Recall Notice
The US Food and Drug Administration just announced a recall of a particular breast implant that the agency linked with a rare cancer called anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.
Of the 573 worldwide cases of the cancer, 481 have been attributed to breast implants manufactured by the company Allergan, according to an FDA press release published Wednesday. Specifically, The New York Times reports that the cancers seem to be linked to textured implants that are more popular — and already recalled — in many European countries.
Terms and Conditions
Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is an immune system cancer that can develop near breast implants after augmentative surgery or a mastectomy. The FDA said that the cancer has caused 33 deaths worldwide. The specific type of breast implant was only known for 13 of those cases, but of those, 12 were manufactured by Allergan.
The FDA recommends that people who already have Allergan implants but don't show any symptoms shouldn't go out of their way to have them removed, according to the NYT. But doctors shouldn't implant any more Allergan products and should send any they have in stock back to the manufacturer.
New Evidence
Amy Abernethy, the FDA's Principal Deputy Commissioner, said in the press release that the FDA has been monitoring the link between the rare cancer and breast implants since 2011.
"Based on new data, our team concluded that action is necessary at this time to protect the public health," she said.
READ MORE: Breast Implants Linked to Rare Cancer Are Recalled Worldwide [The New York Times]
More on implants: Report Reveals How Faulty Medical Implants Are Killing Patients
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