The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that breast implants can lead to a rare version of blood cancer. It also said that more than 350 cases of this blood cancer have already been cited, including a death toll of at least 9 people so far.
According to Fox News, the announcement has the implication of a prediction made by the World Health Organization earlier, which said that people having breast implants can develop "anaplastic large cell lymphoma" (ALCL) following the surgery. Though the number of deaths due to this rare form of cancer is not yet confirmed, but it is said that Australia has also reported 3 deaths.
Most of the cases are found in patients whose implants have textured surfaces on them. The primary symptoms of the disease are pain and swelling developing in the body of the person, even several years after the surgery has been completed. The FDA said that most of the women who have developed ALCL have been treated by the removal of the implant and the capsule enclosing the implant, while some of them have been treated by chemotherapy and radiation.
According to Forbes, the cases of development of ALCL in patients having breast implants are quite a few. As per a recent study, the life span of ALCL is 33 per one million persons who have undergone textured breast implants. However, researchers have seen that women who undergo breast implants due to medically reconstructive or cosmetic reasons tend to develop ALCL 65 times more than those who do not.
FDA has recommended that patients with breast implants should get themselves looked after well rather than worrying, and should look for medical attention if there is any matter of concern. Lists of general guidelines for these patients have been shared by the agency as well.
The best possible way to avoid any complication is to be properly aware of breast implants before undergoing one such surgery, recommends FDA. The risks and benefits of both textured implants and smooth implants should be shared with the person going for one such by the healthcare providers, says the agency.
