Myrl Jeffcoat wisgroup_leader@yahoo.com

All -
I have posted responses to the "Breast Cancer Survivors and Suicide" article, that I posted earlier today.

It was good to hear from all of you. I have removed names and substituted initials as signatures, to protect privacy.

Myrl
http://www.webstarmagic.com/wisletter.htm

RESPONSES ---

Thanks for the email. I hadn't heard of the increased suicide risk but it would make sense if these people had silicone reconstruction. Chronic inflammation puts out high levels of proinflammatory cytokines which cause depression, fatigue and chronic pain.

AL

Hi Myrl...This certainly is an interesting study... I just read it to my husband and now he wants me to assure him that I am not suicidal... I am 29 yrs out come July!!

It sure does make you wonder about things. I always kind of assumed that the implant women were the cosmetic women..as we have been lead to believe that they often do not have high self esteem. Now it makes me wonder.

Of course I have met a LOT of breast cancer women that think their lives are over if they loose a breast. I have always had a hard time dealing with that attitude. I was only 25 yrs old when I had my mastectomy and I have had a very happy and fulfilling life with one breast...both before, during and after breast implants.

Thanks for your continuing information.

As always

PR

Hi Myrl,

Long time since I've heard from you. Hope all is well.

Fortunately this was in 1997--and after a lumpectomy and 8 weeks of radiation I am cancer free.

Regards,

JT

It has been 32 years (May 21) since I underwent my radical for BC. In all those years, I have known only one woman to commit suicide after the DX. Had a Reach to Recovery volunteer been called in to talk with her, perhaps she would not have made the fatal decision to end her life.

Our society is hell-bent on convincing women that they are not a woman unless they have two breasts. Our society does not let cancer patients adjust to the changes in their bodies before seducing them into tragic reconstructions with or without toxic implants.

The statistics on breast cancer women who received implants, especially multiple implants, are sketchy at best. Because women who underwent reconstruction due to breast cancer usually had insurance or some other source to pay for their surgeries, there were no requirements for a replaced implant to be sent back to the mfg for review. The ONLY reason the implants of augmentation women were sent back for mfg review was so the doctor could get a deal on free replacement. I say this based on my own personal review of thousands of records that are on file at the depository.

Who we are is not in our breasts, but in our hearts, minds and souls.

PD

All - I found this article interesting, in light of the fact, there have been studies linking suicide risk to breast implants. Now, that they are also linking it to breast cancer, I'm wondering what percentage of breast implant women, who have been suicides, were also breast cancer women??? It would be interesting to know.

Myrl
http://www.webstarmagic.com/wisletter.htm

Breast Cancer Survivors and Suicide

Posted by Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S.

Recently, I read about a study showing there is an increased suicide rate among breast cancer survivors. According to the study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer survivors can carry this higher risk of suicide for up to 30 years after diagnosis!

The researchers examined the suicide risk for 723,810 breast cancer survivors diagnosed between 1953 and 2001, as reported in numerous cancer registries. They identified 836 breast cancer patients who committed suicide, including 245 women in the U.S.

They found that the cumulative risk of suicide 30 years after breast cancer diagnosis was 37 percent higher than expected based on general population rates. That risk increased with a higher stage of breast cancer.

Wow, that was a scary statistic to learn! Now it's time to figure out why. I have to tell you that I have never known any of our patients to commit suicide, and I've been involved in the care of thousands of them.

What do you think would contribute to a higher risk of suicide? A couple of reasons that occur to me right off the bat are the effect of breast cancer on body image and the drop in estrogen levels caused by chemo and hormonal therapy that may contribute to clinical depression. What are your thoughts?