(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Having breast implants is not associated with
an increased risk of cancer overall, reveals a new study. However, implants
were associated an increased lung cancer risk. Researchers say these results
reflect the lifestyles and smoking habits of women in the study rather than
an effect of the implants themselves.
Joseph K. McLaughlin, Ph.D., of the International Epidemiology Institute in
Rockville, Md., and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville examined
the incidence of cancer in a nationwide group of 3,486 Swedish women who had
cosmetic implants between 1965 and 1993 and were followed until the end of
2002. The researchers found 180 cancers in women -- fewer than the 193.1
they projected. Women with implants were actually found to have a decreased
risk of breast cancer.
The authors suggest the higher incidence of lung cancer may be due to the
high rate of cigarette smoking among Swedish women with cosmetic breast
implants.
Researchers also found no increased for other cancers, like brain cancer, or
for lymphoma, sarcoma or multiple myeloma.
SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2006;98:557-560
