According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, nine deaths from a very rare form of cancer have been linked to breast implants.
The FDA says that they agree with the World Health Organization's findings that breast implants make people more susceptible to associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
Though they do say that an exact number of cases is hard to determine, most data suggests that BIA-ALCL "occurs more frequently following implantation of breast implants with textured surfaces rather than those with smooth surfaces."
On average, the cancer occurs eight years after a woman gets an implant, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. It noted only about 10 new cases are reported worldwide each year.
The FDA says that before getting breast implants, make sure to talk to your health care provider about the benefits and risks of textured-surface vs. smooth-surfaced implants.
Ultimately, the FDA says that they will continue to gather additional information and report on significant findings.
You can look at the FDA's full report on BIA-ALCL here.
