A woman fighting a rare but deadly cancer linked to breast implants speaks out to warn others

Ms Stacey Boone had gone to the doctors multiple times and was turned away, dismissing her concerns as having just contracted the flu. It took an egg-sized lump on her collarbone and a 42 pound weight loss before the doctors finally gave her the correct diagnosis.

Ms Boone had stage 4 cancer.

The type of cancer she was diagnosed with is extremely rare. The breast implant is associated with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is a cancer in the lymphatic system which is essentially the immune system.

In 2011, there were already severe concerns that there were links between breast implants and this rare form of cancer. Regulators have since carried out investigations and found hundreds of women with the rare form of cancer that may be associated with breast implants.

Unfortunately, during that time, 9 women had passed away from the cancer, and all of them had textured implants. These have a textured surface that minimises the risk of the implant moving inside the breast. They also supposedly  reduce the risk of “capsular contracture” which causes the breast to become hard and misshapen.

Victims speaks out

Ms Boone spoke about the difficulties of suffering at the hands of the deadly cancer:

“…it has been the hardest road I ever could’ve imagine. I wanted to give up so many times.”

Ms Boone underwent breast augmentation surgery in 1990, wanting to improve her body shape and confidence. At the time of the operation, Ms Boone was reportedly not given a lot of information. She had no idea exactly what was being put into her body. Although in the U.S. only 13% of breast implants are textured, and unfortunately this is what Ms Boone received.

After she was diagnosed, Ms Boone had her breast implants removed before undergoing four periods of 6-week sessions of chemotherapy as well as a stem cell transplant.

Dr Mark Clemens, a plastic surgery professor explained that textured implants are 67 times more likely to develop the rare cancer than regular implants. Statistically, this means only 1 in 30,000 women in the U.S with textured breast implants will develop the deadly cancer.

Increased risk of ALCL in the U.K.

Textured implants are extremely common in the U.K taking up 99% of the market. One popular breast augmentation provider offers implants in ‘salt’, ‘silk’ or ‘velvet’ textured surfaces. Around 30,000 people have breast implants inserted every year. Going by the Dr Clemens statistics, this means that, every year, one person will develop ALCL as a result of the textured breast implant.

As with Ms Boone, cancer patients can undergo painful and lengthy chemotherapy and surgery to combat the deadly disease and the majority of the time, patients make a full recovery. However, for one British woman, Susan Grieve, surgery wasn’t enough and she passed away in 2012 having had the breast implants inserted in 2006.

Not long ago, scientists had warned these Islands that a handful of cases of ALCL associated with textured breast implants had been reported. Scientists think that the rougher surface gives harmful bacteria the opportunity to grow and develop cancer. Fazel Fatah, a plastic surgeon, who is a member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons offers reassuring words:

“These tumours are extremely rare, treatable and patients should continue to feel safe. There is no need to remove implants unless they develop sudden unexplained changes or swelling.”

For anyone who is considering having breast augmentation, please make sure you have done all the research available and check with your surgeon of all the possible risks. Your surgeon has a responsibility to make sure you fully understand the risks of the operation. If you have received any complications with your breast augmentation, talk to our specialist lawyers to see how we can help.