Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Breast Implants and Cancer- Understanding the FDA's Most Recent Paper

I suspect that over the next few days, we will all be bombarded with news stories about the FDA's recent paper describing a "link" between breast implants and ALCL- Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.

I want to help educate you about this issue and give the healthy perspective that media outlets hungry for ratings/readers/listeners may not.

While the FDA does seem to believe that there is an ALCL-like phenomenon VERY RARELY associated with implants, it is, as of yet unclear whether this phenomenon truly represents ALCL, or a separate phenomenon.

Over the past 25 years well over 10 million implants have been placed, with only approximately 34 cases of this phenomenon being described worldwide over that time period.

In each case, the problem was successfully treated (cured) by removal of the implants, or through accepted treatment protocols for ALCL.

It is also noteworthy that the FDA did not alter their position that breast implants are safe and should remain available to patients- in point of fact, they reaffirmed their position that based on all available research and experience they indeed are safe and effective.

So the bottom line appears to be this- breast implants are safe and effective, but in very rare cases, a problem that we need to investigate further and do more research on can occur. This very rare problem does not appear to be life threatening and is easily treated- but quite simply more research is needed.

The FDA and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons have partnered to do the necessary research by carefully following our implant patients over time.

If you have more questions, call us or contact a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your community.


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