ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 28, 1996 TAG: 9612300074
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
THE COMMENTARY (Dec. 17, ``Let breast-cancer survivors have silicone implants'') by Sue Myrick, Republican congresswoman from North Carolina, regarding silicone breast-implants is dead wrong.
My wife died from breast cancer. She lived for six years and five months after her surgery and reconstruction. The irony is that for statistical purposes and university studies she is considered a survivor. Yet for most of that period she was in pain and agony. Why? Because silicone-gel breast implants were utilized for a good "cosmetic outcome", and the harmful effects of the coatings and leakage potential were not properly documented.
My wife experienced painful arthritis, swelling and respiratory problems, and the only rational explanation was the unsatisfactory implantation of devices. I am not a woman and cannot fully understand the emotional aspects of breast reconstruction. But I can understand the real pain and suffering of my lovely wife that I attribute to the silicone breast implants. We would have explanted the things, but her health had deteriorated so much that this was not possible. A number of women are confronted daily with this dilemma.
The efficacy of a real-life experience is far more telling than any epidemiological studies conducted by prestigious universities that are so dependent on grants for their activity. Lawyers are easy targets for blame. But the questions that have been raised about silicone breast-implants are real.
The Food and Drug Administration should maintain its ban on such devices. Listen to the women who are having problems.
T. MICHAEL SMITH
ROANOKE
Nurses gave excellent care
IN RESPONSE to what is being said about Carilion and the care the hospitals are giving to their patients:
My mother was in Carilion Community Hospital for five weeks during October and November, and I can't begin to tell you how excellent her care was. Every nurse was wonderful to her and always at her side to meet her needs. They comforted us - her family - with great compassion as well.
I was admitted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital recently for a heart catheterization. I also received excellent care. Feeling at ease with those caring for me helped relieve the anxiety of being a patient in the hospital.
There is a lot that needs to be said about the dedication and experience I saw in all of the nurses at the Carilion hospitals. I wouldn't dream of using any other facilities.
BETTY J. CROCKER
ROANOKE
Reservoir reflects logging eyesores
WHILE THE Roanoke Times is to be commended for recognizing the natural beauty and recreational potential of the Spring Hollow Reservoir area (Dec. 9 editorial, ``Give the reservoir another job''), area residents would use the reservoir area to illustrate the difficulty of achieving sensible land use.
More than 1,000 acres of woodland immediately adjacent to Camp Roanoke are currently being logged by a frustrated out-of-state real-estate developer. Prevented by zoning and other regulations from initiating an ill-conceived housing development, the developer is making good on a promise to exact from the land whatever of value he can. The irony is that while the county zoning regulations control how land can be developed, there are few regulations that control how the land can be otherwise exploited (in this case, some might say ravaged).
Clearly there is a need to harvest trees. My house, like many, has a wood frame. Its construction, however, is subject to a wide range of rules and building codes to ensure that the builder constructed a safe dwelling and one that does not infringe on my neighbor's rights. One does not have to be an environmental extremist to question why regulations with a similar purpose do not apply to this failed developer's attack on the resources and beauty of the reservoir area. The acknowledged increase in fire hazard from dead treetops and other brush, the increased risk of erosion and the damage done to the natural beauty of the area raise substantial questions in search of answers.
On your next visit to the Spring Hollow Reservoir, don't look for natural beauty until you get past the eyesores created by the logging companies.
DENNIS KAFURA
SALEM
Leadership and responsibility
VIRGINIA TECH center Billy Conaty is to be commended for his recent comments concerning the problems on the football team (Dec. 20 news story, ``Hokie has last word on mates''). It is very refreshing to hear a young man talk about leadership and responsibility going together.
I am sure there are many others on the team that feel the same way he does. It is to be hoped they will step up and support him, rather than criticize him for speaking out.
GLEN RICHARDSON
SALEM
LENGTH: Medium: 91 linesby CNB