Oct 5 2006

Wishaw campaigner Eileen O'Connor will give a high-profile speech to an industry watchdog in London this month about how she believes a mobile phone mast gave her breast cancer.

Meanwhile Mrs O'Connor, diagnosed with the disease five years ago aged just 38, is busy organising a ball celebrating her return to health.

She has fought a long battle against masts, claiming that antennae erected 100 metres from her home by TMobile - and subsequently felled by anonymous protesters - had made her ill.

Mrs O'Connor is now a trustee of the Radiation Research Trust (RRT), which is campaigning for safer siting of masts while trying to fund extra research into their health effects.

At a meeting of the Health Protection Agency in London on October 16, Mrs O'Connor will give a presentation of her concerns that exposure to electromagnetic fields might increase the risk of breast cancer and other diseases.

The body is chaired by Sir William Stewart, who in his work with the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones warned that there was no certainty that masts and phones are safe.

Mrs O'Connor said she was glad to be still alive so she could address the meeting - and has arranged a celebratory, fundraising ball for the RRT at Wishaw Golf Club on November 18.

She said: "People can take measures to help avoid EMFs by using mobile phones for emergency calls only. Stop using DECT phones, replace them with a fixed land-line phones and also avoid wireless communication until a safer technology becomes available.

"I believe we are finally getting closer to a breakthrough and will hopefully find the connection between EMFs and breast cancer as we cannot allow the relentless rise in breast cancer to continue.

"It has been a difficult five years coming to terms with breast cancer at a young age. However, it has been a great privilege to be involved within a cuttingedge campaign to gain recognition to possibly one of the biggest connections to this terrible disease and I am honoured to be in a position to represent the many people who are suffering throughout the world."

Eileen remembers her "difficult five years":

"In a celebration of life and being almost five years clear from cancer, I've decided to raise the roof and have a ball and raise money for the RRT.

"I have come a long way with the campaign against phone masts with the support of the RRT, SCRAM (Sutton Coldfield Residents Against Masts), doctors, and independent scientists, some politicians, the media and the many campaigners throughout the world.

"This is a landmark time for me and I'm almost scared to say that I'm now almost five years clear from breast cancer. I visited my doctor on November 5, 2001 covered in a horrific skin rash from head to toe and a lump in my breast.

"The lump removed on November 13 and I was diagnosed on November 20, 2001. The moment I heard those terrible words "I'm sorry, it's cancer", I knew I was given this awful disease for a reason.

"At first I thought I was supposed to go on to become a counsellor and help people with cancer, as I was into my second year training to become a counsellor; I went on to learn how to counsel people who are dying with cancer, and my eyes have been opened to the harsh heartbreaking realities of life.

"However, I now believe the real reason was to fight against what I truly believe is one of the biggest causes of cancer on the planet and I believe this is my destiny."

She added: "I do have periods when I want to stop the world and get off and go back to a normal life. I really enjoyed the six weeks' holidays off with my family and thought I never wanted to return to the campaign ever again - if only.

"However, here I am, back in the thick of it and beginning to prepare for my presentation for the EMF Discussion Group at the Health Protection Agency on October 16. I want to make an impact and hope I can hold my nerves as I realise how important this is.

"I'm sure I will be fine as I have many angels walking with me and helping along the way."

l Wishaw's Winter Black Tie & Tiara Ball runs from 7pm till late.

Tickets costing £40 are being snapped up very quickly. Mrs O'Connor said: "Funds raised will help create awareness and understanding for the serious condition known as electro-sensitivity and further research into cancer and genetic vulnerability to electro-magnetic fields.

"With your help we will continue the campaign for law and policy change demanding safer technology and sensible locations for phone masts, electric pylons and wireless communication.

"Please help to make our first Ball a night to remember, full of fun and laughter in a celebration of life, while raising money for this important global issue."

Raffle and auction prizes are needed, adding to the luxury hamper from Samworth Brothers and signed Villa shirt already donated.

Call 0121 351 2437 or e-mail eileen@ smokestackltd.co.uk for tickets, to donate prizes, or to book advertising space in the order of service for the evening.

Eileen's face is one of five currently appearing on an advert on the QVC channel for Breast Cancer Care after being chosen from thousands of photographs. The picture was taken and sent in by her photographer husband Paul.

© owned by or licensed to Midland Newspapers Limited 2006

http://tinyurl.com/y9x7fw



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=breast+cancer

This article appeared in the Daily Mail this morning.

