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Number of women left with misshapen and rock-hard breasts after a boob job has more than DOUBLED in 3 years
Oct 23, 2017 | Daily Mail
By Claudia Tanner
The number of women left with misshapen and rock-hard breasts after implant operations has more than doubled in three years, figures reveal. -
Rise in cases of cancer linked to breast implants could just be the ‘tip of the iceberg’, doctor warns
Oct 22, 2017 | The Sun
By Lizzie Parry
WOMEN who boost their bust with fake boobs could be putting themselves at risk of cancer, experts have warned. Those with surgically enhanced assets are more likely to develop a rare form of the disease, they said. -
Textured Breast Implants Linked to Rare Cancer
Oct 20, 2017 | HealthDay
By Robert Preidt
A particular breast implant may be associated with a rare type of cancer, researchers report. -
'Textured' breast implants could cause aggressive form of cancer
Oct 21, 2017 | Decan Chronicle
A new study has found textured breast implants could cause a rare and aggressive form of cancer that is difficult to treat, according to a report by the Daily Mail. -
Cindy McLillie battled an unusual form of breast cancer
Oct 22, 2017 | Covington Leader
By Lisa DeLancey
Textured Breast Implants Linked to Rare Cancer
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Oct 23, 2017 | Daily Mail
By Claudia Tanner
The number of women left with misshapen and rock-hard breasts after implant operations has more than doubled in three years, figures reveal.
Last year, there were 377 reports of capsular contracture – in which the body formshardened scar tissue around the implant – up from 148 in 2013.
The complaints are logged by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency as 'adverse reactions'.
Capsular contracture is a common complication in implant surgery, as the immune system can reject foreign materials in the body. Experts say it is a natural process and usually settles.
However, in some cases the scar tissue can tighten around the implant so much that the implant can become misshapen or even be squeezed out of the body.
Causes can include bacterial contamination, rupture of the breast-implant shell, and leakage of the silicone-gel filling.
But the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons said the rise in the complication may be in part explained by an increase in women keeping implants in for longer.
Breast implants typically last 10 years and surgery is needed to replace them.
Caroline Payne, of BAAPS, told The Sun said: 'The figures are slightly skewed as more implants are staying in for longer before they are changed.'
More than 7,000 women had implant surgery in the UK last year, according to BAAPS.
When capsular contracture occurs, they are graded. Grades III and IV capsular contracture are considered severe, and may require reoperation or implant removal.
Previous warning over cancer link
The figures have been released after a recent warning that 'textured' implants – designed to stay in place more firmly – are linked to a rare, aggressive form of cancer that is hard to treat.
The cancer is called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), and a study from Penn State College of Medicine earlier this month found that cases of it are on the rise.
They found that BIA-ALCL affects about one of every 30,000 women with breast implants and that almost all of these cases are associated with textured implants. Out of the 95 patients whose cases were reviewed, five died.
Because the researchers did not find any cases of BIA-ALCL reported before textured implants were used, they think that a causal relationship between the two exists. But the report stressed more research needs to be done to confirm this.
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Oct 22, 2017 | The Sun
By Lizzie Parry
WOMEN who boost their bust with fake boobs could be putting themselves at risk of cancer, experts have warned. Those with surgically enhanced assets are more likely to develop a rare form of the disease, they said.
Rather than being a form of breast cancer, it's a type of lymphoma - a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which drains toxins from the body and carries infection-fighting white blood cells.
Doctors at Penn State College of Medicine said cases of Breast Implant Associated-Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) - a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma - are likely to be under-reported.
And they added it appears to be linked to a specific type of breast implant.
Almost half of cases researchers investigated were in women who had textured implants fitted.
Dr Dino Ravnic, assistant professor of surgery, said: "We're seeing that this cancer is likely very under-reported.
"As more information on this type of cancer comes to light, the number of cases is likely to increase in the coming years.
"We're still exploring the exact causes, but according to current knowledge, this cancer only really started to appear after textured implants came on the market in the 1990s."
