Breast implants do not cause cancer.
The publishing of articles associating breast implants with cancer has naturally sparked panic among patients. Those who have undergone or are considering breast augmentation may understandably feel worried when reading the news about the risk of a particular disease. At Lin Europe Clinic, our stance is that risk disclosure benefits no one if kept secret. We rely on scientific truths to offer you honest, straightforward information so you can make an informed decision about whether the benefits are worth the potential risks. We adhere very strictly to safety as our number one principle in every intervention.
The illness that is in connection with this has been given the name Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). However, the one thing that is very important to understand is that it has nothing to do with breast cancer in any way. In fact, it is a very rare form of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a category of cancers that target the immune system. The cancer is not in the breast but develops from the fluid and the fibrous tissue (capsule) that encloses the implant. Being aware of this difference is the best way to take control over your health-related stress.
BIA-ALCL in a Nutshell
BIA-ALCL is a lymphoma of T-cells (immune system cells) which occurs in the scar capsule next to the implant. These cells in the capsule somehow get mutated and become cancerous. When you hear the word “lymphoma,” you might be scared but this one behaves quite differently from the systemic ones. It mostly stays in the capsule of the breast for a very long time. This is the main reason why once it is diagnosed early, it can be treated successfully and completely.
The number of cases remains low around the world but accounts also vary between different countries and implants used. According to the latest statistics, the probability is somewhere between 1 in 3,000 and 1 in 30,000, with the risk level being very much dependent on the implant’s manufacturer and the degree of its surface roughness. You should not see this as a case of immediate panic but as a very rare event that may happen to you and hence, needs your constant vigilance. Being aware of the symptoms will allow you to react and seek medical help immediately if necessary.
The Role of Textured Implants
It has been well-established that there is a strong association between BIA-ALCL and textured breast implants. The first intention of the textured implants was to create small bumps on the surface so that the tissue could grow around them and thus, the implant would not rotate in case the shape was teardrop. However, a rough surface gives the bacteria a perfect place to grow (biofilm). A local immune response is thus continuously activated due to the chronic existence of bacteria. After many years, constant inflammation will eventually lead to the T-cells’ conversion into lymphoma.
In contrast to this, the BIA-ALCL cases that have been reported in patients with only smooth-surface implants are very few and those patients have often changed their devices from textured ones. Because of the risk associated with the latter, the medical professionals and regulatory agencies have recommended and preferred “non-macro-textured” (less aggressively textured) implants. At Lin Europe Clinic, every implant is checked carefully in terms of safety before being used. You will be well-informed about the product you are going to have by us in terms of its surface and the safety record.
How to Detect BIA-ALCL?
BIA-ALCL is not a disease that suddenly appears after a short period of time, it usually takes several years after the operative to show up. Statistically speaking, most patients are diagnosed about 8 to 10 years after their surgery. The leading symptom is a “late seroma.” It is characterized by painless breast swelling that is the result of accumulation of fluid around the implant. The swelling is a natural consequence of the fluid build-up but its cause is neither a trauma nor an infection.
Among other symptoms are, for example, a breast or axillary mass that can be felt by palpation, breast becoming firmer, or the skin turning red. These sudden symptoms should never be ignored at any cost. If, years after your operation, one breast becomes much bigger than the other, you need to get checked. If you report your symptoms immediately, you will be tested without delay. The earlier BIA-ALCL is detected, the higher are the chances of complete cure.
BIA-ALCL Testing and Treatment
The diagnosis of BIA-ALCL is confirmed by a series of tests which are done in a certain order. The clinical examination is followed by an ultrasound/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination which is done for locating the fluid if it is there. If fluid is present, a syringe will be used to draw a sample for laboratory analyses. The pathologist will focus mainly on CD30, which is a protein located on the surface of lymphoma cells. If present, this protein will be detected by a very accurate method that will thus confirm the disease.
The optimal therapy for the earliest stage of BIA-ALCL is surgery, with near perfect success rates. Surgical removal of the implant and the whole capsule is considered the standard treatment. En bloc resection means that the surgeon removes the implant and the enclosing capsule at the same time as a single unit. This procedure can be expected to cure nearly all patients in whom the disease is limited to the capsule. In most cases, adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation are not necessary. The prognosis is excellent for patients with early stage treatment and there is a very high survival rate.
Breast Enlargement: Turkey
If you consider having breast implants in Turkey, the main reason for choosing Lin Europe Clinic would be our complete compliance with the highest, international standards related to implant safety. Our surgeons in Istanbul regularly participate in the global conferences and are always updated with new research about BIA-ALCL. We especially make use of those implants that are the most advanced and are accompanied by solid clinical data, such as smooth or micro-textured Motiva options, which, from a safety point of view, are superior and present a statistically much lower risk of lymphoma than the old, macro-textured ones.
In Istanbul, your health will always come first. We teach you to do self-examinations of breasts and what signs do you need to be on the lookout for. You can get thoroughly checked by our team if you have been implanted with textured devices in the past and are feeling worried. We perform en bloc capsulectomies that are highly precise and therefore, you can rest assured on account of this. Aesthetic perfection without compromising on thorough medical care is what we guarantee you at Lin Europe Clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions About BIA-ALCL
No BIA-ALCL is a cancer of the immune system cells located in the scar tissue, rather than a cancer of the breast gland.
It is a very rare disease, risk estimates vary from 1 in 3,000 to 1 in 30,000 depending on the texture of the implant used.
BIA-ALCL has almost always been linked to textured implants. Cases where only smooth implants were involved and no previous use of textured implants is history are exceedingly rare.
BIA-ALCL is a disease that can be cured almost completely when it is detected at an early stage. The majority of patients are completely healed by the surgical removal of the implant and the capsule.
Regulating bodies do not advise removing textured implants as a preventive measure if there are no symptoms. You only need to keep up with regular monitoring.
Clemens, M. W., et al. (2016). Breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma: Updated results from a structured expert consultation process. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
De Jong, D., et al. (2008). Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in women with breast implants: The association between silicone breast implants and anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. JAMA.
Brody, G. S., et al. (2015). Anaplastic large cell lymphoma occurring in women with breast implants: Analysis of 173 cases. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