"Hospitals accused over "misguided" ban on mobiles." Hospitals should not ban mobile phones over "mythical" risks to patients, say experts. They believe the benefits far outweigh the negligible dangers of using mobiles near sensitive medical equipment and accuse managers of hiding behind over-zealous safety concerns. Freeing up restrictions could benefit doctors and other health staff, while patients would not have to use expensive bedside phones systems. An editorial in the British Medical Journal today accuses hospitals of acting in a draconian fashion in banning mobiles. Sociology lecturer Dr. Adam Burgess of Kent University, and Dr. Stuart Derbyshire, of Birmingham University say there is no evidence they cause problems in most wards. A 1997 study by the Medical Devices Agnecy showed mobiles affected just four per cent of medical devices at a distance of one metre. But the figure was ten times higher for the handsets used by porters and emergency services personnel. The intereference was "ultimately harmless" although it could trigger alarms and meant electrocardiograph recordings had to be repeated. Dr. Burgess said phones affected pacemeakers but only when they were held against the patient's chest. He said ringtones could be irritating but were not a risk, adding "Concerns about patient safety do not justify zealously enforced no-phone areas, which can cause arguments between staff, patients and visitors". And he claimed the motives for hospital managers maintaining no-mobile zones were open to question, as they might lose revenue from companies that run pay-as-you-go bedside line services. Bans are an easy target for managers in an era of anxiety about patient safety. But many patients would prefer using their own mobiles rather than costly in-house systems. He added: "Restrictions on mobile phone use can be implemented easily because they seem relatively inconsequential, and the restrictions make people think safety concerns are being taken seriously." But Dr. Burgess fears managers could still bring in rules to keep mobiles out of wards, perhaps by barring camera phones to protect patient's privacy. The practical problems of identifying such phones might lead to a total ban in practice. He said, "We want hospital managers and clinical directors to adopt a more flexible approach to the use of mobile phones on the basis that the advantages clearly outweigh their largely mythical risks." An agency spokesman said there should not be a blanket ban. But he added: "The agency recommends mobile phones are not used in critical care areas such as intensive therapy units, special care baby units or where patients are attached to complex devices."

Regards, V.

(note - the word "mythical" appearing and Dr. Burgess is back on the scene!)

--------

There is quite clearly an MOA agenda here - firstly because the thrust is solely on decrying the risk associated with mobile phone radiation and, secondly, because that well-known buffoon Burgess has been let out of the Mad Hatter's company to tell his traditional fairy stories.

Ten years ago, I fell off the roof and shattered my left knee and tibia. Surgery to rebuild the damage was carried out on the following day and I spent a further 9 days in a hospital ward of 12 occupied, and quite tightly packed, beds. Think of the future as considered acceptable by these fools - the prospect of people lying for days on end in pain or considerable discomfort at the same time surrounded by punters chattering inanely on their mobiles for 24 hrs a day. What price recovery?

David

--------

I have just sent this to the BBC:

I believe your recent story 'Doctors attack mobile phone rules' shows significant bias toward the mobile phone industry's stand point. As well as the risk of equipment malfunctions which was not ruled out the major risk to recovering patients is the microwave signals used by these devices. These signals have been shown time and time again to cause biological damage; double-strand DNA breaks (see http://tinyurl.com/y8r2ce - a direct stepping stone to cancer, damaging the blood brain barrier ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2053565.stm ) etc. See http://www.schnews.co.uk/archive/news561.htm for a very informative article. Do you think someone recovering from cancer should be using a mobile phone? Your story has not taken any of these risks into account and has actually put the words 'Mythical Risks' in bold. While your story has focused only on risks to equipment malfunction, the fact that these other risks are ignored gives the impression that equipment malfunction risks are the only ones that should be taken into account. Do you not consider this a form of lying by omission? Every time I have seen a story that touches on the scientific evidence of health risks, the mobile phone industry is given a chance to lambaste the research with some well spun propaganda, however when the mobile phone industry puts out a PR story I do not see the same opportunities given to the many groups who are trying to raise awareness of these very real, well researched, peer reviewed and proven dangers. I consider this to be biased reporting on an issue that desperately needs to be highlighted.


Simon

--------

Using mobile phones in hospitals: what's the worst that could happen?
http://www.studentbmj.com/issues/03/03/education/52.php



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Burgess
http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=Burgess

http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1515312006

Google News Alert for: electromagnetic

Scotsman - United Kingdom ... warned yesterday. Exposure to chemicals, radiation and electromagnetic fields is thought by many to increase the risk in workers. Now ...

Informant: Eileen O'Connor/Milt Bowling



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=breast+cancer

Please read the important observation and comment from Dr Goldberg with regards to breast cancer and also take a look at his book.

Eileen O'Connor



Gerald Goldberg, MD
http://www.naturalcures4microwaveradillness.com

80 % increase over twenty five years, cases rocked by 10% in 2004.

“The steep and uniform the increase has been in the last 5 to 10 years when mobile phones and increased emf traffic was introduced. This seems critical to make that association. To overlook the obvious connection is to again mislead the public.”

Dr. Gerald Goldberg



http://omega.twoday.net/search?q=breast+cancer