Breast Implants And Cancer Risks Investigated

In January of 2011, the FDA began an investigation into the risk of developing a rare form of cancer in women who had breast implants. While the investigation is still underway in mid-2011, it raises some concerns that those seeking augmentation surgery may want to look at.

First, the FDA has not found that augmentation surgery causes cancer. This is an important piece of information for women who currently have breast implants or are considering getting them in the near future. It is possible, however, that the surgery can increase the risk of a certain type of cancer.

The cancer in question is anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or ALCL. In women who have not had the surgery, approximately 3 out of every 100 million will develop it. Those are astonishingly small odds, making it one of the rarest forms of cancer to show itself the breasts. It is not a cancer of the breasts, but rather a cancer of the immune system, but patients often notice the first symptoms by changes in their breasts.

In trying to determine the level of risk in augmentation patients, the FDA has run into a problem, because there are not 100 million women who choose to undergo this surgery. That said, in the global population of between 5 and 10 million women who have breast implants, around 60 of them will have this rare cancer.

Now, this is an increased risk, but it is still very small. So what does this mean for current, former, and future patients?

The difficulty with reports like this is that they often cause a panic. Patients see the word "cancer" linked in print to the treatment they are considering, and they run away without giving it a second look. It is important to note that, according to the FDA, the number of known cases is so small that it is almost impossible to draw a conclusion linking the implanted devices to the disease. There is simply not enough evidence to do this.

Because there is no definitive link, the FDA is not recommending any changes in these surgeries. Women who have had the surgery do not need to have their breast implants removed. Similarly, women who are considering the surgery have no reason to stop. What the agency is recommending is that those who decide to have the surgery remain vigilant in checking for symptoms of this rare cancer.

Any swelling, pain, or lumps in a breast after the surgery is over and healing is complete is signs something could be wrong. ALCL is a highly treatable cancer when caught early, so patients simply need to be aware of their bodies and seek treatment when they notice a problem.

So if you are considering breast implants or already have them, rest assured that there has not yet been any definitive study indicating that they cause cancer. There may be a very slight increase in risk for a rare form of cancer, but the cancer is easily treatable if you seek treatment early. Simply be aware of your body and the way it is healing after surgery, and you can sport new curves with little risk.