Kathy Nye article
From Reading Eagle, Tuesday, April 12, 2005
FDA hears from area woman on implants
Speaking from experience, Kathleen V.F. Nye of Sinking Spring urges officials to keep the ban on most of the silicone-gel devices for augmenting or replacing breast tissue.
A Sinking Sprink woman was among several witnesses who spoke Monday against allowing silicone-gel breast implants back on the market.
Kathleen V.F. Nye urged the Food and Drug Administration not to approve sale of the devices because she doesn't believe they have been proved to be safe
Nye received silicone gel implants in 1968 when she was 22 after pre-cancerous tissue was discovered in both breasts, necessitating a double mastectomy.
Doctors recommended the implans, said Nye, who runs an online support group for implant recipients.
Nye said her implants were replaced several times with updated versions, but they also caused problems, including wounds that would not heal.
She finally had them romoved.
"I just came to the conclusion there is no such thing as a safe silicone breast implants," Nye said in a telephone interview Monday night. "Until they can prove they are safe, they should be kept off the market."
Nye, now 59, said she continues to suffer from various medicalt conditions she believes are related to the silicone implants.
She has been diagnosed with early Parkinson's and suffers from osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, a disease characterized by chronic pain in muscles and tissue surrounding joints.
Doctors also have told her she has lupus-like symptoms, although tests have been nonconclusive.
In June, Dow Corning settled a lawsuit brought by 170,000 women, including Nye, who claimed they had health problems caused by the company's silicone implants.
Nye said she and the other litigants are still waiting for payment.
