In February 2019 the FDA announced that it has received a total of 660 medical device reports (MDRs) regarding breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), cases in the United States since 2010. This new total indicates an increase of about 246 new reports of breast implants lymphoma cancer cases in the past year. According … [Read more...]
Allergan Textured Breast Implants Recalled In Europe Due To BIA-ALCL
In December 2018 France’s National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) announced that Allergan textured breast implants can no longer be marketed in France and elsewhere in Europe. As regards what the FDA is doing on this developing medical device safety issue, we turn to this NBC News piece, “Allergan’s textured breast … [Read more...]
Several 2018 Breast Implant Lymphoma Cancer Lawsuits Already Filed
Background Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is a cancer of the cells of the immune system. This rare T-cell lymphoma can develop as a result of breast implants, though the mechanism of injury is not fully understood at this time. However, based on current data from the … [Read more...]
UNCW Researchers Identify GenX in Rainwater and Sediment from the Cape Fear River
Current Situation The most recent results released by the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) show that GenX is still present in the drinking water at 24 parts per trillion (ppt), which is well below the state's health goal of 140 ppt. While levels of GenX in the drinking water are declining, the concentrations already present in the … [Read more...]
FDA Provides Updated Number of Breast Implants Lymphoma Cancers
About BIA-ALCL The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been aware of the possible connection between breast implants and breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) since 2011. This condition is a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is a cancer of the immune system, rather than a cancer of the breast … [Read more...]
Is the NC Senate’s GenX Bill Sufficient to Address GenX Contamination?
Today, February 13, 2018, the NC House of Representatives will potentially vote on House Bill 189, which concerns how to address the GenX contamination issue. This bill is referred to as the "Water Safety Act" and has undergone several revisions during its time in the Senate. However, some believe that the amendments are still not enough to get … [Read more...]
Judge Consolidates Five Existing GenX Contamination Lawsuits
In October of last year, five separate Complaints were filed against chemical companies DuPont and Chemours in response to the GenX contamination of the Cape Fear River. Here is a list of the Complaints that have been filed against DuPont and Chemours thus far: Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) Brunswick County Brent Nix … [Read more...]
New Data Released on Risk of Lymphoma Due to Breast Implants
Recent Study on BIA-ALCL RisksSince my last article on this topic, "What is the Risk of Death Due to Breast Implant-Associated Lymphoma?," additional information on the risk of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) has been released. The most recent study, titled "Breast Implants and the Risk of Anaplastic Large-Cell … [Read more...]
NC Science Advisory Board Discusses Key GenX Contamination Issues
Earlier this month, members of a state science panel met at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to review and discuss key issues concerning the GenX contamination issue in North Carolina. This GenX contamination meeting discussed topics such as the extent of the contamination, determining the public health goal, dealing with a lack of … [Read more...]
Benzene Recently Confirmed to Cause Cancers in Humans
Background Benzene Information Benzene is a chemical that has been known to cause cancer in humans since 1979. While most people are exposed to benzene in small amounts through air pollution, gasoline, and other environmental routes, those who work around benzene-containing products or the chemical itself are especially at risk of developing … [Read more...]