Breast implants: Cancers
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- Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)
- Other types of cancer near a breast implant
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can develop next to the implant.
BIA-ALCL is not a cancer of the breast tissue, but a rare and serious cancer of the immune system (the system that fights infections).
BIA-ALCL in Canada currently meets the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of "rare". WHO uses the following terms when describing how often an adverse event occurs:
- uncommon: between 1 in 100 people and 1 in 1,000 people
- rare: between 1 in 1,000 people and 1 in 10,000 people
- very rare: fewer than 1 in 10,000 people
In Canada, the rate of BIA-ALCL is significantly higher in patients who have highly textured (macro-textured) breast implants. As of December 31, 2025, the estimated risk of BIA-ALCL in patients with macro-textured breast implants is 1 in 1,244, which is considered rare. The estimated risk of BIA-ALCL in patients with micro-textured breast implants is 1 in 19,708, which is considered very rare. There are no confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL in individuals in Canada who have a known history of only smooth breast implants.
In 2019, Health Canada completed a review of BIA-ALCL. As a result of the findings, we suspended the licences for Allergan's Biocell (macro-textured) breast implants. These were the only macro-textured implants available in Canada. Allergan has recalled all unused Biocell devices from the Canadian market. Allergan also issued a worldwide recall on all Biocell breast implants and tissue expanders. Although these macro-textured breast implants are no longer available in Canada, some people still have these implants.
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Symptoms
Symptoms of BIA-ALCL can develop months or years after the implant surgery and may include:
- pain, redness or both
- asymmetry of the breasts
- a lump or mass in the breast
- skin changes around the implant
- tightening or hardening of scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture)
- sudden swelling or enlargement of the breast known as delayed seroma (accumulation of liquid around the implant)
- this is the most common symptom
You should check your breasts regularly for any unusual changes, such as:
- sudden swelling or a lump
- redness, soreness or a rash
- dimpling, puckering or bulging of the skin
- a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward)
Discuss any signs or symptoms with your health care provider.
Diagnosis and treatment
Removing breast implants isn't routinely recommended if there are no signs or symptoms suggesting BIA-ALCL. This is because BIA-ALCL is rare, often slow-growing and has an excellent health outcome when diagnosed early. There are risks associated with surgery to remove or replace breast implants. As well, removing only the breast implants may not eliminate the risk of BIA-ALCL. You should discuss the risks and benefits of implant removal with your health care provider.
If BIA-ALCL is suspected, samples of the following are collected and sent for analysis:
- scar tissue (capsule)
- any fluid (seroma) found around the implant
- any mass found within or around the implant
Refer to the guidelines on diagnosing and treating BIA-ALCL.
The recommended treatment for suspected or confirmed BIA-ALCL is to surgically remove:
- the breast implant and
- all the scar tissue (capsule) around the implant
Some women may need follow-up chemotherapy, radiation or both to treat the disease.
In rare cases, BIA-ALCL has resulted in death.
Other types of cancer near a breast implant
There have been published scientific reports of very rare cases of other types of cancers found in the scar tissue (capsule) that can form around a breast implant.
These cancers are different from BIA-ALCL. They include different types of lymphomas, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Cases reported in the literature have occurred in people with different types of breast implants, including smooth and textured implants, and implants filled with saline or silicone.
Symptoms of SCC and DLBCL near a breast implant have typically developed years after the implant surgery and may be similar to those described for BIA-ALCL.
Symptoms may include:
- pain
- swelling
- a lump or mass
- fluid buildup, hardening of scar tissue and skin changes around the implant
Based on the limited number of cases described in the literature, SCC near a breast implant may be aggressive. Poor clinical outcomes, including death, have been reported. In contrast, some DLBCL cases near breast implants have been localized and the outcomes have been more favourable when diagnosed and treated early.
As of December 2025, fewer than 5 confirmed or suspected cases of DLBCL or SCC near a breast implant have been reported to Health Canada. We continue to review available evidence of these other types of cancers and are actively monitoring this issue.
If you are thinking about breast implants or have breast implants, our recommendations remain the same:
- If you are considering breast implants
- Get information about the risks and benefits of breast implants.
- Discuss the risks and benefits with a health care provider.
- If you have breast implants
- Check your breasts regularly for any unusual changes.
- Discuss any signs or symptoms with your health care provider.
- If you are a health care provider
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