Women ‘unsure’ about cancer risk
A GROWING number of women with breast implants are expressing concern about the lack of information on the risk of a rare cancer associated with implants that have been recalled.
Certain types of textured surface implants made by Allergan were recalled late last year after evidence emerged that they were linked with a slightly higher risk of women developing a rare lymph cancer.
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Louise O’Reilly said she was being contacted by an ‘increasing number of people on the issue’. She said several dozen women had contacted her directly and she believed ‘hundreds of women are concerned and distressed about whether they could be in danger of contracting the rare condition’.
Ms O’Reilly was referring to implants which have been associated with a rare cancer called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
Nearly 600 cases of the cancer have been confirmed worldwide, with 33 deaths linked to it. Groups of women in several countries are suing over the implants, but it is not necessary to have them removed unless the cancer is detected.
There are no known cases yet in Ireland, but in October the HSE started writing to 8,000 women who had had the implants to tell them to be aware of warning signs.
Private hospitals are also writing to thousands more women who have had the implants.
Responding to queries by Ms O’Reilly, Health Minister Simon Harris said the HSE had recently initiated an information and service plan in respect of the cancer.
This condition, he noted, ‘is not a breast cancer; it is a cancer of the immune system’ and added: ‘BIAALCL is uncommon and when diagnosed and treated early it has a very good recovery rate. To date, it has been diagnosed in only a small number of people worldwide.’’
He said: ‘Most cases of BIA-ALCL have been in patients with implants or who have had tissues expanders manufactured by Allergan with a surface texture called Biocell.’
But he added: ‘These implants and expanders have not been used in Ireland since December 2018.’
However, Ms O’Reilly said the message was not getting through and ‘women are unclear’ if they should take immediate action.