Can breast implants cause anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)?
There may be a small increased risk of this rare cancer in women with breast implants. ALCL is not breast cancer; it is a lymphoma (a type of blood cancer) that affects white blood cells called T cells. The Food and Drug Administration is in the process of developing a national registry to track cases of ALCL among women with breast implants. At this point, there have been 60 cases worldwide among 5 to 10 million women with breast implants. There are more questions than answers when it comes to ALCL and breast implants right now. Do not panic. This cancer is not as aggressive when it occurs in the presence of breast implants. The best way to protect your health is to talk to your surgeon if you have any questions or develop persistent swelling and/or pain around your implant. For more information, visit our comprehensive article on ALCL and breast implants.
