Are Implants Beneficial After Breast Cancer?
Reported December 31, 2004
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Some breast cancer patients choose to have breast reconstruction after they have a mastectomy. A new study shows choosing to have implants does not reduce the long-term survival of the patient. In fact, researchers found women with implants had a better chance of survival than those who did not have implants.
Previous research has shown that breast implants do not have a negative impact on a cancer patients health in the short term. However, long-term studies have not been done. The current study was done by researchers at Northern California Cancer Centre. The study included data from about 12 years.
The study included more than 4,000 women under age 65 who were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. All of the women had a mastectomy, and some opted to have a breast implant. Researchers say out of the 21 percent of the women who had a breast implant, about 12 percent died from their breast cancer. However, of the women who did not have an implant, about 19 percent died from their breast cancer during the study. After controlling for other factors, researchers conclude that breast cancer mortality in patients with breast implants is about half that of patients without implants.
Further research is needed to explain this apparent benefit of breast implants for breast cancer patients. Researchers speculate that the implants may boost the morale and self-esteem of the patient, which could improve their survival. The implants may also lead to better medical care. Some studies have suggested that breast implants could stimulate the immune system and reduce blood flow to the breast, thereby impairing cell and tumor growth. No matter what the reason, researchers say it is clear breast implants do not have any adverse effects on breast cancer patients.
SOURCE: Breast Cancer Research, 2004;7:R185-R193