Vitamin Cottage, Denver). These magazines often contain wonderful information on healing and wellness.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION:. If you have been diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) after implantation with silicone breast implants, please call Denise Butler-Sharp, RN at (888) 289-2504 (toll-free).

Alert to all U.S. Women who received LS Lab Sebbin, Sebbin or Unimed implants, whether in lawsuit or not, please call Fran @ (904) 479-6088 voice mail. Please leave name & number and your call will be returned.

Dr. Britta Ostermeyer may be reached in NY by writing to Health Sciences Consultant Group, 1-B Quaker Ridge Rd., Box 135, New Rochelle, NY 10804 or by calling (212) 342-7271 or faxing her @ (212) 342-7274. She is working with Dr. Saul Puszkin. She recently took her last Medical Exam and is seeking an internship in NYC.

Sharon Reynolds, LVN, MA, Holistic Health Care Provider offers an holistic healing program that has proven to be beneficial in assisting women with complications from breast implants. You can discover your path to wellness through a careful designed and supervised program of tissue cleansing and cellular balancing. The program includes: Nutrition and Supplement Regimen, Live Blood Cell Analyses, Blood Crystalization Test, Bio-energetic Treatments & Remedies and other lifestyle enhancements which create a complete synergistic approach to wellness. There services are available on an out-patient or residential basis. Please call for further information. (707) 874-9136, P.O. Box 179, Camp Meeker, CA 95419. E-mail: wlspring@monitor.net

IMPORTANT: As many of you probably know, there are some new (improved?) methods of birth control for women. I was recently sent an article that details some of these. There is the SILICONE ring (I just knew you would love this one!!!) that fits around the cervix (sorta like a diaphragm but better) & releases hormones (estrogen and progesterone). It is removed one week a month for menstruation It has to be replaced every three months. I'll bet all you younger silicone survivors who still need birth control will be running to your doctors for this one!!?? But, that is not all!! You can have a new diaphragm that is called the Shield and is made of SILICONE for those who react to latex. Apparently it is easier to insert and does not place pressure on the bladder as do some diaphragms. So, instead of giving bladder infections, it may cause silicone poisoning (depending on how often it is used, of course!!).

Want more?? OK!! There is a new implantable birth control device called Implanon. It contains hormones just like Norplant but is smaller and easier to insert (30 seconds). It lasts for three years. It is invisible, not like the Norplant. What is it made from? SILICONE, didn't you guess!!! Do we ever learn??

Even more?? This is too, too, much. The rings designed for contraception (SILICONE) are now being used for estrogen replacement. This works well for vaginal dryness and urinary tract complaints, but does not provide higher blood levels of estrogen. It could, however, potentially give you doses of SILICONE at the same time as it delivers estrogen. It does not give relief from hot flashes. There is still an increased risk of breast cancer with estrogen replacement (the pill or patch), but scientists cannot tell us how much risk there is. The estrogen creams are not likely to increase the risk of breast cancer. They are great for vaginal dryness. The ring (SILICONE) is also not likely to increase the risk of breast cancer, but I would worry about cervical cancer with prolonged usage (we know silicone is not biologically inert!!).

One question!! If they were using these in men, would they be silicone?? (Rhetorical question, of course!!) How long would men put up with these products placed in and on their bodies with the illnesses that they cause? Oh, that's two questions!! Pardon Me! My mistake!!

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE: Pak of Life: Contains Coral Calcium, The Assimilator (minerals) and Activin OPC Oxygenic. These three products are my staples that I take daily. These are wonderful and have made a great difference in my health. Raising my pH level has helped tremendously with my fungal problems. Costs about $100 per month and worth every penny. Contact Lynda for more information.

C-Max for Candida: Rid your body of this fungus. See the flyer in this month's newsletter for information on a program to rid your body of fungus and parasites. Contact Lynda for more information.

THIS MONTH'S POEM:

Stereotyped Illness

by Lynda Roth

If I married at 25
And was a virgin still
With nary an abortion
Or birth control pill

Never dyed my hair
Was a t-totaler too
Married only once
Always faithful and true

Something else
It would have to be
Causing this pain
And misery.

If I never smoked
No drugs ever used
Would there still be
Some other excuse?

Just how perfect
Do I have to be
So blame for my illness
Is not placed on me?

I wonder, I wonder
Could it just be
These breast implants
That are killing me??

PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER INFORMATION: Previous issues of newsletters available: $2 each U.S., $3 Foreign. 1/93 is the first available issue. Please indicate months' desired and proper sums. Some covered subjects: Auto-immune 1/93; Fibromyalgia 2/93; Medical Testing 3/93; Sjogren's 4/93; Vasculitis 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; Misc. Med. Info. 9/93; Multiple Sclerosis 10/93; Spasmodic Torticollis 10/93; Hypoglycemia 11/93; Antibodies 12/93; Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy 1/94; Misc. Med. Info. II 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; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease 2/95; Flap Procedures 3/95; Misc. Med. III 4/95; Thyroid Disease 5/95; Stress 6/95; Natural Healing 7/95; Adrenal Malfunctions 8/95; Multiple Myeloma 9/95; DHEA 10/95; Chelation Therapy 11/95; Sleep Disorders 12/95; Meniere's Disease 1/96; 33 Tips to Improve Your Health 2/96;Amino Acids 3/96; Enzymes 4/96; Minerals 5/96; Aluminum Toxicity, DHEA Update 6/96; Addictions & Food Sensitivities 7/96; Misc. Med. Info. IV 8/96; Misc. Med. Info. V 9/96; Misc. Med. Info. VI 10/96; Misc. Med. Info. VII 11/96; Transcient Ischemic Attacks 12/96; Symptoms of Breast Implants 1/97; Pap Tests 2/97; Parasitic Infections 3/97; B-Complex Deficiency Syndrome 4/97; Myofascial Pain Syndrome 5/97, Inositol 6/97; Legal info. and info. on Alternative Medicine is contained in most issues.

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.

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