Cancer risks after getting implants

Do breast implants cause cancer? The answer is not clear yet despite a lot of research that has been published recently. Let us review where we stand:

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Dow Study), was funded by Dow Corning, a major manufacturer of silicone. At one time, Dow was the major manufacturer of breast implants. The company has funded almost four dozen research articles in the last decade, all of which conclude that breast implants are safe. However, studies funded by scientists who do not have ties to implant manufacturers have consistently found implant problems that the Dow-funded studies have not. In other words, no reasonable person would trust a study like that, especially in light of another analysis that found that every psychiatric expert involved in writing the standard diagnostic criteria for disorders such as depression and schizophrenia has had financial ties to drug companies that sell medications for those illnesses. So when it comes to medical decisions, you are on your own - you can not trust your doctor or the drug company or anyone else that hopes to profit from your treatment.

Another study by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI Study) is larger, longer, and better-designed than the Dow-funded study, with findings that are strikingly similar, but different conclusions. Published in the journal Epidemiology, the NCI study found a 60% increase in deaths from respiratory cancers among women with breast implants compared to other plastic surgery patients. The NCI study also found a doubling of deaths from brain cancer among women with implants, as well as an increase in non-cancerous brain neoplasms. We have discussed before that complications with implants are fairly common.

The most worrisome finding in the NCI study was the significant increase - - more than double -- in suicides among women with breast implants compared to other plastic surgery patients. Three Dow-funded studies have also found significant increases in suicides among women with implants, all of them comparing implant patients to the general population. The controversy is whether women who want breast implants are more prone to suicide (which would suggest that women are getting plastic surgery when what they need is mental health treatment) or whether breast implants are causing pain, complications, or financial stresses (from repeated surgeries and implant replacements) that are increasing the risk of suicide.

Approval of silicone implants

It appears that the FDA is very likely to approve these in the United States and they may be made available within a matter of months. Cosmetic surgeons in the United States are already preparing for using them. The availability of silicone gel implants will create new options for women considering breast surgery for the first time and for those who have had previous surgeries but are seeking implant replacement or revision. In 2005, almost 300,000 patients underwent breast augmentation procedures, according to the most recent statistics. Since breast implants may not last a lifetime, these patients are among over two million with existing implants who may need upgrades and replacements in the future.

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How I lost weight?

From time to time we publish emails from our readers. We did a complete story on weight loss success stories. We are delighted to publish another story from one of our readers:

Small steps, small results; big steps big results: You can lose weight by either getting aggressive and doing everything right from the beginning or starting slow. Both of them work - the difference is one takes much longer than the other. I started slow and saw too slow results, so I switched to the Oprah weight loss program. I followed the Get in the Program approach by Bob Greene and modified it to suit my personal needs. I saw results quickly and it motivated me to keep going.

Keep it simple: I tried too many diets - some more complex than others, from macrobiotic to Weight Watchers. All diets work, if you follow them, but I abandoned them for many reasons, including lack of time, money, and willpower. I learned that the simpler I kept it, the better it worked for me. For example, buying prepared diet foods works, but it is not a healthy, sustainable approach, and it is very expensive. Preparing simple foods at home is much better for me. I do not like to mix and match foods from a diet or count points. I would rather make healthier decisions at the supermarket. My plate has to have vegetables covering half the plate, proteins covering one quarter and the rest can be rice, potatoes, or bread. As long as you follow this simple guideline at each meal, you are ensuring that you are eating a balanced, nutritious meal. Keep already washed salad veggies and cooked chicken in your refrigerator. That way, if you do not have time, you can always have salad and healthy sandwich. Similarly, make soups and freeze them. Get creative with cooking and your meals, and not only will you enjoy what you eat, you will eat healthier.

Do not make radical changes: Diets that convince you that certain foods are bad for you tend to be too rigid for most people. You can have everything in moderation once in awhile. The more radical the diet is, the more difficult it is to stick to it long-term. Losing weight is not a one-time activity – it has to be a complete change in your relationship with food. So if you eat in a way that you are satisfied, you will likely stick to it longer.

Workout: I have lost weight only with dieting, but eating healthy and working-out are a winning combination. Cardio, weights and dance are in my routine and my body is now firmer. You do not have to go crazy - even 30 minutes of physical exercise 5 days a week gives good results

Manage your time: If you do not have time to go to the gym, take a few personal training lessons, buy some exercise equipment, and do it at home. But do it.

Recommended article: What excuse are you using for not working out?