New research suggests that implants used for breast reconstruction after cancer surgery do not raise a woman’s long-term risk of dying from breast cancer or other causes.

In fact, the findings indicate that post-mastectomy breast implants are associated with better long-term survival.

This study, based on data for nearly 4,400 women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer before age 65, is the largest to date to address the issue, lead researcher Gem M. Le, an epidemiologist at the Northern California Cancer Center in Fremont, told AMN Health.

Many women have undergone breast reconstruction with implants after having a breast removed due to cancer, but there have been some questions about the safety of implants in these patients.

This is mainly due to the general concern that first arose in the 1980s that breast implants filled with silicone gel might raise a woman’s risk of certain serious illnesses, including cancer and immune system-related diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis - fears that studies so far have not confirmed.

Another concern has been that breast implants might interfere with mammograms and, therefore, delay the detection of new breast tumors.

But in the new study, published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, women who received post-mastectomy breast implants were actually about half as likely to die of breast cancer over the next 12 years as those who did not receive implants. Their overall risk of dying from other causes was similarly decreased.

Among women with breast implants, Le’s team found, just over 12 percent died of breast cancer during the study period. That compares with nearly 20 percent of women who did not receive implants.

The lower death risk associated with implants persisted when the researchers weighed factors such as age, race, income and aggressiveness of the original cancer.

According to the researchers, there could be a number of explanations for the better long-term survival among implant patients.

It’s possible, Le said, that women with implants are in better overall health than those without. For example, surgeons may discourage some women - including those who are obese or have a recent history of smoking - from having breast reconstruction due to their higher risk of complications from the surgery.

In addition, the researchers speculate, women who receive implants may be followed more closely after their treatment, resulting in quicker detection of cancer recurrence.

Alternatively, if these women have greater body-image concerns than other mastectomy patients, they may also lead more health-conscious lifestyles.

“Further research is needed to understand differences between women with and without implants that may contribute to the difference in survival,” Le said.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data on 4,385 U.S. women who were diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer between 1983 and 1989. All of the women were treated with mastectomy, and 20 percent had breast reconstruction. The majority received implants made of silicone gel or a combination of silicone gel and saline.

SOURCE: Breast Cancer Research, December 23, 2004.