Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 19:55:18-0600

Hi my sweeties:

I sent this request to "Marketplace" and "The Fifth Estate" today. Let's see what happens. Oh, I talked to "Marketplace" as well.

This is NOT just a suggestion for a story, it is a story that SHOULD be done. I am a survivor of silicone breast implants. I became a support person back in 1992 when my ruptured silicone breast implants were removed. The shell had grown into the capsule that surrounds the implant and the plastic surgeon left this mess in me. In 1993, I had to have another surgery to remove this mess, and most of my left breast was also removed at this time because of a large seroma. I have many sad stories that I could tell you regarding this issue alone.

Health Canada recently hired Jeffrey Wigand, the "whistleblower" on the tobacco industry, as a consultant; yet, ten years ago or so, when Dr. Pierre Blais "blew the whistle" on silicone breast implants and their inherent dangers, he was fired! It makes one wonder why then Health Minister Benoit Bouchard allowed this to happen. Perhaps the ongoing RCMP investigation will find out.

A more recent firing hit closer to home for women who have been damaged by all kinds of breast implants when Dr. Robert Guidoin was released by Universite Laval in Quebec City. Over the years, he has been tirelessly researching the problems associated with silicone breast implants. First his funding was cut, then he was cut.

We suspect that this is just another victory for the manufacturers of breast implants. For the last few years they have been mounting a massive campaign--backed by millions and millions of dollars--to discredit the claims made against breast implants. Universities throughout North America are gagging researchers who are working on the breast implant problem. We suspect that the manufacturers are threatening to cut off funding to universities that are allowing researchers to reveal the truth about the breast implants.

It doesn't end there either. The media throughout North America has been conned by the manufacturers as well. Again, their limitless funds get them anything that they want. Every claim that the women have made has been refuted, disputed or "disproved" by counter-research that not only supports the manufacturers'position but also has a substantial financial paper trail that leads back to the manufacturers… wouldn't you know! The claims that women have made regarding their illnesses--lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjogren's disease and respiratory problems (eg, asthma) to name but a few--have all been contested by manufacturer-bought research.

I have a diagnosis of MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHY OF UNDETERMINED SIGNIFIANCE (MGUS) and have now become a patient at Cross Cancer Institute hire in Edmonton. The National Cancer Institute in the United States has reported an excessive number of case of multiple myeloma among patients with silicone breast implants. Multiple myeloma is cancer of the bone marrow and there is no cure. Routinely, it is found in people over 70 years of age! It is also more prevalent in black males! How is it then that this disease is being found in women as young as their twenties, thirties and forties? The common denominator is that they all had breast implants!

Please investigate this matter before the manufacturers are able to cloud this isue as well with their questionable "scientific" research bought with their money.

Please call me at 780-434-2490.

Pour: Info-Implants Mammaires Inc. delphine1939@videotron.ca