‘Don’t do it’: 68-year-old woman warns of rare breast implant risk after developing cancer  

A 68-year-old woman from the United Kingdom who developed a rare cancer linked to her breast implants has spoken out, warning others with similar implants that they may be “walking around like timebombs”.

Susan Axelby, who was recently awarded £57,000 in compensation from Allergan Limited, was diagnosed with breast-implant associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) after undergoing breast implant surgery to avoid inherited breast cancer.

Axelby’s case is believed to be one of the first payouts linked to Allergan breast implants in the UK.

According to regulators, at least 106 cases of BIA-ALCL have been reported in the UK, involving six manufacturers.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4‘s Woman’s Hour, Axelby shared her ordeal and cautioned others with breast implants to be aware of the potential risks, despite her case being extremely rare.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is currently collecting data on women affected by BIA-ALCL, as concerns over breast implant safety continue to grow.

She said, “I’m thinking, not so much me – I’m nearly 70 – but there’s young girls, because they wanted breast augmentation, and they’re walking around like timebombs,” she said.

“They’ve no idea what’s in their body now – and if it’s happened to me and a few other people, you know, they can be walking around like that.”

She explained how one of her new breasts started swelling, which felt hot to the touch.

“I went back to the hospital and they drained 500 millilitres of fluid out of it,” Susan said.

“Then I went back home and it swelled up again.

“I went back again and they drained the same amount off – within a month, that was.”

“I didn’t believe it,” she said.

“I was in denial because I’d had my breasts off to stop me getting cancer and now I’ve got cancer.

“I thought, ‘How can that be?'”

Susan’s implant had to be removed, according to the surgeon.

“He said, ‘we’re going to have to take it out and take the breasts off again’,” she said.

“And they said I could never, ever have another implant.

“The only way around it is to take stuff from another part of my body and rebuild it.

“I just said to him, ‘I can’t go through that again’.”

Susan now has no implants, breast tissue or nipples.

“There’s actually nothing,” she said.

“There’s just a straight line all the way across the top of my body.”

It has affected her confidence and wellbeing.

“I don’t like anyone to see me without any clothes on and that does quite include my husband, although he’s not bothered at all.

“I have bad days.

“I still get problems with my anxiety and my depression, so it’s never gone away.”