The disease is estimated to affect one in 30,000 women with breast implants every year.
But, Dr Ravnic's team warned that number could be the tip of the iceberg.
Textured implants have a slightly rough surface, that helps keep it in the correct position.
They rose in popularity in the 90s, and the first case of BIA-ALCL is documented in medical records in 1997, the researchers noted.
They said because there is no prior incidents of the cancer before the introduction of textured implant.
As a result, it suggests a causal relationship, but more research is needed, Dr Ravnic's team said.
Dr Ravnic said the link with cancer is not specific to one particular brand of textured implant.
"All manufacturers of textured implants have had cases linked to this type of lymphoma, and we haven't seen cases linked to smooth implants," he said.
"But in many cases the implant was removed without testing the surrounding fluid and tissue for lymphoma cells, so it's difficult to definitively correlate the two."
He said he believes BIA-ALCL is the result of inflammation around the breast implant.
The tissue that grows into the tiny holes in the textured implant may prolong the inflammation, he added.
Previous scientific studies have shown chronic inflammation can cause lymphoma.
Dr Ravnic said of the 95 patients his team reviewed as part of the study, five died.
The cancer typically developed slowly, and most patients who had the implants and surrounding scar tissue removed had good outcomes.
The findings suggest in future, surgeons should tell patients wanting breast implants of the risks of BIA-ALCL.
And they should stress the importance of regular check ups after a boob job.
The findings are published in JAMA Surgery.
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Textured Breast Implants Linked to Rare Cancer
Oct 20, 2017 | HealthDay
By Robert Preidt
A particular breast implant may be associated with a rare type of cancer, researchers report.
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is estimated to affect 1 in 30,000 women each year, but researchers said it may actually be more common.
"We're seeing that this cancer is likely very underreported, and as more information on this type of cancer comes to light, the number of cases is likely to increase in the coming years," said Dr. Dino Ravnic. He is an assistant professor of surgery at Penn State College of Medicine.
Penn State investigators reviewed 115 research reports in which 95 patients were evaluated to learn more about risk, development and treatment of BIA-ALCL. Nearly all cases were associated with textured breast implants, which have a slightly rough surface to keep them in the correct position.
"We're still exploring the exact causes, but according to current knowledge, this cancer only really started to appear after textured implants came on the market in the 1990s," Ravnic said in a university news release.
This suggests a possible association that needs more study, the researchers said.
"All manufacturers of textured implants have had cases linked to this type of lymphoma, and we haven't seen cases linked to smooth implants," Ravnic said. "But in many of these cases the implant was removed without testing the surrounding fluid and tissue for lymphoma cells, so it's difficult to definitively correlate the two."
The researchers said BIA-ALCL may result from inflammation surrounding the implant, and tissue that grows into the tiny holes of a textured implant may prolong that inflammation. Chronic inflammation can lead to lymphoma, the investigators said.
Ravnic and his colleagues said doctors should inform patients about BIA-ALCL risk before implant surgery and stress the importance of regular checkups after implants are in place.
The review was published Oct. 18 in the journal JAMA Surgery.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more on breast implants.
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'Textured' breast implants could cause aggressive form of cancer
Oct 21, 2017 | Decan Chronicle
A new study has found textured breast implants could cause a rare and aggressive form of cancer that is difficult to treat, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
While previous research has linked breast implants to cancer, this study confirms that “textured" implants could be the culprit to this form of the deadly disease.
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is the cancer researches warn is on the rise.It was in the 1990s that textured implants became popular as it stays is place in the breast pocket more firmly. The 90s was also the time when the first case of BIA-ALCL was reported.
Researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine conducted the latest study on breast implant's link to cancer. 115 articles in connection with the disease were reviewed for the study. The team investigated how the disease develops, how it is diagnosed, treated and what the risk factors for the patients are.
