A deadly cancer linked to breast implants has been found in additional women in the United States, federal health officials said.
At least 457 women in the United States have been diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, the Food and Drug Administration said in a statement Wednesday. Nine of those women have died from the cancer, according to CNN.
The rare cancer affects cells in the immune system and can be found around a breast implant — which increases a woman’s risk of developing the cancer to begin with, the FDA said.
“We hope that this information prompts providers and patients to have important, informed conversations about breast implants,” the federal agency said.
As a result of the growing number of cases being discovered, the FDA issued a letter warning those in the medical field of the association between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, CNN reported.
“We want all healthcare providers to be aware … particularly in patients with new swelling, lumps, or pain around breast implants, to expedite diagnosis of this malignancy,” the letter said. “We are also asking health care providers to report to the FDA cases of Breast Implant Associated – Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. (BIA-ALCL) in patients with breast implants. This includes reporting individual cases as well as rates you may have experienced during your practice.”
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