Should I Avoid Getting Breast Implants Due to my Family History of Breast Cancer?

Thanks for your question.
I am not aware of any CURRENT data the unregistered poster marlene sorma is referencing that supports her position; the NCI data from the 80s did find a statistically insignificant finding that masses might be detected later but this has been countered by more recent studies.
Every current study I know of actually supports the fact that women with submuscular implants (90% of the implants done today) actually detect palpable breast masses EARLIER than women without breast implants.
The reason for this has been debated (do women with breast implants pay more attention to their breasts? Do breast implants make the mass easier to palpate?).
In addition - since this is an important topic - let's review the data... from NCI (the NCI data still remains one of the largest studies regarding this topic) -
In 1992, researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) initiated a study on the long-term health effects associated with breast implants. It is estimated that between 1.5 million and 2 million women in this country have had breast implants since they first appeared on the market in 1962.
One of the longest and largest studies to date on the health effects of implants, the NCI report involves 13,500 women with an average follow-up time of 13 years.
*Most previous investigations have looked at the health effects over a shorter time period, typically less than 10 years, and have been too small to evaluate uncommon diseases.*
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of implants on the risk of:
* Developing breast cancer;
* Developing cancers other than breast;
* Dying from all causes of mortality; and
* Developing connective tissue disorders.
Before we get to the results let's debunk some of the conspiracy theory arguments before we even hear them...
Because of the highly controversial and political nature of the study, maintaining objectivity was a particularly important issue. The following steps were taken to ensure scientific objectivity:
* The study was funded entirely by the government, not by plastic surgeons, implant manufacturers, or other special interest groups.
* Government scientists, not manufacturers of implants or plastic surgeons, designed and provided scientific oversight for the study.
* To participate in the study, plastic surgeons had to agree to allow investigators to see all of their records, not just records for selected patients. The investigators obtained detailed information on factors which could affect health status.
The Results
* The NCI researchers found no association between breast implants and the subsequent risk of breast cancer.
In addition, they found no link between breast cancer risk and number of years of follow-up, nor with any particular type of implant. There was no significant difference in breast cancer mortality between the implant and comparison patients.
Reference: Brinton LA, Lubin JH, Burich MC, et al. Breast Cancer Following Augmentation Mammoplasty (United States). Cancer Causes & Control 2000; 11(9):819–827.
* Women with breast implants were not at an increased risk for connective tissue disorders when their records were reviewed by two independent rheumatologists who did not know if the women had an implant or not.
According to initial reporting by an implant patient questionnaire, there appeared to be a two fold increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjogren's syndrome in this population. NCI researchers were able to access only 34–40% of these patients' records who reported being diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder. When these records were reviewed by two independent, board-certified rheumatologists who did not know if the patient had an implant or not, the rheumatologists found between 17–30% of the diagnoses likely. As a result, the risk for developing a connective tissue disorder due to breast implants, while still somewhat elevated, became statistically non-significant. Further research including records linkage, standardized diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid disorders, and clinical exams, is needed to understand if a relationship exists.
Reference: Brinton LA, Buckley LM, Dvorkina O, et al. Risk of Connective Tissue Disorders among Breast Implant Patients. American Journal of Epidemiology; 2004;160; 619–627.
The NCI study reviewed patients implanted BEFORE 1989. Subsequent studies have supported the NCI findings as well as amplified on other issues (such as palpable breast masses being easier to detect with subpectoral implants @marlene sorma) - in addition, these are complicated scientific questions... even if you (wrongly from the literature I've reviewed) assume that you detect a palpable mass later - there's no change in mortality or morbidity associated meaning that the consequence of that later finding may not matter at all (again from the literature I've reviewed).
In our San Francisco area office we consistently stay current with the literature and take the time to discuss these issues with our patients. Be sure your plastic surgeon does the same for you! Like anything in medicine - these are complicated issues because human beings are complicated!
I hope this helps.
It's a lot of data and this is just the tip of it but hopefully it gives you a place to start...

There is no causal link between implant and breast cancer but it is always a good idea to be regular about your check ups. Mammograms are important and there is no change in recommendations following a Breast lift with or without a breast augmentation with implants.

