Woman diagnosed with rare cancer that doctors say is linked to her breast implants
A woman has claimed that her boob job almost killed her after she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer which was linked to her implants.
Colette Cooper, 51, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, went under the knife more than 10 years ago back in 2014, in a bid to up her breast size after losing weight at the gym.
Attempting to go from a C-cup chest to a D-cup, the British mum opted for textured implants made by US pharmaceutical company Allergan.
She was initially pleased with the results of her operation, telling press recently: "I started going to the gym a lot and noticed my bust had got smaller. I just thought 'I work hard on my body' so wanted to get them done.
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"The op went really well, they were absolutely perfect."
Over a decade later, however, in March 2025, the recruitment worker awoke one morning to discover that one of her breasts can seemingly expanded in the night.
"It was more than double the size," she recalled. "I went straight to the doctors the next day."
After being rushed to her local A&E facility, Cooper underwent a series of tests to diagnose the sudden enlargement of her left breast.
Soon enough, doctors discovered that a considerable amount of fluid had built up in the area between the implant capsule - which describes a layer of scar tissue that forms following surgery - and the implant itself.
"I was upset about my children, I was worried about work, I was devastated," she confessed. "I was frightened I was going to die.
"I didn't know how far it had gone. I went for an MRI and CT scan and the doctor said he could see something on my collarbone and the back side of the capsule.
Medics were forced to act quickly in draining a staggering 240ml of fluid from the area, which was later tested for infection.
The following month, Cooper received a dreaded call from the hospital, informing her that she'd developed BIA-ALCL (breast-implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma).
This rare condition describes a variation of cancer that grows in response to the body itself reacting to a breast implant being installed.
An association between BIA-ALCL and Allergan BIOCELL textured breast implants had been reported in a study carried out by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) six years earlier.
As such, the manufacturer recalled all implants that had been used in boob job operations, and withdrew them from sale.
The brand's website insists, however, that the recall notice doesn't necessarily mean that all patients who used these types of implants would endure symptoms.
In fear of her condition worsening, mother-of-two Cooper made the decision to have her implants removed last month.
Days later, she was informed she was now cancer-free.
"[The doctor] did tell me that this [cancer] is only in textured implants," she explained.
"These implants have now been banned and taken off the market. I didn't know anything about it until this."
Now, as she awaits reconstructive surgery, she promises to use her experience to warn other women of the dangers of similar textured implants.
She also believes it essential that any patients who opted for Allergan implants to be offered a free removal due to the viable risks, and that patients who've been diagnosed with cancer to receive compensation.
"Even if you have these implants, if you've got no symptoms, you can't just ask to have them out," she warns others. "You have to pay for that but there's going to be more and more cases over the next few years.
"I've been lucky. I'm just so grateful to be all clear."
Cooper continued: "There's just not enough awareness about this. Unless you have visible swelling or pain, you'd have no idea.
"If my breast hadn't been inflamed that day, I could've easily carried on with life and they might not have caught it early enough."
She added: "I do think Allergan should hold more responsibility for it and pay for women to have their breast implants out, whether they have symptoms or not."
Approached by Kennedy News & Media for comment, Allergan insisted they nothing to add in addition to what they posted on their website.
Rhianna Benson