The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday confirmed a link between breast implants and a rare form of lymphoma.
Here are four things to know.
1. The FDA first identified a link between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma — a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma — in 2011. Since then, the agency has investigated more than 350 cases of women with silicone or saline breast implants who've developed ALCL in the last decade.
"All of the information to date suggests that women with breast implants have a very low but increased risk of developing ALCL compared to women who do not have breast implants," the FDA said in a statement.
2. While nine cases resulted in death, the agency said the cancer is rare and can be easily treated if caught early.
"Most cases of breast implant-associated ALCL are treated by removal of the implant and the capsule surrounding the implant and some cases have been treated by chemotherapy and radiation," the FDA said.
3. FDA data shows ALCL occurs more often in patients with textured surface breast implants, rather than implants with smooth surfaces. Of the 231 reports containing information on the implant's surface, 203 were textured implants and 28 were smooth, according to the report.
4. The agency encourages patients to do research before choosing a breast implant, get routine mammograms and contact their physician if they notice any changes or discomfort, according to the report.
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