The results revealed one in 30,000 women with breast implants is affected by BIA-ALCL. They also found close to all those cases had an association to textured implants.
"We're seeing that this cancer is likely very underreported, and as more information on this type of cancer comes to light, the number of cases is likely to increase in the coming years," study researcher Professor Dino Ravnic told the Daily Mail.
The team did not find any case of BIA-ALCL before textured implants came into play, which is why they strongly believe there is a relationship between this implant and the disease. However, to confirm their findings further research is needed.
"In many of these cases the implant was removed without testing the surrounding fluid and tissue for lymphoma cells, so it's difficult to definitively correlate the two," Professor Ravnic explained.
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Cindy McLillie battled an unusual form of breast cancer
Oct 22, 2017 | Covington Leader
By Lisa DeLancey
Cindy McLillie can tell you breast cancer doesn’t always present itself in the form of a lump or even show up on a mammogram. A stickler for regular mammograms, she had always had good results, so when she noticed a small dimple on her breast, she thought nothing of it.
“I noticed the dimple had gotten bigger but I’d just had a mammogram and everything was normal,” she said. “I decided to make an appointment with my gynecologist anyway, just to ease my mind.”
Her gynecologist performed an ultrasound and another mammogram, both of which came back normal but she sent Cindy to a specialist just to make sure.
“The specialist looked at the reports and told me she saw perfect breast tissue, but she said, ‘I watch NCIS and I have a hunch,’ and I said, ‘Well I love NCIS and I love Jethro; follow your hunch.’”
They did six separate biopsies that reportedly grabbed “air” as there was no tumor to extract samples from.
“That was on a Friday and that following Monday was Valentine’s Day and she called me at work. She asked me if I was sitting down and so I sat as she told me that six out of six tests came back cancer positive.”
Cindy went to see the specialist the next day armed with her two daughters who are both in the medical field.
“They stayed up all night reading the pathology report and researching. When we went in, everything they said was Greek to me but my girls were on top of it. I was in good hands with my kids.”
Invasive lobular carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that begins in the milk-producing glands of the breast and spreads “like crab grass.” Approximately 12 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer will have lobular carcinoma.
Cindy had a double mastectomy and went through ten rounds of chemo and 28 rounds of radiation.
“They cut everything almost to my backbone, I was concave, but that doctor’s hunch saved my life.”
They estimated that the cancer had been living in her body for three or four years.
The treatments were so aggressive and strong that Cindy was very ill and ended up with pneumonia before her body went septic, landing her in the ICU for 20 days.
“They prepared my kids, saying I might not make it.”
Following reconstruction and breast augmentation, she became very ill again.
“It was like a nightmare that would never end.”
She gained 40 pounds, had severe pains throughout her body, constant swelling and a host of other issues causing her to be mostly bedridden for three years.
Her doctors assured her that her symptoms were from the aggression of her treatments.
“They told me my bones would always hurt, that it would take time to recover, but I knew something just wasn’t right.”
A friend of hers told her about something called breast implant illness and said she should look into it.
“I started researching and kept researching. Of the 70-something symptoms listed, I had 69 of them. My body was rejecting the implants as foreign objects.”
She went to her doctor and said she wanted the implants removed right away.
“Within two hours of removing them, the pain in my body went down so much. The plastic surgeon never told me that there was a possibility of such an illness. I was merely a number for him.”
Cindy was 47 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer and five years later she is still recovering from the complications caused by the breast implants.
“It’s sort of a blessing I found out what was going on though because a lot of women can be more informed on the risks because the plastic surgeon isn’t going to tell you.”
Cindy looks back on her journey and how she felt.
“When I got the call all I could think was, ‘I have the news, now let’s get started.’ The doctors kept saying, ‘Slow down,’ but I said ‘No, you can’t finish what you don’t start and I want to start now.’”
Lisa DeLancey is a staff writer for The Leader, focusing on education. She is a 2016 graduate of The University of Memphis.
Textured Breast Implants Linked to Rare Cancer
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