It’s Time To Get Real!

My name is Heidi and, like so many other women, Breast Implant Illness (BII) has affected me. New data from the FDA shows that there are currently 9,458 reported women in the US affected by breast implants, but these numbers tend to be under-reported due to lack of awareness. Still, there is no accountability for plastic surgeons to adequately warn women in advance of the illness and cancers that are caused by both saline and silicone implants. In addition, there is no protocol of care for women that become affected by this illness.

Robyn Towt, co-founder of GPAC (Global Patient Advocacy Coalition ) championed a state law in Arizona which requires surgeons to give informed consent to women prior to surgeries, but further legislative efforts are needed. Training physicians on signs and symptoms of BII is also necessary to provide standard testing as well as protocols of care.

I’ve chosen to do my part by using my own pedicab business, Fly By Pedal Cab , to spread awareness of the massive number of women that have been adversely affected by breast implants. I’ve been drawing attention to the issue in and around Austin in a fun way, by advertising on my pedicabs and on social media.

Robyn and I, along with fellow BII Advocates, Lisa and Cecily, struggled for years with what we now know are well known side effects of BII, despite seeing doctors. Women are led to feel they are hypochondriacs when suspecting breast implants are the cause of their symptoms, which is confusing since the medical community has been informed of this illness since the 1980s. Without an appropriate medical / ICD-11 code to accurately diagnose BII, many doctors simply discount women and send them home stating “there is no such thing”.

Even worse, the FDA announced in 2022 , that ALL breast implants can cause cancers. BIA-ALCL (Breast Implant Acquired Squamous Cell Lymphoma) and numerous other rare cancers, are known to develop in the capsule surrounding the breast implants. Breast cancer patients, that are already immunosuppressed, are consistently being told that implants are safe when they can actually cause additional problems and cancers. Women are being denied insurance coverage to have them removed despite their dangerous symptoms. They are forced to either let their disease painfully progress or raise over $10,000 to pay for explant surgery themselves.

At the age of 23, I chose to get Saline, Mentor smooth breast implants. It’s a common misconception that only “silicone” implants cause Breast Implant Illness. Truth is that ALL breast implants are encased in a silicone shell, which is what the body is exposed to 24/7. Numerous studies show that these silicone shells are broken down once placed in the body. Microscopic amounts of silicone migrate and lodge in organs, lymph nodes, blood vessels and nerves.

Looking back now, I can see how Breast Implant Illness started affecting me within 5 years. My happiness, ability to function, as well as the chances of having my own family one day diminished as my symptoms got worse. I lost the prime of my life to BII and have become passionate about warning and helping other women avoid the disappointment and pain I have gone through.

It’s Time to Get Real about these Silent Killers and come out of the shadows and into the light so women can be aware of the risks of ALL breast implants.

My goal is to raise money to fight this willful ignorance. Contributions to our go-fund-me page will be used towards furthering advocacy, advertising, activism and building up our web-site for the TX based non-profit Lisa Haskins-Pearson is founding with Co-founders Heidi Upton and Cecily Henderson, CHCP.

The non-profit’s mission will be to further awareness and provide funding for explant procedure research for adversely affected women. We soon hope to be a driving force for further change in the legislature and protocols of care that combine Functional/alternative approaches and Traditional/western medicine.

Please help stop these booby traps and ensure all women are provided with the information they need to stay alive and well. Please visit our FREE Course about Breast Implants for studies and research.

If you would like more information about our mission, please visit: https://biihealingnow.org