DAWN'S STORY by Dawn My name is Dawn Beaven, I am 38 years old. For many years I worked in the entertainment business, this also included performing horse and motorbike stunts. I trained in Karate for eight years, so I was very fit and active. At the age of 24 I had silicone breast implants put in. At the time it was mainly for myself as I had a complex about being flat chested! For many years I was fine, the implants looked great, felt ok and gave me lots of confidence. This was all about to change... In June 1998 I found a small pea sized lump in my left breast, which I never even considered might be related to the implants, my first thought was cancer. Upon being referred to a cancer specialist I was given an ultrasound and it was found that my left implant had ruptured. The implants were removed and replaced within two weeks. Three months later infection set in and I developed Necrosis. I had a hole 2 inches wide in my breast and the implant was hanging out of my body (to visualise this there are pictures of Necrosis on the picture page). The infected implant was taken out and I was left with one breast for three months. One cannot imagine the emotional torment you go through when you're body is in this state.. finally after 3 major operations it was decided to remove the remaining implant. I thought this was the end, but it was just the beginning... Shortly after my final operation I developed a kidney infection. This caused me great pain and sleepless nights. This was then followed by chronic chest pains very similar to a heart attack, paralysis down my left leg and arm. I was then put on morphine and sleeping tablets to relieve the pain and help me sleep. After consulting my doctor I was referred to a neurologist, rheumatologist, toxicologist for tests whereupon I was found to have M.E. and Rheumatoid Arthritis. This only showed some of the illnesses caused by the silicone in my body not however the cure to remove the silicone from inside me. I was then prescribed tramadol and co-proxamol to be taken at night, which caused me to be violently sick every morning. Further symptoms developed including memory loss, impaired vision, ear infections, shingles, severe migraines resulting in hospitalisation, poikilothermia, (loss of bodies temperature gauge), hypothermia, skin lesions and dysfunctional bowel. It took over 18 months for a member of the medical profession to finally admit that my illnesses were silicone related. When he compared my silicone count with a person who had never been implanted with silicone my count was over three times the accepted level. I then decided to turn to alternative medicine where my toxicologist prescribed eight types of herbal remedies as well as Oxygen/Ozone Therapy which I currently have once a week which has helped me enormously. (please refer to my link page). I have been told by numerous doctors that it could take at least five years to rid my body of silicone however I have also been told that I could never be rid of it!, until such times I have to continue to suffer on a daily basis. 'If I had known fourteen years ago what I have learnt in the past two years I would NEVER have had silicone breast implants put into my body.' Below are some facts and information that I have gathered about silicone breast implants. 1) Did you know that there are an estimated 2 million women suffering around the world from silicone related illnesses including ME, MS and Rheumatoid Arthritis just to name a few. (There are over 130 different listed illnesses caused by silicone implants) 2) The FDA never licensed Silicone Breast Implants when they originally came out in the 60's. 3) All implants leak (gel bleed) from the moment they are manufactured. The bags containing the gel are porous and leak whether they are intact or not. 4) Most of the women in Japan in the 60's who had silicone directly injected into their chest are dead now from silicone related disorders. 5) We are told that in America bodies cannot be buired with implants in them, as they are toxic. Yet in the UK they insist that implants are not toxic. 6) There are an estimated 60,000 silicone sufferers in the UK. 7) When implants are manufactured they come with a warning not to be implanted into sick women and yet 50% of women who have implants, have them put in as result of cancer. 8) Plastic surgeons are told to wash the gel bleed off the implants before showing them to perspective clients. 9) 70% of implants rupture within 7 years. 10) When a women with ruptured implants becomes pregnant, she risks the baby being born with brain damage due to the silicone travelling to the reproductive organs. 11) Silicone implants were taken off the market several years ago in America, Japan and a number of other countries. 12) Poisoning is also found in various silicone joint replacements. All the above information is based upon documentation I have recieved whilst researching into this subject. The best option is not to have breast implants at all... CLICK HERE FOR DAWN'S PHOTOS Contact Silicone Survivors: E-MAIL DAWN CLICK HERE FOR HER WEBSITE