On June 24th, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall of breast implants manufactured by Allergan, a pharmaceutical company, after research revealed that there is an increased risk of cancer in patients with the implants.
The FDA discovered that people with Allergan BIOCELL textured breast implants had an increased risk of developing breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). According to the FDA, 573 unique BIA-ALCL cases have been reported with 33 people having died from BIA-ALCL.
The risk of BIA-ALCL is six times higher in people with the Allergen textured-implants compared with textured-implants from other manufacturers. All of the products recalled have the signature BIOCELL textured surface. The FDA said that the “continued distribution of Allergan’s Biocell BIOCELL textured breast implants would likely cause serious, adverse health consequences and potentially death from BIA-ALCL.”
BIA-ALCL is a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma—cancer of the immune system. Unlike breast cancer, BIA-ALCL is found in the scar tissue surrounding the implant and can be treated by removing the implant and the tissue capsule. However, some patients may need to be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Women who have been diagnosed with BIA-ALCL have reported symptoms of pain and swelling near the breast implant. Others have reported symptoms including “chronic fatigue, hair loss, intestinal issues, and unexplained rashes and itching.”
If you have experienced these symptoms and have breast implants, seek out your healthcare provider for a BIA-ALCL exam immediately. You could also have a claim against the manufacturer and be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. Click on the link below to have our attorneys start working on your case.
