What is BIA-ALCL?
Can Breast implants cause cancer? If you have breast implants or have been considering breast augmentation, It’s a question you may have wondered about after seeing news stories or social posts about something called BIA-ALCL. When the FDA announced there was an association between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), many women became concerned. While breast augmentation is, by and large, still considered a safe procedure when performed by an experienced cosmetic surgeon, it’s important to understand all the medical information available. What is BIA-ALCL? ALCL is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that impacts the immune system. It develops when there is a build-up of abnormal T-cells in the lymph nodes and can spread to other parts of the body. BIA-ALCL is an even rarer form of ALCL that develops in the scar tissue that surrounds breast implants. BIA-ALCL is not a form of breast cancer. While there is a connection between breast implants and ALCL...