If you have breast implants, whether silicone or saline, you may soon hear the buzz about a possible link between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a very rare type of cancer. The FDA is aware of approximately 60 cases of ALCL in women with breast implants worldwide (Up to 10 million women worldwide have breast implants)
ALCL is not a breast cancer, instead it involves cells of the immune system found in the fluid surrounding breast implants or in the scar tissue (capsule) surrounding the breast implant. The FDA is NOT recommending asymptomatic women with breast implants to have them removed. If however, a woman with breast implants has swelling or pain around the implant, they should see their plastic surgeon for evaluation. Women should continue to monitor their implants and obtain regular breast screening evaluations.
The FDA and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons are establishing a registry of ALCL patients who have breast implants to better understand the association of breast implants and lymphoma.
For more information concerning breast implants and lymphoma, visit http://alturl.com/3a7n8