Breast Implants

Re “Women at Risk Are Still in the Dark,” Commentary, Sept. 9:

Samuel Epstein’s column on the dangers of breast implants is a shocking exercise in medical terrorism. Epstein cites animal experiments that support his contention and ignores all those that do not. More importantly, he ignores the strong and consistent evidence that breast implants do not cause cancer in humans. Statements such as “the Food and Drug Administration has consistently downplayed any cancer risk from silicone gel implants” and “at known higher risk of breast cancer are 350,000 women with foam-wrapped implants” are simply false and reckless.

For 17 years colleagues and I have studied the cancer patterns of breast implant recipients. The surprising truth is, breast implant patients develop significantly fewer breast cancers than expected. These results are published and no doubt well known to Epstein. Furthermore, no breast cancers have been reported among the tens of thousands of women who have received polyurethane-covered implants. The panel of experts assembled by the FDA in 1992 determined that the risk is negligible and recommended that the devices remain available.

While Epstein demonstrates a deep concern for the health of rodents with breast implants, women should no longer be denied the truth: After 30 years of use in hundreds of thousands of patients, breast implants have not been shown to cause any disease. Careful research projects are continuing at many institutions.

DENNIS DEAPEN, DrPH

Associate Professor, Department

of Preventive Medicine, USC