It is important to know the symptoms of breast implant associated cancer. The most common symptom is swelling of a breast caused by fluid build-up around the implant. In some cases, it may appear as a lump in the breast or armpit.

The symptoms of include:

• Enlargement or swelling of your breast.
• Hardening of your breast.
• Lumps in your breast or armpit.
• Pain in your breast or armpit.
• Redness or skin rash on or around your breast (rarely).

If you experience symptoms that concern you, remember that noncancerous issues are a much more likely cause. These may include:

• Capsular contracture.
• Implant rupture.
• Infection.
• Recent trauma.

Diagnosis & Tests:

The symptoms may appear a year or many years later after implantation.

Clinical signs may be the same as for patients without implantation.

Medical history and a physical examination will be performed followed by appropriate investigations.

Tests:

-Breast imaging:

• Ultrasound to look for fluid accumulation or lumps in your breast. Ultrasound can also show swelling in lymph nodes.
• Mammogram
• MRI provides more detail of your breast and lymph nodes.

-Biopsy

This test involves either a fine needle or a larger, hollow-core needle, depending on the type of tissue being collected. This is to rule out cancer.

Management is the same as for patients without implants, however this may involve surgical removal of the implant. The outcome in patients that do develop breast cancer, even with implants, is the same as those without implants.

Any person who feels a lump must get it checked out. Don’t assume any lump is the breast implant or ignore it.

8 Things To Know About Breast Cancer Screening With Implants

1. Know How They Feel

Familiarised yourself with the new normal, so you able to not miss any new lumps that may arise.

2. Implants May Reduce Breast Cancer Detection

Appropriate investigation is mandatory and informing your doctor or radiologist that you have an implant should be communicated earlier.

3. Inform the Mammography Team

4. Extra Images Might Be Needed

A breast MRI is done to provide more detail of the breast tissue and assess the axilla. It also provides a high pick up rate of the cancer that might have been obscured in the Mammogram.

5. Implant Rupture With Mammography Is Rare

Are you worried that your implant might burst under compression? Research has shown that rupture is not a common occurrence.

6. Other Types of Screening May Be Necessary

-Ultrasound

-Biopsy

7. There’s a Risk for Lymphoma

Breast implants are generally not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer risk is tied to such factors as age, being overweight, having a family history of the disease, or inheriting certain genetic mutations.

However, there is increase risk of a rare type of lymphoma. This type of lymphoma is called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

BIA-ALCL symptoms include:

• Breast asymmetry
• Lumps
• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling

Treatment usually involves removing the implants and surrounding tissue. Systemic therapy in the form of chemotherapy and radiotherapy if indicated.

8. Complications May Necessitate Removal

Patients with implants who undergo radiation therapy for breast cancer are at increased risk of capsular contracture. Radiation therapy causes the fibrous tissue that develops around the implant to become hard, tight, and painful.

Familiarise yourself with the normal and don’t ignore any lumps. Early detection translates into better outcomes.