Article first published as Full of Sound and Fury - Signifying Trouble on Technorati.
Foxnews.com reported this week that during a 13-year period the FDA has discovered 60 people suffering a “rare cancer known as anaplastic large cell lymphoma.” It attacks lymph nodes and has been found in the scar tissue that surrounds the breast implant.”
The report could well have referred to a beloved family friend who was so desperate to maintain her appearance and feeling of self-worth after a double mastectomy that she insisted on having breast implants.
Her original cancer had been cleared and was in remission but once she had the implants her problems returned with a vengeance.
Immediately after the initial treatment, she was unable to sleep and described pacing her upstairs landing trying to cope with the intense ‘pressure’ inside her chest.
When I suggested that the treatment may not have agreed with her, she responded hotly that millions of other women had implants without side-effects. Why should she be different?
But then the cancer returned more fiercely than ever and my final memory of her is seeing her at the famous Christie Hospital in Manchester, U.K., - desperate for breath - being offered sips of water by her son.
The last vestige of the striking, strong, passionate woman we had known were her exquisitely manicured and polished finger nails, as she clung vainly on to life by her appearance even at the end.
I am convinced more than 10 years later that she would be living now if she had not insisted on those darned implants.
As anywhere between five and 10 million women worldwide have breast implants, the FDA now urges doctors to report all cases of the cancer so staff may better understand the association.
The FDA says: "Women should monitor their breast implants and contact their doctor if they notice any changes."
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