A pivotal moment came when my childhood best friend suggested I investigate whether my breast implants could be linked to my diagnosis. She urged me to search online for “Breast implants causing RA and Sjögren’s.” To my astonishment, a wealth of information emerged, challenging everything I thought I knew. How could implants – something I considered innocuous – trigger a genetic disease? This revelation shattered my old paradigms. I began to see the world through a new lens as I encountered countless women with similar or even more severe health issues tied to their implants. This experience plus navigation through the medical system during my explant surgery illuminated critical lessons. I am compelled to communicate these insights to as many people as possible to prevent others from suffering.

To begin with, it is essential to grasp the concept of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases. Unlike infectious diseases, NCDs are not transmitted from one person to another; they arise from internal malfunctions within our own bodies. My experience with my autoimmune diseases exemplifies this, as it involved my immune system mistakenly attacking my own tissues. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome are not contracted from others; rather, they stemmed from my body’s adverse reaction to the implant and toxins being released from it.

Each individual possesses a unique genetic makeup, which influences how we respond to various stressors, including exposure to harmful substances like those found in breast implants. Consequently, one person may develop cancer, while another might experience skin rashes or an autoimmune disorder in response to the same toxin. Our genes essentially outline the potential pathways for how illness may manifest, but they do not determine that we will inevitably develop a specific disease. Other notable examples of NCDs include diabetes, obesity, various cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, stroke, and heart disease. Recognizing this diversity in disease expression is vital for understanding our health and how to seek appropriate interventions.

Next, I discovered that many doctors seemed more inclined to prescribe medications than to investigate the underlying causes of diseases in patients like me. The symptoms I experienced acted as a crucial red flag – a check engine light, if you will – signaling that something was fundamentally wrong. My body was urgently pleading for attention, yet I almost made the mistake of ignoring its cries, opting instead to mask the symptoms with harmful medications rather than addressing the root cause of my autoimmune diseases: my breast implants. Thankfully, I managed to connect the dots and trace my condition back to its source.

In my search for a surgeon to perform the explant, I faced an unsettling truth when one candidly admitted that if more women chose to explant (and stop implanting), he would struggle to sustain his practice. My jaw dropped at his words, a stark reminder of the conflicts at play in the medical community. In the breast implant support groups I joined, members experienced repeated shutdowns of their Facebook pages and websites and mysterious gag orders aimed at silencing dissent.

During this time, I found Amandha Vollmer, a naturopathic doctor who offered a wealth of natural healing methods for diseases and cancer. Ironically, she too faced challenges with her online presence, frequently needing to create new websites as old ones vanished after accruing a following. This led me to my third significant lesson: the health industry profits from our suffering while suppressing information that could empower us to reclaim our well-being.

As I delved deeper into my healing journey, I unearthed dark truths about the food and pharmaceutical industries. Processed foods, laden with harmful substances, are making us ill, creating a cycle where we must resort to medication. “Big Food” and “Big Pharma” are acutely aware of this, profiting immensely while lobbying against regulations in the U.S. Scientists are hired by food companies to meticulously engineer food products to achieve the perfect balance of salt and sugar ratios as well as crunch, texture and color, effectively hijacking our brains and creating dependencies all the while poisoning us with toxic ingredients and little to no nutritional value. Marketing teams strategically craft and promote processed foods aimed at youth and adolescents, capitalizing on their significant influential purchasing power. They employ a variety of tactics, including the increasingly common practice of offering “free” lunches in schools, to capture this demographic’s attention and drive brand loyalty.

Furthermore, the intertwined relationships among FDA members, and the very industries they regulate raise questions about the integrity of their reports and the disclosure of conflicts of interest. How can we trust findings when those who profit from food sales fund studies touting their products’ safety? Why aren’t these reports being conducted by third parties? The ramifications of this are dire, as millions succumb to the allure of processed foods, resulting in rampant disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Whether it’s a diagnosis of diabetes or conditions like depression, anxiety, migraines, or chronic pain, all are linked to our diets and the toxic environment we navigate, often unnoticed. Like I once did, many people remain unaware of the dangers lurking in everyday food, in our self-care and household products and our environment. Yet, now I embrace the mantra, “People over profits.” My mission is to spread awareness and inspire change, illuminating the path toward healthier choices and, ultimately, a healthier world.