By Jillian Andrews Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – The pharmaceutical company Allergan is recalling models of textured implants. The FDA says these implants show a direct link to cancer.
Dr. Stephen Montgomery, director of imaging at the Crouse Breast Health Center, says this is nothing to panic about.
“It’s not breast cancer. It’s a low grade type of lymphoma that’s readily curable. It’s my understanding that there’s less than 600 cases worldwide,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery says that figure is out of the millions of textured implants used all over the world.
He says the most likely cause of the cancer is a reaction to a foreign body. The foreign body is the implant. In his 30 years of experience, Montgomery has never seen a patient developing cancer as a result of these implants.
“This is an overreaction to an incredibly rare tumor. You’re more likely to die in a car crash then you are from this entity,” said Montgomery.
He says the media is partially responsible for fueling this overreaction.
Montgomery says to follow the guidelines and go to your physician if you’re experiencing symptoms.
“No freak out. If you have symptoms go see your physician we’ll work you up. We’ll exclude that you have this because like I said before it’s so rare,” said Montgomery
He says it is extremely unlikely that the implants will have to be removed.
