The Irish Medicines Board has become aware of the death of a woman in France who had been implanted with Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) breast implants. The woman died from anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). This is a rare form of cancer which affects cells of the immune system.
The Medicines Board has categorically stated that there was no risk to any woman who has been implanted with PIP breast implants of developing this form of cancer.
The French Government have recommended that all women who have PIP breast implants should have them removed as a preventive measure because of concerns of high rate implant rupture and cancer.
The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency in the UK (MHRA) have continuously monitored the safety of the PIP breast implants. In 2010 they commissioned testing on the silicone gel filler used in the implants. The results from this testing demonstrated that there was no evidence of genotoxicity (potential for cancer) or chemical toxicity.
The MHRA has not received any reports of women with breast implants of any type in the UK with a diagnosis of ALCL.
The Irish Medicines Board has advised any women with these breast implants who have questions about their breasts or think that their implants may have ruptured should seek immediate clinical advice from their implanting surgeon.
Liam Moloney Solicitor who is investigating claims for damages from affected women who have received the PIP breast implants said today “any person who has undergone breast augmentation surgery in the past number of years should contact their treating clinical surgeon to establish whether they were implanted with PIP implants. If they did receive PIP implants they should immediately contact their clinic to have the appropriate tests carried out to establish that have not ruptured. If a clinical decision is taken to have the implants removed clients should insist that these procedures are paid in full by the clinic. They should also be given the results of the tests and assurance that no damage has been caused to their health as a result of the implantation of these breast implants.”
