Risk of breast cancer with implants?
Meet the Experts
Ruth Oratz, M.D., F.A.C.P. is associate professor of clinical medicine at New York University School of Medicine. She is the founder of The Women's Oncology & Wellness Practice in New York City where she specializes in treating women with breast cancer and other malignancies, as well as those at risk for cancer.
Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a general surgeon with a focus in breast cancer care and the CEO and medical director of the Comprehensive Breast Care Institute at DSI of Bucks County, PA.
Question from ReneS: Is the risk of breast cancer any different if you have had breast implants? I had my first breast implants 37 years ago and two implant replacements over the last 20 years. I just found a lump under my left arm and a swelling above my left breast. I'm visiting the breast clinic soon. Is there likely to be any problem with treatment because of having implants? Thank you.
- Answers —Beth DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S.: There is no difference in the incidences in women who have implants. There may be issues in the diagnostic workup, depending upon whether the implants were placed above or below the muscle. A swelling in your left breast needs to be evaluated with both mammography and ultrasound, and an ultrasound evaluation of the lump under your arm should also be undertaken. The treatment, surgically, of breast cancer in women with implants can at times be challenging, as the amount of native breast tissue in women with implants (by virtue of the fact that their native breast size was likely small prior to the placement of the implants) can be challenging to the surgeon. And the treatment of breast cancer in women with implants is the same as in women without implants. I have many times used chemotherapy to shrink tumors in order to help perform breast conserving surgery in women with a small volume of native breast tissue.
- Ruth Oratz, M.D., F.A.C.P.: If you make diagnosis of breast cancer in a woman who has breast implants, it is not required that the implants be removed. Depending on the size and location of the tumor, it may be possible for breast conservation therapy; that is, the surgery to permit the implants to remain in place. Certainly, in women who have a diagnosis of breast cancer who don't have implants and who undergo mastectomies, we insert implants as a type of breast reconstruction. So we are comfortable that the presence of the implant itself does not increase the risk of breast cancer. But as you heard, there may be some technical issues related to imaging and surgery that need to be considered. The presence of implants has no impact on our choice of systemic therapy, whether or not we use chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or biologic treatments.
On Wednesday, September 20, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Open for Your Questions. Ruth Oratz, M.D., F.A.C.P. and moderator Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S. answered your questions covering a wide variety of issues relating to breast cancer.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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