FDA: Breast Implants Possibly Linked To Very Rare Cancer

In today's world many things can be linked to causes of illness, disease, and cancers.  Cancer can be obtained from natural causes, surrounding causes, like cigarette smoke, and even breast implants? It seems like in today's society anything can increase the risks of cancer.  It makes us start to take more caution in the life decisions we make, for who knows it could lead to serious health issues.  To begin let's identity what cancer is, and in this case the specific type of cancer that is being connected to breast implants.  This rare cancer, known as anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, or ALCL, is a type f non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, beginning in the lymphatic tissue.  It is important to understand that this is not a breast cancer.  It is a cancer of the cells of the immune system, and occur anywhere in the body including the lymph nodes and skin.  A person may experience ALCL when lymphocytes, which are found in the lymph nodes, do not have mature T cells, meant to fight off infections in the body, and they experience changes and do not behave in a normal manner.  Although this disease progresses quickly, the survival rate is high, with a five year survival rate reaching 70%.  This rare cancer has been discovered to be linked to saline and silicone breast implants in women.  The Food and Drug Administration has registered 60 cases so far, worldwide. The strange cancer can develop anywhere, but in all the cases reviewed they seem to have a common origin, the scar tissue around the implant.  Before women decided to drastically alter their bodies for their ideal perfect body, they should consider the risk factors that come along with it.  They need to understand the fact that this could lead to cancer and make sure they are willing to take that chance, and be prepared for the outcome.  It is advised to women everywhere to think about this and do more research on what they are wanting, and for women who already have breast implants be aware of your body and they experience any pain, swelling, or asymmetry, it is advised that they contact their doctor.  I found this article very interesting and something I had never heard of before.  It is amazing how many things in every day life can contribute to the possibility of obtaining cancers.  After reading this article I want to learn more about this topic and find out more about what causes and leads to women generating this type of rare cancer.  I want to know if it can be prevented, or if it is incapable of being controlled and contained.  This new discovery just goes to show how the medical field is always discovering new things and that we shouldn't be surprised by all the ways a person can become ill.  It is amazing what can affect us and how extreme it can be sometimes.  I will be more cautious of decisions from now on in life, and always be willing and curious to learn more about medical issues and what causes people to become ill.