Recently, a possible link between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) has been identified and investigated by the FDA.
ALCL is a rare type of blood cancer that is classified as a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and one of the subtypes of T-cell lymphoma. It can initially appear either in the skin, in the lymph nodes, or in organs throughout the body.
An article from Medical News Today provides the following information on ALCL:
On rare occasions, however, the cancer has appeared in the breast, and according to this latest research – led by Dr. Suzanne Turner of the University of Cambridge in the UK – almost all cases of breast ALCL have occurred in patients who have had breast augmentation, with the tumors always developing in the scar tissue surrounding the implant.
When caused by breast implants, ALCL has come to be called “breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma” (BIA-ALCL). It is important to note that BIA-ACL is not a form of breast tissue cancer.
The aforementioned article also provides information on possible treatment for BIA-ALCL:
Furthermore, they found that for many of these women, their cancer was successfully treated simply by removing their breast implant and the tissue surrounding it rather than undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, indicating that the breast implant may trigger an abnormal immune response in the body, causing cancer.
More Information:
- Breast Implants: Lymphoma / Blood Cancer Cases Overview
- Breast Implants and Lymphoma: Summary of Information
- Breast Implants and Lymphoma: FDA Information
- Breast Implants and Lymphoma: Resources
- Breast Implants and Lymphoma: Frequently Asked Questions