Published Dec 19, 2022

HGTV Star Christina Hall, 39, Wonders if Her Health Issues Are Related to Her Breast Implants; Is There a Connection Between Implants & Cancer Risk?

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Are Breast Implants to Blame for Christina Hall's Health Issues?

HGTV’s Christina Hall, 39, says she has been suffering health issues for years and wonders if it’s related to her breast implants.
Doctors have detected a possible link between breast implants and cancer; specifically between implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a cancer of the immune system.
Breast implant illness (BII) is a condition with symptoms that include fatigue, joint pain, memory and concentration problems, and more.
Breast Implant Illness is a separate condition from the types of cancer which are rare that can develop in scar tissue and fluid surrounding a breast implant, including breast implant-associated large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), other forms of lymphoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.
Physicians we consulted believe the data shared by the FDA does not conclusively tie breast cancer to implants. Although, “the fact that the cancers were found in the implant capsules is certainly concerning and requires further investigation."

In a candid post to Instagram, HGTV star and mom of three, Christina Hall, 39, wonders if her breast implants are to blame for her current health issues. In a post she dubbed “Self-Care Saturday,” she shares that she is experiencing fatigue and is also dealing with several other health issues for multiple years; Hall speculates if her health issues are “breast implant related.”

Doctors have detected a possible link between breast implants and cancer; specifically between implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a cancer of the immune system.

In the video Hall shared, she is laying on a bed and listening to a meditation as she receives LED light therapy. In the caption, Hall who is married to husband Josh Hall writes, “Josh and I tag teaming 3 sick kids last night, this is a much-needed energy restore…Been super exhausted lately so [I’m] on a kick to get back into my body.”

Hall shares that her health issues have been “unexplained” for years. She says she is considering the reality that they may be related to her implants. Hall says that she dissolved her under-eye filler due to it causing an “inflammatory reaction.” Hall asks the Instagram-verse if anyone else, especially women, have similar feelings about their implants. She says, “I’m curious on all the ladies take on this.”

Related: All Breast Implants Should Come With Detailed Safety Warnings, Urges FDA What The Experts Say About the Risks

We love it when people like Hall are paying even closer attention to their health and seeking answers.

Hall then shared her ongoing health issues, which include: “Inflammation, autoimmune issues (Hashimoto’s disease, PCOS, Raynaud's syndrome), unexplained skin rashes, joint and muscle pain, dry eyes, GI issues, SIBO, acid reflux, brain fog, hormone imbalances, swollen lymph nodes and adrenal fatigue. I test positive for ANA. I'm gluten free and mostly dairy free.”

Hall says that she’s working on “detoxing and positive mind set [sic].” We love how Hall is modeling the importance of a positive mindset amid health challenges. SurvivorNet experts say this is important, and can help.

Stay Positive, It Matters

One Instagram user commented on Hall’s post, writing, “Read Danika Patrick's experience with this. She recently had them removed and said felt better right away from many of those symptoms.”

Another says, “I did not have Brest implants but the Mirena IUD. Very similar symptoms. My body was rejecting it and everything that came with it. Once I removed it, the skin rashes went away, brain fog, unexplained swollen lymph nodes for 2 years, headaches, etc. all went away. I had many other issues that didn't seem to add up but now I know it was all part of it. I had really dried frizzy hair which I'd never had before.”

Another woman who had implants writes, “I’m 4.5 years post explant. I don’t know that it’s a magical cure but silicone is toxic even without a rupture.”

Breast Implants & Cancer

Hall is clearly not the only woman who’s had health issues as a result of a breast implants. As noted, there is a possible link between breast implants and cancer; specifically between implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), a cancer of the immune system. Researchers don’t know if the implant filling (i.e. saline or silicone) impacts the development of ALCL. The highest risk, though, are implants with textured silicone and polyurethane outer shells, reports Mayo Clinic. A product recall for implants in 2019 was the result of this discovery (the link between implants and cancer).

Breast implant illness (BII) is a condition with symptoms that include fatigue, joint pain, memory and concentration problems, and more, says Breastcancer.org. Experts believe this condition is due to having an autoimmune reaction to the breast implants.

Breastcancer.org notes that BII is a separate condition from the types of cancer which are rare that can develop in scar tissue and fluid surrounding a breast implant, including breast implant-associated large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), other forms of lymphoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

In an earlier interview, SurvivorNet spoke with Dr. Andrea Pusic, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital, about the safety of implants. She says, "Many years ago there were concerns about silicone implants, and silicone implants were taken out of the U.S. market.”

Dr. Pusic continues, “Subsequent to that there were a number of very large studies that gave us new information about the performance of silicone implants. Subsequent also to that, there's been further improvements in the silicone implants we are able to offer patients. If that implant does leak, the silicone would rarely go anywhere, and it won't make you sick."

She says that implants are generally safe, but that they require surveillance, too.

Are Breast Implants Dangerous?

Doctors Weigh In On Breast Implant Concerns

In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Sarah Cate, the lead physician for the Special Surveillance Breast Program at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and Dr. Jordan Jacobs, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, discussed breast implant concerns for survivors of breast cancer, following the release of FDA safety communication. The FDA received 10 medical device reports (MDRs) about squamous cell carcinoma and 12 reports about various lymphomas connected to breast implants.

Doctors Cate and Jacobs tell SurvivorNet, regarding the FDA safety communication, "personally don't think there is cause for alarm."

The doctors believe the data shared by the FDA does not conclusively tie breast cancer to implants. Although, the pair does say, "the fact that the cancers were found in the implant capsules is certainly concerning and requires further investigation."

Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs note how the FDA has required the placement of warnings on breast implant packaging. Additionally, there is newly an implant checklist that patients must sign and review before undergoing implant surgery. The doctors noted how ALCL, a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has been associated with implants for years.

The doctors affirmed that textured implants those linked to ALCL are not used at Mount Sinai. The doctors also note that implants require monitoring, and that if there are an adverse conditions spotted after the implants, they should be reported to the FDA.

Dr. Cate and Dr. Jacobs tell SurvivorNet, "Patients who have implants placed for either cosmetic or reconstructive purposes should have yearly follow-up with their surgeons.”

They add that “there are recommendations from the FDA for routine (every 2-3 years) MRIs to evaluate the integrity of the implant and the surrounding capsule."

Saline vs. Silicone Implants

Contributing: SurvivorNet staff

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