Investigating Allergan Breast Implants Link to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
The Clark Law Firm, PC is currently investigating claims involving consumers of Allergan’s breast implants more specifically it’s Biocell and Microcell products as well as other major textured breast implant manufacturers who have suffered complications from the implant such as Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
Most people are not familiar with the term BIA-ALCL, but for the ones that have undergone Breast implant surgery, they know that BIA-ALCL is a disease that is not taken lightly at all. BIA-ALCL is not breast cancer, rather BIA-ALCL is a type of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma or in other words, cancer to the immune system. Unlike popular opinion this disease does not occur overnight, in fact, on average, consumers have encountered symptoms associated with BIA-ALCL within a span of 8 to 10 years after the installation of said implants. The most common symptoms associated to BIA-ALCL include unexplained breast enlargement, fluid build-up, asymmetry, and lumps in the breast or armpit, yet, more subtle symptoms such as skin rashes or hardening of the breast are being linked to BIA-ALCL as well. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should not hesitate to see your primary care physician for a physical examination that could very well prevent this disease from going undetected.
In fact, Allergan has lost its CE marks, a certificate required for any manufacturer to sell medical devices in the EU, and therefore has lost its’ privilege to sell many of its products in over 33 European countries as a result of the ongoing concerns that have called for a link between their products, most specifically their textured breast implants, and various types of Cancers such as BIA-ALCL.
This phenomenon is not only prominent in Europe, as the alarming correlation between BIA-ALCL as well as textured breast implants and public scrutiny has prompted the FDA to conduct a more in-depth investigation regarding this issue. In fact, after recent General and Plastic Surgery safety hearings, an FDA advisory panel has been successfully pressured to force the companies that are manufacturing said faulty devices to conduct redesigned studies that should act as safeguards to their faulty products. The FDA was well aware of the remarkable health risks and concerns associated with these breast implants, yet in instead of conducting a proper investigation they failed to acknowledge the complaints brought by the consumers as well as the scientific research validating same. In fact, the FDA has recently disclosed that in the last two years alone there have been over 90,000 reported cases of health complaints in relation to breast implants, a number significantly greater than the previous disclosed, yet they failed to address the vast majority of them.
You are not alone. There are others just like you, that are currently suffering due to Allergan’s and other major textured breast implant manufacturers allegedly faulty products. Biocell and Microcell, Allergan’s textured implants, are suspected of causing damage. In addition to personal injury, consumers worldwide have spent money on these implants which they never would have purchased had they known of these risks. It is believed that a lack of testing and in depth-analysis resulted in these allegedly unsafe products being sold.
Allergan’s textured implants Biocell and Microcell may become the subject of consideration for a recall. Members of the FDA’s General and Plastic Surgery Device Panel advisory committee is calling for more robust data on breast implants. This includes determining how to utilize breast implant registries for data generations about patient outcomes, identify potential shortcomings of the registry system, and discuss the role that types of implants (textured versus smooth) may play in the development of BIA-ALCL. Four Canadian women and a Canadian researcher appeared before an FDA panel urging a ban on textured breast implants they say are sickening women. Allergan VP of Clinical Development Stephanie Brown told the panel that incidents of BIA-ALCL are low and when identified early and treated appropriately prognosis is excellent. Breast implants are also suspected of causing immune system disorders, but to date, the FDA has not acknowledged a link.
If you or a loved one has undergone breast implant surgery, and have been caused to suffer BIA-ALCL as a result of a complication with a textured breast implant you may be entitled to file a claim against the breast implant manufacturer. Please do not hesitate to contact the Clark Law Firm, P.C. for a consultation.
Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience in product liability cases and all areas of personal injury. We would be happy to work with you to make sure that you receive the appropriate compensation to which you are entitled. Contact us today to speak with an attorney about a potential defective breast implant case. We can assist you with representation in New Jersey and finding a lawyer throughout the United States.
