Some Breast Implant Cases Are Associated With Skin Cancer, FDA Receives Reports

In a safety notice, the FDA has received several reports of certain cancers in the scar tissue around breast implants.
The FDA learned about these reports through continual postmarket reviews of breast implants and ongoing collaboration with external stakeholders.
As of Sept. 1, 2022, the FDA had received ten reports about squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, and 12 reports about various lymphomas related to breast implants.
Right now, we do not have enough information to say whether breast implants cause these cancers or if some implants pose a higher risk than others, the agency said in a separate report.
Earlier, the agency added new restrictions and warning labels for breast implants following reports of women who developed breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a cancer of the immune system.
The FDA said the new lymphoma cases were distinct from BIA-ALCL reported earlier.
It said the occurrence of cancers in scar tissues around an implant might be rare, and the incidence rate and risk factors are currently unknown.
Companies have their implants approved by the FDA: Allergan owned by Abbvie Inc ABBV, Mentor, a Johnson & Johnson JNJ company, Sientra Inc SIEN, and Privately held Ideal Implant Incorporated.

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