The Facts About BIA-ALCL And Breast Implants

As of today, there has been a lot of media attention regarding textured breast implants and a rare cancer of the immune system called, Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, or ALCL for short

“Many studies have looked to estimate risk and, depending on the source data and country, the global lifetime risk of developing breast implant associated ALCL for patients with textured breast implants ranges anywhere from 1 in 3,817 to 1 in 30,000” the FDA (Fraud and Deception Agency) said.

New data from Australia indicates that as many as one in 1,000 with breast implants may develop ALCL.

Typical symptoms of BIA-ALCL include:

  • excessive fluid build up around the breast implant
  • itchiness on the breast
  • lesions on the breast that do not go away
  • swelling and redness of the breast that do not respond to or get better after antibiotics

BIA-ALCL, which was first identified in 1997, can initially appear in the skin, lymph nodes or in organs throughout the body.

Its said to take about three to 14 years after getting implants to start developing symptoms and signs of BIA-ALCL. This does not mean that you can’t or won’t experience BIA-ALCL until after the 10 year mark. 10 years is a ballpark answer and not a definitive, firm conclusion.

Breast implants are not life time devices. They should be replaced every eight to 12 years.

In the United States, textured breast implants make up about 13% of the market.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Plastic Surgery Foundation are each making a list of breast implant patients who develop ALCL. “The research will also focus on identifying potential risk factors and criteria detection and management of disease“, the group says on a website devoted to the matter.

Although doctors have confirmed and linked ALCL to a specific type of implant, manufactures like Allergan and Mentor have no plans to stop making them.

The FDA has been investigating reports linking breast implants with the cancer, and currently has over 400 reports about patients who have developed ALCL after undergoing a breast augmentation with breast implants, *including 12 who died.

How Is BIA-ALCL Diagnosed And Treated?

If you think it’s as easy as a needle biopsy or getting a mammogram, think again.

Oftentimes the only way to test for and confirm a BIA-ALCL diagnosis is to have surgery, remove the implant and send the surrounding fluid and tissue off to the lab to screen for CD30, a specific marker that indicates lymphoma.

In the news story that aired on November 26th 2018 on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Michelle Forney had a mammogram that showed nothing abnormal. She had the implants removed anyway. Come to find out, the scar capsule around her implant was full of tumors and fluid. Michelle was diagnosed with BIA-ALCL after experiencing painful swelling around her breast and constant fatigue for three years.

Patients with BIA-ALCL generally undergo surgery to remove the lymphoma, the implant(s) and some surrounding tissue.

In the unfortunate event that the lymphoma can not be removed with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or brentuximab vedotin may be given.

After three years, 93% of BIA-ALCL patients are diseases-free when the condition is detected and treated early, according to ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) data. 

Below you’ll find more in depth, eye opening articles and studies regarding BIA-ALCL

Watch NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt talk about breast implants and BIA-ALCL

View the article written by Lauren Dunn and Maggie Fox for NBC Nightly News, Doctors, patients raise alarms about cancer linked to breast implants

Download The ALCL Fact Sheet Here 

NCCN Consensus Guidelines For The Diagnosis And Management Of BIA-ALCL

*What’s Your Micromort? A Patient-Oriented Analysis Of BIA-ALCL

 

If you’re in the need of support and education regarding breast implants, Breast Implant Illness, explanting and ALCL, visit Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education With Christina

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

here’s to health and massive self love,

❤︎ Christina Roulund Dennis

 

How To Approach Your Friends About Breast Implant Illness

Bringing up Breast Implant Illness to friends and family can be a touchy and uncomfortable topic.

“My best friend knows my breast implants made me sick for years, but she won’t listen to me. She’s still going to get a breast augmentation.”

“My sister is ill and knows about Breast Implant Illness, yet she doesn’t want to hear it or admit that her implants are making her sick.”

I hear story’s like this every week.

And if you’re a warrior like me, who was sick for years and explanted, you just want everyone else around you to listen up and follow suit. Right?

It’s hard to fathom that women would continue to (or potentially) jeopardize their health and livelihood for larger breasts, but if you continue to hound your friends and family you’re just going to end up annoying them and possibly losing the relationship you have with them.

