This is bad news as National Cancer Awareness Week began yesterday: a new type of cancer has just been identified. AGC-AIM lymphoma. An obscure acronym that designates an anaplastic large cell lymphoma (AGC) whose specificity is to be “associated with breast implants” (AIM)!
According to The Parisian which echoes a report made at the beginning of the month by experts from the National Cancer Institute (Inca), 18 women are affected by this type of cancer in France, 173 in total in the world. The figures may seem low but the increase is significant warns Benoît Vallet, Director General of Health. Indeed one, two, then four cases have been reported each year since 2011. In 2014, 11 new cases were reported.
Furthermore, the reported data leave little doubt about the links between breast implants and AGC-AIM lymphoma: the INCa experts point out in their report that there are no cases of this cancer in people who do not have breast prostheses. François Hébert, Deputy Director General of the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), interviewed by The Parisian confirms “These very particular cases of cancer seem to be correlated with the wearing of breast prostheses. We also have feedback of the same type of information from other health agencies in Europe and the United States. »
Among the 18 women who developed AGC-AIM lymphoma in recent years in France, 10 had undergone breast reconstruction following breast cancer. But it is impossible at this stage according to the experts to conclude to any predisposition.
As for the implicated prostheses, all are “textured” models. And the Parisian reveals that 14 patients wore Allergan brand prostheses at the time of diagnosis. A high proportion, and “surprising” according to François Hébert, who points out that Allergan’s market share is around 30%. However, he warns against hasty conclusions, it is not uncommon for women to wear several brands of prostheses, the implants can be replaced.
The ANSM announces that a meeting will take place by the end of March to decide whether to “go further in the regulations”. In the meantime, health professionals will be informed by mail about these new risks, which must be clearly explained to women undergoing prosthesis implantation.
This case risks putting the ANSM in a more than uncomfortable position. Indeed, barely a month ago, Le Figaro revealed that the agency had decided to freeze funding to conduct the Lucie study, a 10-year follow-up of 100,000 women with prostheses. A research program decided in July 2014, and which should make it possible to better assess the risks associated with breast implants.
A surprising decision when we know that in France currently 400,000 women wear breast prostheses. Last year, 48,000 decided to have this surgery, compared to 20,000 in 2000. Figures that clearly show the public health challenge represented by the improvement of scientific knowledge on these implants.
