- With Mayo Clinic internist
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
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Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, certified by the American Board of Family Practice, has been practicing medicine at Mayo Clinic since 1995 with special interests in breast diseases and women's health.
Dr. Pruthi is a consultant in the Department of Medicine, the Division of General Internal Medicine and the Breast Diagnostic Clinic. She is an associate professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native is enthusiastic about promoting education and patient-related research and has been active in both areas since joining Mayo Clinic. Dr. Pruthi is the primary investigator at Mayo Clinic of a clinical trial evaluating new agents for the prevention of breast cancer and has research interests in the identification of biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer.
Her other research and clinical interests include managing the health of women who are at increased risk of breast cancer, breast pain and hot flashes, and developing patient education decision-making tools for breast-related concerns.
She is past director of the Breast Diagnostic Clinic and has been a member of the Women's Health Executive Committee. Dr. Pruthi has been newly elected as a secretary of the executive committee for the American Society of Breast Disease. She has assisted with a variety of website content.
"Having an opportunity to share information and empower my patients in the way that will help them to understand and be able to make educated decisions about their own health is very important to me," Dr. Pruthi says.
"The Internet is a tremendous resource and information site for people, and I want them to get up-to-date and accurate information to be able to make informed choices for themselves, their family members and friends."
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Question
Breast implants and cancer: Any connection?
Is there any connection between breast implants and cancer? And if so, how serious is the risk?
Answer
from Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
A recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review found a possible association between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) — a rare cancer of the immune system. However, this connection between breast implants and cancer isn't well defined or clearly supported.
ALCL can develop in various parts of the body, including the lymph nodes and skin. Rarely, it can develop in the breast. According to the National Cancer Institute, ALCL is diagnosed in about 1 out of 500,000 women a year in the United States — and ALCL in the breast is diagnosed in only 3 in 100 million women a year in the United States.
The FDA reports about 60 cases of ALCL among the millions of women worldwide who have breast implants. The recent review identified 34 cases, and more than 20 additional cases were reported to the FDA by various outside groups. The true number of cases is difficult to pinpoint, however, and may be less than 60 worldwide.
Researchers haven't yet determined whether the surface texture of an implant could affect the risk of ALCL in the breast, or whether the association is higher depending on the type of implant — saline or silicone.
Any association between breast implants and cancer is concerning. Still, it's important to keep the potential risk in perspective. The number of women in the general population who have ALCL is quite low, and the number is even lower among women who have breast implants.
If you have breast implants, the new findings aren't a call to change your treatment plan or to have your breast implants removed. Remember, the possibility of ALCL is remote. Continue to consult your doctor for routine medical care, and report any signs or symptoms — such as swelling, lumps or pain — promptly.
If you're considering breast implants, work with your doctor to weigh the risks and benefits.
Next questionMenstrual cup: Good alternative to tampons?
- Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) in women with breast implants: Preliminary FDA findings and analyses. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm239996.htm. Accessed Feb. 3, 2011.
- Questions and answers about anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm241086.htm. Accessed Feb. 3, 2011.
- Altekruse SF,et al. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2007. National Cancer Institute. http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2007. Accessed Feb. 4, 2011.
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