BIA-ALCL

In March 2017, the FDA issued a warning confirming that breast implants cause BIA-ALCL cancer which is a cancer of the immune system; however, the history of breast implants causing breast implant associated lymphoma cancer and other cancers goes much farther back. The first case of lymphoma due to breast implants was reported in 1997, and now as of June 2022, there are 1216 confirmed cases and several deaths. The actual number of cases of BIA-ALCL is likely to be much higher because identification of and testing for BIA-ALCL is only recently acknowledged by the ASPS and historically not acknowledged or available to women.  Further, in past years the ASAPS and ASPS actually worked to undermine BIA-ALCL recognition asking members to not refer to it as a cancer but instead as a condition but due to recent activism by ladies with BIA-ALCL around the world this breast implant associated cancer has been brought to light.  

Most, but not all cases of BIA-ALCL have been associated with textured implants or expanders and certain offending textured breast implants have been removed from the market by several countries during 2019.  But many women still have textured breast implants in their body and as more testing for BIA-ALCL occurs the incidence rates are steadily increasing and recent statistics show it to be 1:355 ranging to 1:86,029 depending on which type of textured implants are studied.   

It should be no surprise to breast implant manufacturers, the FDA, Health Canada and plastic surgeons that silicone breast implants cause cancers, systemic illness, autoimmune and other profound health problems because silicone is made with several carcinogenic and inflammatory chemicals which has been kept hidden from the general public by breast implant manufacturers and the FDA and Health Canada who regulate these devices.  It’s of no concern to the FDA despite their knowledge of several decades of illness to many hundreds of thousands of women who made adverse event reports, despite previous class action lawsuits against past silicone breast implant manufacturers and despite the fact all except the general public knew there was never any long term safety studies of breast implants done.  If patients were made aware of the toxic chemicals and heavy metals in silicone and breast implants and the fact they leak their contents and rupture much earlier than expected, they would not consider putting implants inside their body.     

If you have textured implants or expanders and the below outlined symptoms of BIA-ALCL, ideally you need to find a knowledgeable plastic or breast reconstruction surgeon and push for testing prior to explant.  The benefit of testing for BIA-ALCL prior to explant (explant is generally the main indicated treatment) is that if you are found to be positive for BIA-ALCL it triggers a certain protocol of treatment to be followed which will likely provide an overall better prognosis for you.  There are various presentations of BIA-ALCL in women which can be fluid, masses and other symptoms.  An ultrasound and MRI is usually the first step if you have textured implants and symptoms of BIA-ALCL but this should be discussed with a BIA-ALCL knowledgeable plastic, breast surgeon or doctor.  Below is more information about testing and treatment protocols.