Here are my best pieces of advice for you:


1. All we can do is inform others. It’s then entirely up to them to do what they want with the information you presented to them. Some women will get it immediately, some might take some time and some might be so stubborn that they avoid you like he plague.

2. It’s not our responsibility or job to try and convince or manipulate someone else into doing what we think (and know) is right for them. Even though we’ve been through the fire and we know how good life is on the other side, it’s not right to keep pounding on the door when you were never invited in the first place.

3. When you approach a women about Breast Implant Illness be very mindful of your tone and body language. I’m sure we’ve all had those times where we said something with a little too much “energy” that got interpreted wrong just because of our tone. Acting nonchalant, yet assertive and concerned, is what I think works best.

4. Not all women are ready to admit or face the truth that their implants are whats making them sick. There are a lot of women who:
– aren’t confident in their own body as is
– lack self-love and self-worth
– feel insecure in their marriage or are with a “boob man” so they think their husband will be unsupportive
– just aren’t in the right mental space to take all this on
– aren’t ready to part ways with their implants for whatever reason

Tread lightly and have patience with these women. They’re going through enough.

5. If you happen to find an article online, a Facebook Group or any information about Breast Implant Illness, tag her in it. You never know, maybe something will catch her attention.

 

Here’s exactly how I would approach a friend:

Me: “hey, are you still not feeling well?”

Her: “all her excuses and reasons……”

Me: “did you ever stop to think it could be your implants? I know we were told back when we got them that they were safe, but since then there’s been a ton of research linking implants to a cluster of illnesses and symptoms, identical to yours. It’s called Breast Implant Illness – here, join this Group and just check it out for yourself. Whatever you decide to do is entirely up to you.”

That’s literally it.

Either she’s going to be open to receiving the information (like we were) and thank you, or she’s going to completely push it aside.

Both of which are her choice and decision.

I’m the type of person who wants to save everyone, so I get it.

But I can’t wear myself down and drive myself crazy trying to convince every women that it’s her implants making her sick.

I’m very protective of my energy and vibration, so for me spending too much time on people who don’t want my help (yet) isn’t worth it. 

You’re an adult, they’re an adult… and at the end of the day your health is your responsibility and her health is her responsibility.

They’ll know who to come to if/when they start feeling ill – trust and believe that. 🙏🏼

 

I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this topic?

Have you had a similar experience?

 

If you’re on Facebook join my Facebook Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education With Christina

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

 

here’s to health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,

❤︎ Christina Roulund-Dennis

My Experience With Dr. Dev From Aqua Plastic Surgery

Everything you’re about to read is from my own experience, perspective and in my own opinion. 

 

Before I get into my testimonial, I want to share with you a little back story.

 

I was watching the local news early one evening in mid 2017. They were doing a segment about a few ladies who explanted because they claimed their breast implants made them sick and how much better they started feeling afterwards.

They mentioned Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, Florida and the word Breast Implant Illness.

 

I was both completely shocked by what I was hearing and also over the moon excited to have finally found my answer.

I knew without a doubt that this was the root of all my issues.

And lucky for me, I had one of the best plastic surgery centers in the United States, Aqua Plastic Surgery, right down the road from me.

That very day my research begun.

The day after the news aired that segment on Breast Implant illness I called Aqua’s explant assistant. I asked them a dozen questions about the symptoms associated with Breast Implant Illness and the explant surgery process.

 

After a week of thinking about it and feeling it all out, I decided “yep, I’m getting these things out!“

Life kinda got in the way and a year passed me by, but in mid June of 2018 it all resurfaced.

I remember it so clearly. I was upstairs doing laundry and a voice said “all of these symptoms you’re experiencing, it’s not normal. You’re too young to be going through what you’re going through. Get the ball rolling and set up your consultation.“

I was experiencing shortness of breath at the time – I’ll never forget it.

So I picked up the phone, called Aqua Plastic Surgery and set up my consultation.

A week later I put down my deposit and locked in my actual date.

“Oh my gosh, I’m really doing this.”

 

My original surgery was going to be on Monday November 26, 2018 (after Thanksgiving) with Dr Rankin, but I did not want to wait four months.

I could feel my anxiety getting worse as I was sitting there waiting. 

Each day I woke up I had a strong pull to just get it done sooner and switch to Dr. Dev, Dr. Rankin’s partner at Aqua Plastic Surgery.

