BREAST IMPLANTS TIED TO BRAIN CANCER
Women with silicone breast implants may suffer significantly higher
rates of brain cancer and respiratory-tract diseases than normal,
according to a study led by the National Cancer Institute. Medical
experts found that women with implants had triple the risk of death
from respiratory-tract diseases such as lung cancer, emphysema and
pneumonia than other plastic surgery patients, possibly because of
exposure to silicone.
Women with implants also had double the risk
of dying from brain cancer than plastic surgery patients, a finding
that surprised researchers. The study compared these two groups
because they tend to come from the same economic and social back-
grounds, therefore minimizing the chance that lifestyle was respon-
sible for this deadly difference. On average, the women studied
were in their mid-30s when they received the implants and all the
women had their implants for at least eight years. The risk of
death was even higher among women who had their implants 15 years
or more.
The investigators note women with silicone breast implants
report many mental changes such as memory loss that may potentially
be indications of brain cancer. The researchers reported their find-
ings in the May issue of the journal Epidemiology.