France bans certain breast implants linked to a rare type of lymphatic cancer

Disclaimer: the content of this article is coherent with the information disclosed by April the 18th of 2020. The regulations regarding the ban of the implants or research around the lymphoma has since evolved. You can find more information at the ASNM - French Agency for the Safety of Health Products.

By: Valentina Salazar Tena, April the 18th of 2020

As revealed the past 4th of April by the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) a series of textured breast implants have been banned from France as a precautionary measure given the potential risk of developing large-cell lymphoma, a rare type of cancer that attacks the immune system.

The government has approved the measure prohibiting the commercialization, publicity, use, and implantations of the specified models in French territory.

The decision is motivated by a series of studies that show a relation with the friction of these textured implants against the mammary tissue that could lead to the appearance of the lymphoma.

However, the percentage of the cases is reduced when compared to the number of patients with these implants that elevates 14 million worldwide with only 697 cases linked to cancer, that´s why the ANSM does not support the preventative extraction of the prosthesis that have already been implanted.

According to Dr. Pedro Urazán doctor in medicine and surgery, specialized in plastic surgery in the Nacional University of Colombia and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Ibero- Latin American Federation of Plastic Surgery (FILACP) the problem that appears with removing the texture on the implants is a complication called capsular contracture, a response on the immunological system that consists in the hardening of the tissue around the prosthesis.

The contracture causes immense pain on the patient and concludes with the extraction of the implant. A problem that considerably common when using non-texture implants and that was almost completely eradicated with the invention of the textured implants in the 1980´s.

“It would represent a setback of years in technological advances” remarks the doctor referring to removing the texture on the implants – “There is no absolute solution to the problem since the perfect implants do not exist. The most responsible posture is therefore to give preference to the implants with micro texture that have a more fine granulated surface and have less risk of developing the lymphoma”.

The surgeon who has performed breast augmentation in around 2000 women during his 33 years of expertise also points out the importance of making further investigation, considering the fact that other non-textures implants like the ones used for replacing heart valves have also shown links with cancer.

Therefore in order to confirm the effects the implants have on the body it is key to expand the studies on a bigger population sample and discard other circumstantial factors that could explain the appearance of the cancer cells.

This posture has also been adapted by countries such as Spain, Argentina and The United States that have not followed the French lead and have instead opted to focus on the close monitoring of the implants and further investigation on the issue.