Experts from the National Cancer Institute have highlighted a new cancer that only affects women with breast prostheses. Cases have been on the rise since last year.
This is news that falls very badly as National Cancer Week kicked off yesterday: a new type of cancer has just been identified. AGC-AIM lymphoma. An obscure acronym which designates an anaplastic large cell lymphoma (AGC) whose specificity is to be “associated with breast implants” (AIM)!
173 cases worldwide
According to The Parisian which echoes a report made earlier this month by experts from the National Cancer Institute (Inca), 18 women would be affected by this type of cancer in France, 173 in total worldwide. 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 declared.
In addition, the data reported leaves little doubt about the links between breast implants and AGC-AIM lymphoma: the Inca experts underline it in their report, there is no case of this cancer in people not carrying breast prostheses. François Hébert, Deputy Director General of the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), interviewed by The Parisian confirms: “These very specific cancer cases 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.
Textured implants
As for the implicated prostheses, all are “textured” models. And the Parisian reveals that 14 patients were wearing Allergan brand prostheses at the time of diagnosis. A high proportion, and “surprising” according to François Hébert, who emphasizes 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 it is necessary 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 having to undergo prosthesis implantation.
Monitoring suspended by the ANSM
This affair 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 allow the Lucie study to be conducted, a 10-year follow-up of 100,000 women with prostheses. A research program decided in July 2014, which was intended 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 resort to this surgery, against 20,000 in 2000. Figures which clearly show the public health stake represented by the improvement of scientific knowledge on these implants.
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