The shocking cancer link behind a common cosmetic procedure that puts millions at risk
Some women who get breast implants could be up to 16 times more likely to develop a deadly blood cancer, a government-funded study suggests.
Around one in 500 women — the equivalent of 34million in the US — have a genetic mutation that appears to raise the risk of tumors forming in scar tissue around breast implants.
Known as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), the cancer develops when the rough surface of textured breast implants triggers inflammation that damages DNA and causes cells to mutate into cancer cells.
Most patients survive if the implants are removed, but if left undetected it can spread elsewhere in the body and become deadly.
Dr Paula Ghione, lead researcher and lymphoma specialist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, said: ‘If we look at the absolute numbers [seen in this study], it’s still fairly rare.
‘But the important thing to note is that when we look at women with this genetic predisposition, there is a big jump in the percentage with this lymphoma.’
Of the 300,000 US women who get breast implants every year, nine in 10 have smooth implants, which have not been associated with an increased cancer risk.
The women at risk of BIA-ALCL are those with mutations to their BRCA genes — sometimes dubbed the ‘Angelina Jolie gene’ — which significantly increases a woman’s risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Blake Lively (left) and Kylie Jenner have both had breast implant surgeries
In 2023, the latest data available, the FDA reported 1,264 cases of BIA-ALCL and 63 deaths in the US.
For their study, published in the journal Blood Advances, researchers followed 3,000 breast cancer survivors at MSKCC who had breast implants after a double mastectomy.
Double mastectomies are meant to stop breast cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
Of those, 520 were tested for BRCA mutations.
About eight percent of patients, 43, who were tested for BRCA mutations ended up being carriers.
After following the women for 12 years on average, the researchers found those with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations had a 16-fold increased risk of BIA-ALCL. They also found women with BIA-ALCL were ‘significantly’ more likely to have BRCA mutations.
Dr Gione said: ‘Our findings show that BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are a significant risk factor for developing this type of lymphoma, confirming earlier suggestions of a possible role.
‘It’s possible that implant-associated lymphoma is yet another cancer that can arise because of these genetic mutations.’
Researchers said while BIA-ALCL is still rare, women with BRCA mutations should be cautious before receiving textured breast implants (stock image)
Breast implants with textured surfaces, which can feel like sandpaper, are thought to create space where bacteria can accumulate and form biofilms, or collections of micro-organisms.
These harmful biofilms can trigger an inflammatory response, which damages DNA and causes cells to mutate into cancer cells.
Silicone in some implants may also lead to inflammation.
Because the risk of BIA-ALCL is so low, the FDA doesn’t recommend having textured implants removed unless women experience symptoms, which include pain, lumps, swelling or unexpected changes in breast shape.
Dr Ghione said: ‘The implants that are put in place now are theoretically safe; however, there are still a lot of women who are living with textured breast implants, so it’s important that women know what implants they have and talk with their doctor and remember to report this surgery as part of their medical history.’
