Breast Implants Cancer

Some types of textured breast implants may cause BIA-ALCL, a type of lymphatic cancer. The risk is so great that the FDA announced a Class 1 Recall Notice for all breast implants marketed under the Allergan BIOCELL brand name. Class 1 is the highest level of three levels of recalls.

How textured breast implants cause cancer

Breast implants are silicone shells filled with saline or silicone gel. Both types of implants can have smooth or textured surfaces. Textured surfaces were developed because early implants caused a condition called “capsular contracture.” The skin and muscle would harden painfully around the implant, causing it to shift out of place. 

Researchers thought a rough surface would help the muscles bond better with the implant. They also thought a textured surface had less chance of slipping out of place. That secure position would give more time for the incision to heal and healthy scarring to form.

That thinking has changed. Researchers now think the rougher surface of a textured implant may increase the risk of inflammation, infection and cancer. BIA-ALCL is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma or cancer of the immune system. Lymphomas are associated with chronic infections and conditions that make the immune system overactive. They are more like gastritis, Crohn’s disease and other internal infections.

Do implants cause breast cancer?

Breast implants do not cause breast cancer. Breast cancer is a specific cancer of the breast tissue itself and often has a genetic component. It usually occurs in the mammary glands and connective tissue. BIA-ALCL forms in the breast around the implant. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), as the name implies, is a cancer of the lymphatic system, not breast tissue.

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a cancer of the immune system. Immune system cancers cause lymphatic tissues, such as the lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow, to grow and spread into other tissues. BIA-ALCL begins in the capsule or fluid that surrounds the breast implant. Like other lymphatic cancers, the cells can migrate through the lymphatic system or blood stream and into the rest of the body.

According to the FDA, “the overall incidence of BIA-ALCL appears to be low, but the risk is greater than previously thought.” Worldwide, 573 cases of BIA-ALCL have been reported, including 33 deaths. Of these, 481 cases, including 12 deaths, have been associated with Allergan implants.

BIA-ALCL is a fast-growing cancer, but it responds well to treatment if caught early. The first line of treatment is removing the implant and surrounding tissue. Radiation treatment may be necessary if the cancer progresses after the removal procedure.

The most important treatment for BIA-ALCL cancer is early recognition of possible symptoms and removal of the implant.

What is ALCL?

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare, fast-growing lymphoma. About 2% of all cancers of the lymphatic system are ALCL type cancers, including breast implant-associated lymphoma.

What are the symptoms of breast implants cancer?

The symptoms of breast implants cancer or BIA-ALCL include:

• Enlargement, swelling or hardening of the breast
• Lumps in the breast or armpit
• Pain in the breast or armpit
• Redness or skin rash

These symptoms can also indicate other implant issues, such as rupture, infection or trauma. They are also symptoms of breast cancer. Any such symptoms should be reported to a doctor at once.

Later symptoms of ALCL can include:

• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Enlarged lymph glands (painful swellings in the armpits)
• Fatigue
• Fever and chills (without other cause, such as flu)
• Weight loss or loss of appetite

It can take many months or years for BIA-ALCL symptoms to appear, even after the implant has been removed. Diagnosing BIA-ALCL can require techniques such as ultrasound, MRI or needle biopsy. Patients who currently have or have had breast implants should contact a doctor immediately if they experience any of these symptoms.

You have many options after a BIA-ALCL diagnosis. The cancer itself (ALCL) may be treated with a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. For many, the immediate treatment is removal of the implant and any cancerous tissue around the implant itself.

The FDA does not recommend immediate removal of recalled breast implants unless you are experiencing symptoms. Contact your doctor to find out if your implant is on the FDA's recall list. If it is, report any symptoms to your doctor, no matter how mild.

If you have developed BIA-ALCL, your healthcare team should guide your medical treatment. To protect your legal rights you should contact a legal professional. An attorney can advise you if filing a lawsuit against the breast implant manufacturer is an option for you or your loved one.

Filing a lawsuit after a BIA-ALCL diagnosis

You may be eligible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit or join a class action suit if you are diagnosed with BIA-ALCL. 

The best and first line of treatment for BIA-ALCL is removal of the textured breast implant or expansion device. Health insurance is obligated to cover breast implant removal only after a mastectomy or other reconstructive surgery. It is not obligated to cover removal for BIA-ALCL. It may cover costs if a patient gets a BIA-ALCL diagnosis that mandates implant removal, making it "medically necessary." This information is from the National Center for Health Research.

The manufacturers of the recalled implants will not pay for implant removal. They have offered to pay for some diagnosis and medical costs. 

For these reasons, legal action may be necessary to secure the funds and support needed for treatment. An attorney can file the claim on your behalf while you focus on your health treatment. 

Can silicone implants cause cancer?

There is no evidence that silicone gel breast implants cause breast cancer. The FDA has said that some rare types of cancer, including BIA-ALCL are more common in women with textured breast implants. These rare cancers tend to develop in the scars surrounding all types of breast implants, including silicone. Women with textured breast implants have a significantly higher risk of developing BIA-ALCL than those with smooth breast implants.

What are the chances of getting cancer from breast implants?

The chances of getting cancer from breast implants are low. As stated, breast implants carry no increased risk of breast cancer. Breast implants are not on the list of risk factors for breast cancer, according to the CDC. BIA-ALCL is a rare type of cancer. About 50,000 cases of ALCL cases are in the United States, including BIA-ALCL.

However, people with textured breast implants have a much higher risk of developing BIA-ALCL because it tends to form in the scar tissue around the implant. 

Once the implant is removed, the remaining cancer cells can be excised and treated with chemotherapy and radiation. 

Additionally, another rare type of cancer has been linked with textured breast implants. It is known as breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC). The FDA has identified fewer than 20 cases. Like BIA-ALCL, the cancer begins in the capsule surrounding the implant. The precise cause of this cancer is also not known.

Motley Rice is on the front lines representing women harmed by defective medical devices and products. For decades our attorneys have represented women left with serious complications from defective breast implants. Motley Rice has extensive experience litigating breast implants, other implanted medical devices and medical drugs cases, including:

• Transvaginal mesh
• Toxic hair relaxer
• IUDs such as Paragard® birth control

Learn more about our experience handling defective medical device cases.