Cancer And Breast Implants
The Food and Drug Administration is asking health care professionals to report any confirmed cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) in women with silicone gel- or saline-filled breast implants, citing concerns about a possible association.
In a review of the literature published between 1997 and 2010, 34 unique cases of ALCL have been detected in women with saline and silicone breast implants. There have been roughly 60 cases of ALCL in women with breast implants worldwide according to the FDA.
Am I at Risk for Cancer?
It should be noted, that it is estimated that between 1.5 and 2 million women per year have breast implant surgery, so the number of cancer cases is a very small percentage. This link with ALCL is an important finding and certainly consideration for this possibility should be given to any implant patient with late-onset persistent fluid around the implant (peri-implant seroma).
But as it’s estimated that five to ten million women have breast implants worldwide, we should all be careful before jumping to the conclusion that breast implants are too risky.
Cancer Studies Show Low Risk
A number of publications have demonstrated that breast implant surgery does not increase a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer. Mammography can certainly be more challenging with a patient who has implants, and clinical breast examination is even more challenging with implants, but overall, breast cancer mortality is not higher in women with breast implants. This suggests that there is not a significant mortality risk (breast related) with this type of cosmetic surgery.
An association such as that between breast implants and cancer will not likely have a clinical significance. For example, the risk of uterine cancer in patients taking tamoxifen is higher than those women who do not take this medication. This is a fact that deters many women from taking this very powerful cancer treatment and risk reducing agent. However, the risk of uterine cancer in the general population is approximately 0.1%, and, 0.2% in women who take tamoxifen. So, the absolute risk of taking tamoxifen is quite small (but real). Thus, even though there may be an association between breast implants and ALCL, the overall clinical significance is very likely to be quite small. It is awareness that is important.
If you are considering implants or have them and have concerns about cancer risks, be sure to see your physician and discuss this matter thoroughly.
The author was named a top breast cancer surgeons in the Greater Detroit area. He is certified in ultrasound breast biopsies by the ASBS, is a member of The American Society of Breast Surgeons and The American Society of Breast Disease, and has served on the Membership Committee of the American Society of Breast Disease since 2007. Dr. Brown practices at Comprehensive Breast Care.
A HD video by TheVideoPlasticSurgeon.com, Dr Michael J Brown MD. This plastic surgery video graphically shows how a breast augmentation using silicone implants.
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