Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 17:25:09 -0700

To: Recipient List Suppressed:;

Thought you might be interested in reading this. I don't know if the SD Union-Trib will publish it, but here goes anyhow. Henrietta (i'll publish it, even if they don't ~ good work, Henrietta. i know this is VERY frustrating. love, ilena)

Dear Letters Editor: Re: Funky Winkerbean by Tom Batiuk strip that has been running for the past couple of weeks.

When Tom Batiuk wrote about breast cancer, he seemed to be careful with the facts and handled the problem rather sensitively. We can all question whether it was suitable for the comic page, but at least it was done with accurate information.

His handling of breast reconstruction after mastectomy however, is not only full of misinformation, but, I believe, very inappropriate for this venue.

In the first strip on the subject, Lisa thinks that perhaps she might want to become an exotic dancer and continues to rationalize her reasons for wanting breast implants. The prosthesis "pops out' when she reaches for something, and she can't hug anyone for fear they'll "bounce off"!

Fact--prostheses are in pockets sewed right into her bra, so that can't happen. That is just one example!

But since Lisa's insurance will pay for breast implants, why not see a plastic surgeon?

Her surgeon remarks about her small breasts, estimating she is a 34 A, so t at when her husband looks over the pictures of how breast implants COULD look, Lisa tells him "try not to enjoy this so much"!

Suitable for a "comic strip"? Or cultural model propaganda for all small breasted women and more advertising for plastic surgeons?

It seems Lisa's surgeon tells her none of the the risks, nor that the manufacturer's own research shows that after only three years post mastectomy, 73% of the women experience complications, and over 40% had to have re-surgeries!

No wonder in the June 26th strip, the doctor is smiling when he tells Lisa, already in the operating room, that the reason he likes doing plastic surgery is because "my patients will be around to "enjoy my work"?

Yes, indeed women will be there, but "ENJOYING HIS WORK"? or will they be there for revision--a nice way to saying more surgery needed to correct his work. Or perhaps to replace the ruptured or worn out implants?

No wonder he's happy--this is great repeat business for him!

He also didn't tell Lisa that even if all goes well and the implants don't break in about five years, she'll have to have them explanted. Will she go for new ones?

Certainly, there will be many more surgeries--how many we don't know, but we know for sure that they will not last her life time.

Mr. Batiuk did gave Lisa several strips to contemplate her situation.

Lisa thinks about wanting to breast feed her future babies.

Since Lisa wasn't told about all the risks to her health, was she told anything about possible damage to her babies health as well?

How then can Lisa, or any women, give a truly informed consent for this kind of surgery, without being given ALL the known facts about breast implants. Not just talking with her plastic surgeon who afterall, has a strong conflict of interest here. She trusts her doctor of course, who is going to surgically inserting silicone bags with foreign chemicals in her body which she hopes will be there for the rest of her life. They must be safe--Right?

It would be very helpful if the San Diego Union-Tribune would print many of the articles and op-ed pieces that newspapers around the country are publishing about this outragously inaccurate, insensitive "comic strip".

Mr. Batiuk needs to be educated about the issue.

So does the general public, through what better source than their own local newspaper!

Mrs. Henrietta Farber San Diego, CA

The following article has been converted from .txt file to .html file by:

Sandy Bussières, Amqui (Quebec), member of I.I.M. inc.

We want to say "Thanks Sandy" for your wonderful work.