What to Know About the Breast Implants Linked to Cancer
Nine women in the U.S. have died due to a rare cancer associated with their breast implants, federal officials announced on Tuesday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) reported
that as of Feb. 1, the agency had received 359 reports of a cancer of
the immune system, called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), linked
to breast implants. According to the FDA the risk for the cancer appears
to be higher with textured breast implants as opposed to smooth ones,
but the agency is not yet sure why.
The
FDA was able to determine whether the surfaces of the implants were
textured or smooth for 231 of the implants. Among those, 203 were
textured, compared to 28 that were smooth.
About
300,000 women in the U.S. get breast implants each year, and cancer
from the implants is rare. However, the potential risks raise questions.
What are textured implants made of?
There
are two types of breast implants that are approved in the United
States: saline or silicone gel-filled implants. All breast implants have
an outer layer that is made of silicone, but they can have different
shapes, sizes and textures. They can also vary in thickness.
How common are textured implants?
Currently
there are no publicly available numbers to indicate how common textured
implants are versus smooth ones, but according to Dr. David Song, the
immediate past president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
(ASPS), textured implants are very common. "I think surgeons use them
interchangeably," he says, adding that the link between textured
implants and a higher risk for ALCL is still not confirmed. "It's still
exceptionally rare, but it is real, and we want to figure out what the
cause is."
Why are textured implants used?
One
of the most common complications associated with breast implants is
called capsular contracture , which is when scar tissue forms around
the breast implant, making it hard and tight. It can distort the look of
the breasts, and in some cases cause pain for women. Some plastic
surgeons feel that a textured implant prevents the build up of scar
tissue. Textured implants tend to be stiffer, and may be more ideal for
people who want an implant with a more distinct shape.
Why might they have a higher risk for cancer?
The FDA says it doesn't know why the risk appears to be higher with textured implants. The ASPS has an ongoing registry with the FDA where doctors can report suspected cases of ALCL from breast implants in order to learn more.
Some research
has suggested that textured implants are more likely than smooth
implants to develop a bacterial coating, which may increase the risk of
infection, cancer, or implant failure. However, the link is not definitive. The FDA says more research is needed to understand what's at play.
What else should I know?
Symptoms
for breast implant-associated ALCL are persistent swelling or pain
around the implant. The symptoms can often appear years after the
initial implant procedure. The cancer is rare, but women should also be
aware of the fact that the FDA does not consider breast implants to be
procedures that last a lifetime.
“The
life of these devices varies according to the individual,” Gretchen
Burns, a nurse consultant at FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological
Health (CDRH) said in a statement. “All women with implants will face additional surgeries—no one can tell them when.”
The
FDA warns that the longer a woman has breast implants, the higher her
chance for complications and further surgeries, adding that few women
will keep their original implants for 20 to 30 years.
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