Breast cancer patients go through enough—they don’t need the additional worry of potential increased breast implant cancer recurrence risk. But breast cancer patients who undergo post mastectomy reconstruction with textured breast implants may unfortunately face just such a risk, according to a South Korean retrospective study.

Textured Breast Implants

Textured breast implants are used during breast augmentation surgery. These implants are placed either behind the breast tissue or underneath the chest muscle. There are many types of breast implants, including smooth, round, shaped, saline, silicone, and textured.

Textured breast implants in particular are intended to help the implants adhere to the surrounding tissue, helping prevent apparent unnatural movement or rotation.

Do Breast Implants Increase Cancer Risk?

According to a recent retrospective study from South Korea, which looked at data on 650 women who received breast implants, 4 percent had some form of disease recurrence in a follow-up exam, a median of 52 months after surgery.

The study found that the locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS) rate was 95.9 percent among those who received textured breast implants, while it was 97.8 percent among those who received smooth implants. Sa Ik Bang, MD, PhD, of Sungkyunkwan University and Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, along with colleagues, reported that these figures made up a nonsignificant difference.

The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was significantly lower with textured implants, according to the study, published online in JAMA Surgery. Textured implants were associated with a 93.3 percent 5-year DFS rate, compared with a 97.8 percent rate in those with smooth implants. This significant difference was seen at 3, 4, and 5 years, according to researchers.

“Textured implant use could be associated with a lower DFS and high risk for recurrence than use of a smooth implant,” the researchers concluded. “This association may be valid regardless of other factors, including tumor stage and ER [estrogen receptor] status. Further investigation is required to verify these results.”

This research adds to a growing pile of studies looking into the risk of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) that has been linked with breast implants. So far, Breast Implant Associated ALCL has accounted for 733 cases of ALCL, along with 36 deaths across the globe as of early 2020, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA requested that Allergan recall its BIOCELL textured breast implants and tissue expanders, which Allergan agreed to in July 2019, removing these products from the global market.

Commentary accompanying the article by Bang and colleagues discussed what this adverse data means for the use of textured breast implants.

“Given the association of textured implants with ALCL, and now the suggestion that they are associated with increased risk for breast cancer recurrence, surgeons who choose textured implants should counsel their patients with breast cancer about their possible consequences,” according to Michael R. Cassidy, MD, and Daniel S. Roh, MD, PhD, both of Boston University School of Medicine. “Many reconstructive surgeons across the world have already abandoned the use of textured implants altogether.”

It is unclear what exactly triggers BIA-ALCL, though chronic inflammation from an implant or the surgical procedure itself has been hypothesized as a potential trigger.

Along with the risk of BIA-ALCL, potentially associated with the use of textured breast implants, some patients are also concerned about whether or not these textured breast implants may increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence when used in post mastectomy reconstruction procedures.

So far, no clinical studies have examined the association between breast implants and breast cancer recurrence.

Filing a Textured Breast Implant Lawsuit

A growing number of patients are pursuing litigation after being diagnosed cancer following use of textured breast implants.

If you or someone you love has developed a breast implant–related illness, especially BIA-ALCL, after getting textured breast implants, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by cancer, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can seem like a daunting prospect, especially in the wake of a cancer diagnosis, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.