![Specific cancer cases linked to breast implants cause two deaths](https://img.passeportsante.net/1000x526/2015-03-27/i33806-des-cas-de-cancer-particulier-lies-a-des-implants-mammaires-provoquent-deux-deces.jpg)
Again, breast prostheses are implicated in the development of cancer. For several years, the number of women affected by anaplastic large cell lymphoma has continued to increase, despite the rarity of this cancer. After the scande of PIP prostheses, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines reacted strongly to further study this tumor, which has so far caused two deaths.
It was in 2011 that the first case of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) was diagnosed. Little concern at the time, while in 2012 there were two other cases, then four in 2013, and finally twelve in 2014. This makes a total of 19 people affected, in four years, including two deaths, and there are currently 174 women with the tumor worldwide. Two weeks ago now, which was the week of the fight against cancer, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines reacted by asking the National Cancer Institute to convene a committee of experts which must study the subject more in depth. The latter have even proposed to classify this new disease, and wonder whether prostheses responsible for the infection of lymphomas should not be prohibited. However, no brand has been questioned at this time, although it would appear that most of the women who contracted the tumor were wearing prostheses that came from the same supplier. Thus, the first death concerned a wearer of PIP prostheses, while the second woman who succumbed to cancer on March 24, involves another brand.
AGC lymphoma: what is it?
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a rare type of T lymphoma. It accounts for about 1% to 2% of all cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. It most commonly affects the lymph nodes, bone marrow, thymus or spleen. Oncologists have found no such cancer in people who did not have implants. The director of the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), François Hébert, declared that “ these very specific 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. “. In addition, it seems that the problem comes from the organism’s intolerance to the texture of the outer shell of the prostheses, which therefore promotes inflammation and proliferation of cancer cells.
Women must be warned of the risk
Today, the number of women who wear breast implants is around 40,000: 83% of them for cosmetic reasons and 17% for reconstructive surgery. They are therefore advised to be monitored by their doctor, and to carry out an examination in the event of the appearance of symptoms (effusion, increase in volume, pain, inflammation, nodule, abnormal skin). The Minister of Health said that it was not, however, recommended for women to perform a preventive explantation (removal of the implant), even if the link between lymphoma and prostheses has clearly been established. The ANSM should meet at the end of the month to decide whether to tighten the regulations related to these interventions.