Breast Implants
Many women all over the world elect to undergo voluntary cosmetic surgery to alter parts of their body. When you decide to undergo cosmetic surgery, you put not only your appearance, but your health in the trust of the doctors and manufacturers involved in the surgery. Unfortunately, when it comes to breast augmentation through the addition of breast implants, the implants have resulted in a cancer diagnosis in some patients. More specifically, textured breast implants have demonstrated the greatest association with a cancer diagnosis. At the Holman Law Firm, we represent women who have elected to receive textured breast implants and have been diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). If you have undergone cosmetic surgery and received an ALCL diagnosis as a result of your textured breast implants, please call the Holman Law Firm at 850-435-6909 to schedule a consultation.
Adverse Health Outcomes Caused By Breast Implants
One of the most important differentiations to understand is that ALCL is not breast cancer, it is considered a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This form of lymphoma specifically is caused by a gene mutation that results in T-cell overproduction of a protein called anaplastic lymphoma kinase. The cancer occurs in the scar tissue that holds the implant in place within the breast. There is not conclusive scientific evidence as to why textured breast implants are linked to ALCL, but some believe that it could be due to inflammation that results in the scar tissue forming. It could also be that a bacterial infection at the site of the incision plays a role as well as any history of lymphoma within your family. Though the risk of developing ALCL is not high, once you are diagnosed with ALCL, the condition is quite serious and leads to a serious risk of death.
Symptoms that are typically associated with ALCL onset include:
- Swelling in your lymph nodes (usually painless)
- Appetite loss
- Increased fatigue
- Fevers
- Night sweats
- Pain in the breast area
- Mass in the breast area
Lawsuit History With Breast Implants
To this day, there have not been any mass tort cases involving ALCL diagnosis as a result of breast implants. However, part of the process of filing a mass tort case involves a step called Multi-District Litigation (MDL) in which a large amount of cases are collected and presented in federal court. As of December 2019, there is an MDL involving textured breast plants against Allergen. Additionally, as of February 2021, there are over 500 individual lawsuits pending in the established MDL.
The FDA has submitted over 700 cases of ALCL in women with breast implants as of January 2020. Most notably, 85% of these cases were reported in women who had received breast implants manufactured by Allergan. After the higher risk of ALCL associated with Allergan textured breast implants was determined in 2018, the selling of Allergan textured breast implants was suspended in all European countries, Australia, Brazil, and Israel. Additionally, Canada suspended the use, sale, and license of Allergan’s Biocell breast implants in May of 2019. Finally, here in the U.S., the FDA decided to take immediate action to protect patients and invited Allergan to voluntarily recall all of their textured breast implants that were out on the U.S. market.
What Damages Could You Be Entitled To By Joining A Lawsuit For Breast Implants?
No one should have to suffer at the hands of faulty medical devices that are meant to boost your confidence, not cause serious adverse health outcomes. If you are someone you love has been diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) as a result of undergoing breast augmentation and receiving textured breast implants you could be entitled to monetary damages. Damages we will seek on your behalf include:
- Any medical expenses you have incurred as a result of your condition
- Any future medical expenses that you may incur as a result of your condition
- Loss of wages or salary if this applies
- Compensation for pain and suffering (both mental and physical) that was a direct result of your condition
- Any other expenses or financial losses that were a direct result of your condition
- Punitive damages if this applies
If you or a loved one has suffered from an ALCL diagnosis as a result of receiving textured breast implants, it’s imperative that you speak with a skilled mass tort attorney who can represent your best interests in court. If you are interested in learning more or having your case evaluated by a professional, please call the Holman Law Firm at 850-435-6909 to schedule a consultation.