Breast Implants not Linked to Cancer
Reported April 19, 2006
(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