So in good ol’ Christina fashion, I asked the Universe for a sign.

 

On July 26, 2018 I took my dog out for a walk after breakfast and looked up in the sky.

I whispered “If I’m supposed to go with Dr. Dev, show me a deer. I don’t care if it’s in person or on tv, just show me a deer. If I’m supposed to go with Dr. Rankin and just hold off, show me a raccoon. I don’t care if it’s in person or on tv, just show me a raccoon.“

Four days later my son was watching Americas Funniest Home Videos in our bed and there it was… the deer.

The date was Monday July 30, 2018. Four days later.

“Okay, I guess I’m supposed to go with Dr. Dev“, I said. 

I already had my consultation scheduled with him for that Friday August 3, 2018, so I felt relieved.

20 minutes after I saw the deer on tv, I see this in Aqua Plastic Surgery’s Instagram Story – “we have an opening on our surgical schedule this week for Dr. Dev. Patient did not get clearance. If you are ready to go, please call Beatrice.”

I keep the screen shot of it in my phone because nothing like this has ever happened before in my life. I mean, come on Universe!

I got the sign and opportunity for me to take action all within 20 minutes. 

It all happened so fast.

At this point, I still haven’t met Dr. Dev but I knew I was supposed to go with him.

 

I woke John up and said “honey, Dr. Dev has a surgical opening this Thursday. I can get my explant done this week!”

After going back and forth with both John and Beatrice for an hour, I made the decision to go ahead and schedule my explant surgery sooner with Dr. Dev.

I went from being four months out with Dr. Rankin to now four days out with Dr. Dev.

Talk about “holy shit, what do I need to do to prepare?“

That Monday afternoon I drove to Jupiter and had my pre-op done, signed all the necessary paper work, met Dr. Dev for the first time and was now preparing for a major surgery within a few days.

 

Which leads me to my experience with Dr Dev (and the entire team).

 

The day I met Dev I knew he was the right surgeon for me. 

He is warm, personable, takes his time answering questions and has a light-hearted, compassionate spirit about him.

I felt at total ease with my decision and confident in his ability.

Besides his personality and awesome energy, he does exactly the same thing Rankin does – en Bloc, total capsulectomy, Nerve Bloc, the wrap around tissue lift/technique, muscle repair (if needed) and axillary scar release and axillary lymph node internal/external manual palpating and biopsies (if needed).  

When I was going back and forth in my head trying to figure out who I should go with, I kept thinking, “Dr. Dev can do the same thing Dr. Rankin can, so why wait? Get it over with. Get four months of your life back. Rankin wouldn’t have Dev as a partner if he didn’t like his aesthetic work.“

I can’t say enough nice things about the entire process.

Everyone from Dr. Dev, the girls at the front desk, my nurses and anesthesiologist – everyone was amazing!

It’s all about the team, just as much as the surgeon.

I love my results, too!

I anticipated to be flat because I have thin skin and little breast tissue, but I’m not.

Are they small? Yes!

Do I care? NO!

After my surgery I had a couple of minor hiccups and Dr. Dev was always very responsive to my texts.

I definitely give 5 stars!

  • The process (on such a short notice) was executed flawlessly.
  • Dr. Dev has good bedside manners, is warm, qualified and has everything he needs to do a proper, safe explant.
  • The entire staff is friendly.
  • Post-op care and communication is top notch.

If you’re considering Dr. Dev for your explant surgery, I highly recommend him and the Miami location.

He is the best money can buy, in my opinion. 

 

For more information about Dr Dev meet him here.

 

I myself have a Facebook Group, Breast Implant Illness Rejuvenation and Education with Christina.

This is a place where I:

  • educate women about Breast Implant Illness and the explanting process
  • bring on guest experts in the natural health and self-love niche and surgeons (Dr Dev did a 75 minute Live with me – it’s incredible!)
  • host monthly giveaways
  • answer your pressing questions and offer guidance both pre and post op

 

If you have any questions for me about my journey or Dr Dev please comment below or ask me in the Facebook Group.

Not on Facebook? Find me on Instagram!

 

here’s to renewed health, rejuvenation and massive self-love,

 ❤︎ Christina Roulund-Dennis