Does Christina Applegate Have Breast Implant Illness?

Christina Applegate has always been refreshingly open about her health struggles. In 2008, she shared in a Good Morning America interview when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction with silicone implants. Later, in 2021, she announced on X that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord. She became an influential and beloved advocate for people living with chronic and hard-to-treat conditions.

Last month, she revealed on her MeSsy podcast that her medical team gave her some shocking news: She was misdiagnosed with MS.

Applegate no longer had any explanation for her ongoing, debilitating symptoms, which include severe joint pain, difficulty walking, extreme exhaustion, and other physical and neurological issues. "I'm back at square one where I don't know what's going on with me," she said.

But this week she shared that she’s looking into one possible culprit. 

“Over the last five years…I’ve thought…what if my breast implants are leaking and poisoning me?” she said, noting that she is “way overdue for having them replaced.”

Applegate also said that someone had sent her a study that suggested that “breast implant poisoning” can present with MS-like symptoms.

The study was likely referring to breast implant illness (BII), a little-understood condition that may be caused by an autoimmune or inflammatory reaction to breast implants. BII symptoms can be the same or similar to those of MS — joint and muscle pain, chronic fatigue, and memory and concentration problems, among many others. And it’s not necessarily caused by a leak or rupture in the implant: Someone can get BII if their implants are leaking or intact. Symptoms often improve or go away after surgery to remove the implants.

Many people, including several other celebrities, have realized they have BII after reading about the condition online. Long before Applegate brought it up on her podcast, fans had been speculating on social media and online message boards that she might have breast implant illness.

It’s not always easy to get a diagnosis of BII. The symptoms can overlap with those of several autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, and there aren’t widely agreed-upon diagnostic criteria or tests for it. Plus, many doctors aren’t knowledgeable about BII.  

Experts say that if you suspect you might have BII, it’s important to work with your doctors to first rule out other conditions that might be causing the symptoms. It’s also worth consulting with a plastic surgeon who has experience with BII or at the very least takes your concerns seriously. 

Applegate recently spent nearly four months in the hospital, and she continues to live with severe symptoms that leave her bedridden much of the time. On her podcast she said that in addition to looking into BII, her doctors will be testing her for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Lyme disease.

Meanwhile, people who’ve had BII are following her story closely, and sharing their own experiences on social media.

“I hope she brings awareness to this. ‘They’ say it is uncommon, but it happens a LOT more than we realize,” said one Facebook commenter.” Another added: “I hope Christina finds a breast surgeon who will help her get those things out of her body. I did and feel much better.”