France’s health ministry is advising women with silicone-gel breast implants made by the defunct French firm Poly Implant Prosthesis to consider having the implants removed as a preventive measure. The suggestion, issued Dec. 23 and affecting some 30,000 women in France, was made following eight reports of cancer in women with the PIP implant in France, including the death of patient who developed anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare type of cancer which FDA has said may be associated with breast implants. (See [A# 01110131004].) France's national health plan will cover explant and hospitalization costs; for women who have had reconstructive surgery following breast cancer, the plan will also cover the implantation of a new prosthesis.
French authorities believe the PIP implants are no more likely to cause cancer than other brands, but they cite "well-documented...