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Silicone does not seem to raise the risk of cancer in women.

... Since 1992, only women having breast reconstruction after cancer surgery have had access to silicone implants in the United States; the Food and Drug ...

http://www.azcentral.com/health/women/articles/0505siliconeandcancer.html

THE QUESTION The safety of breast implants has sparked debate for years. Some people have argued that implants may make women more susceptible to various diseases. Might cancer be one of them?

THIS STUDY involved 3,486 Swedish women who had implants for cosmetic reasons; nearly all of them were made of silicone gel. After an average of 18 years, 180 cancers had been detected, equating to a slightly lower overall cancer rate than among women without implants. Fewer women with implants had developed breast cancer than would have been expected in the same-size group in the general population (53 vs. 72). Only lung cancer was more common than expected: 20 cases among those with implants vs. an expected nine.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THESE FINDINGS? Women with silicone implants. Since 1992, only women having breast reconstruction after cancer surgery have had access to silicone implants in the United States; the Food and Drug Administration restricted their use because of concerns that leaks could jeopardize a woman's health. The agency now is deciding whether to allow them once again. About 3 million American women have implants, most made of either silicone or saline.

CAVEATS The authors theorized that the higher lung cancer rate may be related to the above-average number of smokers among women in the study.

FIND THIS STUDY April 19 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute; abstract available online at

LEARN MORE ABOUT breast implants at www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants and

The research described in Quick Study comes from credible, peer-reviewed journals. Nonetheless, conclusive evidence about a treatment's effectiveness is rarely found in a single study. Anyone considering changing or beginning treatment of any kind should consult with a physician.