Issue: The FDA has announced a possible association between saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).  ALCL is a type of cancer. 

Who’s Affected?: There’s an estimated 5million to 10million women worldwide who have the type of breast implant that may be susceptible to ALCL.  The current study was for women between January 1997 and May 2010

How Many Victims?: So far there are 60 reports of ALCL in those that have received breast implants. 

Who’s Responsible?: There are 2 major brands who sell breast implants in the United States:  Allergan and Mentor CorpMentor (part of Johnson and Johnson).

More Information:

FDA announced a possible association between saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a very rare type of cancer. Data reviewed by the FDA suggest that patients with breast implants may have a very small but significant risk of ALCL in the scar capsule adjacent to the implant

Allergen’s Response to the OC Register:

“…Over the past 15 years, there have been very rare, sporadic reports of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare subtype of lymphoma, occurring in women both with and without breast implants. Several studies have shown that the overall rate of lymphoma is no greater in patients with breast implants than in the general population. As opposed to systemic ALCL which can occur anywhere in the body, these rare cases have predominantly appeared in the scar tissue that forms around the implant, and when occurred, most of the patients have responded to a variety of treatments