Regarding the FDA's recent breast implant news

The headlines sound alarming; anything with "breast implants" and "cancer" in the same line certainly catches my attention.  Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) may have a possible association with breast implants.

But if you read the FDA communication, you learn that although there is cause for heightened awareness regarding this unusual cancer, thankfully, it seems to be relatively rare.  ALCL has been formally reported in 34 of the approximately 5-10 million women worldwide who have had breast implants.

Relatively rare, of course, is meaningless, if it's you; thus the recommendations for monitoring your breast and implant health with self exams, mammograms, and MRI (if you have silicone gel-filled implants).