Over 300,000 women undergo breast implant surgery every year.
Breast implants are silicon gel packs that are surgically inserted in order to augment a women's breasts. Breast augmentation surgery is popular in the United States; the National Research Center for Women & Families (NRC) estimated in 2008 that about 300,000 women undergo this surgery every year. Those who elect to do the surgery, however, are aware that breast implant surgery carries the risk of developing respiratory disease within seven to 12 years, according to a 2001 FDA safety study.
Lung Cancer
The NRC states that women who have had breast implants for more than 12 years have a greater risk of contracting lung cancer than women who do not have breast implants. These women do not smoke more than the general population of women. Lung cancer is eventually fatal; symptoms do not appear in early stages of the disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lung cancer causes shortness of breath, chronic coughing, and spitting up blood.
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Women who have had breast implants for more than 7 years have a higher incidence of pulmonary fibrosis than women who do not, according to the NRC. The exact cause is unknown, but the FDA believes that inevitable rupture of the silicon implants causes silicone to leak into the lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease in which scar tissue develops on the lungs, causing irreversible damage. Common symptoms are shortness of breath, a dry cough, and fatigue, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Lupus
The National Cancer Institute says that women who receive breast implants may be more likely to develop connective tissue diseases such as lupus, although this evidence is anecdotal. Lupus is not a respiratory disease per se, but the Lupus Foundation says it can cause three different serious lung conditions: plueritis, pneumitis, and pulmonary emboli. Pleuritis is an inflammation of the lung sac, while pneumitis is an inflammation of the lung itself. Pulmonary emboli is the development of blood clots in the lung. All three of these diseases cause serious respiratory distress.
