| Many women looking to undergo breast | | | | socioeconomic class, where patients have |
| augmentation are concerned with the risk of | | | | tendencies toward better nutrition and overall |
| cancer related to silicone implants, as well as the | | | | health. |
| risk of the implant obscuring breast tissue during a | | | | Interestingly, studies from the Breast Cancer |
| mammogram when detecting cancer. | | | | Surveillance Consortium also show that breast |
| When accusations arose in the 1980's regarding | | | | cancer is detected at approximately the same |
| silicone implants and links to cancer, autoimmune | | | | time whether or not the patient has implants. |
| diseases and other systemic diseases, the Food | | | | Furthermore, when breast cancer is discovered, |
| and Drug Administration (FDA) decided to enact a | | | | patients with breast implants are more likely to |
| 30 month testing period for the implants beginning | | | | have a lower grade of the cancer. |
| in 1993. After that time, officials felt there was | | | | When it comes to detecting breast cancer, |
| insufficient data to prove whether or not the | | | | implants can obscure breast tissue by 15%-50% |
| implants could be linked to cancer. At this point | | | | depending on the surgical technique performed |
| the silicone implants were banned for cosmetic | | | | during the breast augmentation and the technique |
| use, however, were still approved for use during | | | | used to perform the mammogram. |
| breast reconstruction subsequent to mastectomy | | | | Both silicone and saline implants display as a white, |
| and breast cancer. In 2006, after the FDA felt | | | | mostly opaque oval on the mammogram. One |
| thorough testing had been completed, silicone | | | | does not obscure visualization more than the |
| implants were approved for cosmetic use under | | | | other. However, implants placed under the muscle |
| the guideline that continued controlled clinical | | | | significantly increase visibility of the breast tissue. |
| studies would be perform. To this day no | | | | When scheduling your appointment to receive a |
| sufficient evidence has been provided to link | | | | mammogram, it is very important to inform the |
| silicone implants to any form of cancer or related | | | | practice that you have undergone breast |
| disease. | | | | augmentation. Mammograms for patients with |
| In fact, according to a Swedish study of 3,400 | | | | breast implants require more time to properly |
| women, breast augmentation patients had a 30% | | | | examine the breast. |
| decreased rate of breast cancer. A similar study | | | | To gain maximum exposure of the breast, a |
| of 13,000 women in the United States showed | | | | trained technician will push the implant back as far |
| that women with breast implants also had a | | | | as possible toward the chest wall and pull the |
| decreased rate of breast cancer. This is believed | | | | breast tissue forward. This technique can improve |
| to be related to the decreased temperature of | | | | readings by up to 92%. Breast augmentation |
| the breast, compression of breast tissue and | | | | patients undergoing mammograms also require 4 |
| stimulation of immunological response. Experts | | | | views of the breast rather than 2 in order to |
| believe it may also be attributed to the fact that | | | | view as much of the breast as possible. |
| the majority of patients stem from a higher | | | | |