Q: Are There Special Risks for Cancer Patients?Breast implants are regularly offered as part of cancer treatment. In many cases, they are inserted so seamlessly into the surgery-reconstruction-recovery process that the patient – weakened, dispirited and perhaps fighting for her life – may not realize that receiving implants is a choice. While the long-term health risks of implants in cancer survivors have not been established due to the absence of research, their short-term effects are well known. Cancer patients who receive breast implants, saline or silicone, are more likely to experience complications than women who get implants for cosmetic reasons. According to a report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, “30 to 40 percent of (reconstruction) patients could expect complications,” including infection, severe contracture, deflation and implant removal. Studies from implant manufacturers Mentor, McGhan and Inamed have shown that approximately three out of four reconstruction patients experience at least one local complication – such as pain, infection, hardening, or the need for additional surgery – in the first three years. In those studies, 46 percent of women with silicone gel implants and 21 percent with saline implants underwent at least one re-operation within three years. There are reconstructive processes that do not require implants, such as natural tissue transfer. Cancer patients should inquire about alternative reconstructive opportunities and understand that it requires time and a clear mind to research all available options. | |
