An estimated 200,000+ women in the Netherlands between the ages of 20 and 70 have breast implants, and approximately one quarter received these implants as part of reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy as treatment for breast cancer or a hereditary predisposition.
Last year, researchers led by the Netherlands Cancer Institute demonstrated that this group of women does not have an increased risk of health problems associated with Breast Implant Illness, including fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cognitive symptoms, sleep disturbances and depression. It has been known for some time that women with silicone breast implants have an increased risk of developing a rare form of lymphoma in the breast. Fortunately, this risk is very small.
In a new study, clinicians and researchers looked into the incidence of autoimmune and rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, in which the immune system targets and damages the body’s own tissues.
A multidisciplinary team from six Dutch hospitals analyzed data from more than 12,000 women who had been treated for breast cancer between 2000 and 2015 in the participating six hospitals. The cohort included women who underwent breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy without reconstruction, or mastectomy followed by reconstruction using either the body’s own tissue or silicone breast implants.
The incidence of autoimmune or rheumatic disease did not differ between women who underwent implant-based reconstruction, and those in other treatment groups. Approximately 1 in 14 women were diagnosed with autoimmune or rheumatic disease years after their breast cancer treatment (see information block below). The analysis accounted for differences in age, tumor stage, and other additional therapies. The study is published today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
This investigation was initiated in response to prior studies suggesting a potential increased risk of autoimmune and rheumatic diseases. Those studies, however, compared women with cosmetic breast augmentation to individuals from the general population rather than breast cancer patients.
“This study is the first to specifically evaluate the association between silicone breast implants and autoimmune or rheumatic diseases in breast cancer patients,” physician-researcher Jonathan Spoor explains. “Women often hesitate when considering reconstructive surgery because of concerns about potential illness resulting from silicone implants. These findings are reassuring for women contemplating reconstruction as well as anyone who already has silicone implants.”
“Women facing health symptoms after silicone breast implants should be able to count on understanding and acknowledgement of their heath care professional, and potential underlying causes should be investigated further,” Spoor emphasizes. “The results of these studies contribute to transparent discussions regarding the pros and cons of implant-based reconstruction after breast cancer, allowing patients to make well-informed decisions that match their preferences.”