A MUM was told she had cancer for a second time – after her breast implants caused a rare form of the disease to develop.
Marie Bloom had a life-saving mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer a decade ago.
The 50-year-old decided to have reconstruction surgery, using implants, after being in remission for years.
She was planning a move to Dubai when she noticed swelling around the implants in December.
The mum pushed for more tests, after initially just being given antihistamines to reduced the swelling.
An ultrasound was done, with fluid spotted and tested – with the tragic news she had developed cancer again.
It wasn’t clear at first if this was from the first breast cancer or a new form, but eventually tests showed it was concentrated to the implant.
Fortunately the cancer is at stage one, and can be dealt with by removing the implants.
It’s a very rare form of cancer called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), which affects the immune system.
The cancer develops in the scar tissue capsule and fluid surrounding a breast implant – and, in some cases, it can spread throughout the body.
BIA-ALCL is curable in most patients if it’s diagnosed early and treated, but a small number have died from the illness.
Marie told the Manchester Evening News: “After I was diagnosed with breast cancer I was advised to get a mastectomy and they offered me reconstruction surgery with implants which I decided to do.
“You are told the risks but it was more about infection. To the best of my memory I can never remember being told about BIA-ALCL.
“But of course I would have never had the implants if I had known they could cause cancer. I don’t think anyone would take that risk.”
“I am a nurse with medical experience so I really knew when to push things but I’d be worried that less confident women would be turned away.
“I am one of the lucky ones because it has been picked up so early.
“If I can save one person’s life then I know something good has come out of my diagnosis.”
