Breast Implants Lawsuits Filed Due to Link to Rare Cancer

Breast Implants Lawsuits Filed Due to Link to Rare Cancer

A rare form of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can develop after a person receives breast implants.

Lawsuits are moving forward.

Breast Implants Lawsuits Filed Due to Link to Rare Cancer

Breast Implant Lawsuits are currently being filed on behalf of women who believe their rare cancer diagnosis could be related to their breast implants.

On March 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement that a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can develop after a person receives breast implants, based on more than 350 reports of this type of cancer and its connection to breast implants.

Breast Implants Lawsuits Filed Due to Link to Rare Cancer

Breast Implants Lawsuits Updates Timeline

January 1st, 2017: FDA Receives 359 Reports Linking Implants to Rare Lymphoma

FDA receives 359 medical device reports lining implants with BIA-ALCL, a rare form of lymphoma.

January 1st, 2016: Women Sue Over Injuries from Leaking Silicone Breast Implants

Breast Implant Lawsuits filed on behalf of women who believe their injuries are linked to leaking silicone breast implants.

January 1st, 2011: FDA Links Breast Implants to Rare Lymphoma

FDA links breast implants to rare form of lymphoma.

January 1st, 2008: Johnson & Johnson Buys Mentor for $1.1 Billion After Implant Approval

Johnson & Johnson purchases Mentor for $1.1 billion after it is the first device maker to win approval to reintroduce silicone breast implants.

January 1st, 1999: Dow Corning Seeks Bankruptcy After $4 Billion Implant Settlement

Dow Corning Corp, once the largest maker of implants, seeks bankruptcy after a $4 billion settlement to women for implants.

January 1st, 1995: Dow Pays $3.2 Billion to Injured Women, Exits Bankruptcy

Dow agrees to pay $3.2 billion in settlement to injured women and emerges from bankruptcy.

January 1st, 1992: Regulators Ban Silicone Breast Implants Over Cancer, Arthritis Risks

Regulators ban the use of silicone-based breast implants because of risk of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

In 2011, the FDA identified a link between breast implants and the development of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare type of non-Holdgkin’s lymphoma.

A 2016 paper published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal suggests that chronic inflammation could play a role.

Some studies have found markers of chronic inflammation contained in the scar tissue around breast implants, which may suggest that an immune response to the implants could trigger the cancer.

According to the FDA, women with breast implants have an increased risk of developing ALCL compared to those who do not have breast implants.

Researchers are still working to discover how breast implants may be linked to ALCL.

Risk of Lymphoma Higher in Textured Implants

The majority of women who have a confirmed diagnosis of BIA-ALCL had textured breast implants.

Of the 231 reports of ALCL received by the FDA, 203 related to textured implants, while only 28 involved smooth implants.

Although it is not clear why the risk of cancer is higher among those with textured breast implants, the body appears to react differently to the textured ones.

The FDA continues to evaluate information about why women with textured implants are at a higher risk for this diagnosis.

According to the FDA, those who developed ALCL ranged in age from 25 to 91, and the average time between the implant surgery and the cancer diagnosis was seven years, although, in at least one case, the time period was 40 years.

What Should I do If I Have Breast Implants?

The agency advised that those who are considering breast implants should speak with their physicians concerning the risks and benefits of textured implants versus smooth implants.

Furthermore, it is important that all women with breast implants comply with the recommended follow-up care given to them by their doctors.

Breast Implant Lawsuits

Breast implant lawyers are currently speaking to women who developed ALCL and who believe their breast implants may be the cause.

We expect breast implant cancer lawsuits to be filed shortly and will continue to update the public as these cases develop.

Two California women suffering from pain, nausea, skin rashes and extreme fatigue that they believe are tied to leaking implants filed lawsuits against Mentor Worldwide, a Johnson & Johnson unit.

The first breast implant lawsuit was filed in San Francisco in September 2016 and a second breast implant lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles in February 2017.

Breast Implant lawyers believe the problems with Mentor’s silicone implants may be pervasive and thousands of women may be harmed.

Women diagnosed with ALCL, a rare form of cancer, may want to read Breast Implants Lawsuit Filed Due to Link to Rare Cancer to consider whether they need to seek a lawsuit to compensate their injuries.

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Jessica Paluch-Hoerman

Attorney Jessica Paluch-Hoerman, founder of TruLaw, has over 28 years of experience as a personal injury and mass tort attorney, and previously worked as an international tax attorney at Deloitte. Jessie collaborates with attorneys nationwide — enabling her to share reliable, up-to-date legal information with our readers.

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and legal experts at TruLaw and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced injury lawyer, Jessie Paluch, you can do so here.

TruLaw does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us by using the chat on the bottom of this page. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.

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You can learn more about this topic by visiting any of our Breast Implants Lawsuits pages listed below:
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Breast Implants Lawsuits Filed Due to Link to Rare Cancer

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