Hello!  Thank you for your question!  This a great question, which is often asked by patients.  There is no link to breast implants, either saline or silicone, and cancer.  All supporting literature has demonstrated this fact and no association with cancer, autoimmune disorders, or autoinflammatory disorders.  It is known that women are more in tune with their breasts and more diligent with examination and feeling/knowing the contour of her breasts, thus able to identify any abnormality sooner.  Imaging studies of the breasts are similar to imaging without breast implants and cancers are not hidden either by the presence of breast implants.  You should remain proactive with your monthly self examination, annual clinical examination, and mammograms beginning at age 40 (unless family history, as directed by the Radiological Society).  You may consider obtaining a preoperative mammogram as a baseline prior to consideration of a breast procedure.  Best wishes!  Hope that this helps!

When it comes to breast surgery you are asking the right questions. Being that you are 50 it is important to get a mammogram before getting your breast implants. That being said, no, there is no reason why breast implants would increase you risks for getting breast cancer. The two factors that influence breast cancer the most are gender and age. Mammograms are highly specialized machines and can see the breast tissue even with implants.

Breast augmentation does not change your risk for breast cancer.

You still need to perform monthly self breast exams and get routine screening mammograms (they will get three xrays of each breast instead of two after augmentation).  You need to know that both your self exam and your mammograms will feel/look a little different than before your surgery.

You may need a breast lift for optimal appearance even with an implant.  This is something that you need to discuss with your physician.

Breast implants will not impart a greater risk of breast cancer. However, once you perform the breast implantation, you should be remain vigilant with breast cancer screening.  Also, you may consider genetic testing if you are very concerned about breast cancer. 

A positive family history does not preclude a breast augmentation.  The implants make mammograms more difficult but not less accurate.  Interestingly enough, breast implants actually lower the incidence of breast cancer (not much but measurable).  We don't know the reason for the influence and it is certainly no excuse to place implants but patients can be glad that they are not pushing the odds in the other direction.

I know you don't want to hear this (again) but the implants may not meet your request. If you need a lift, then that's the surgery you need.
If you get implants and you need a lift, then you'll need a lift AFTER your breast aug surgery and you won't be happy.
It really sounds like you need the lift (these can be done in the office sometimes). if you want both the lift and an implant then you'll need a real operation. It sounds like this real operation would do great for you. Good luck!
Best Wishes.

There are numerous studies out there that show breast implants do not increase you chance of breast cancer.
The issue here is that you have sagging skin and may need a lift. When relying on breast implants to provide a "lift," this results in unsatisfactory results. Some patients do well with breast implants alone, even those who have sagging skin, but it is impossible to tell how you would do without pictures or examing you.
What I can say is that if a lift is required and you only do implants, the desired look would not be achieved, and the result will be sub-optimal. So listen carefully to what your plastic surgeon tells and recommends to you.
Good Luck.

A family history of breast cancer should not prevent you from
undergoing breast augmentation.There are
several things that are useful to know if you are considering breast
augmentation and are concerned about the implants either causing cancer or
preventing its detection with mammography.Research studies have shown that breast implants will make the detection
of breast cancer more difficult.Although in some cases the detection of breast cancer was delayed, it
did not result in a change in the prognosis for the patients.Research studies have shown that women with
implants were diagnosed with cancers of similar size and stage as women without
implants.The
research has suggested several possible reasons for finding little difference
in tumorcharacteristics
among women with implants and women without implants despite the fact that
implants may interfere with mammography.1.It may be that women with implants detect cancer more
easily than other women because they have less of their own breast tissue or
because the implant itself pushes the breast tissue to the surface making the
detection of a tumor easier.2.Women with breast implants are usually told to check
their breasts often for any problems so they may be more likely to find lumps
on their own.3.Women with implants may be more body conscious and seek
advice more readily than women without implants.Other important
information to know if you are concerned about cancer detection with implants
are:1.Patients
with breast implants are at no greater risk for developing breast cancer as
compared to patients without implants.2.Early
detection of cancer is possible in patients with breast implants.It is very important to tell the personnel
performing your mammogram that you have breast implants.With this knowledge, a different technique
will be utilized.Speciality views
referred to as Eklund Views or displacement techniques are utilized.In this situation, the implant is pushed
backward and the breast tissue itself is drawn together over the top of the
implant.Very likely additional views
will be taken to optimally examine the breasts.3.Submuscular
placement allows for greater visualization of the breast tissue.Submuscular placement is also associated with
a lower rate of capsular contracture.Breasts with capsular contractures are much more difficult to image due
to the fact that the breast becomes hard and is not as compressible between the
mammogram plates.Both silicone and
saline implants create the same difficulties with visualization.One is not worse than the other.