Woman with breast implants
The most common way silicone comes into contact with the breast is through silicone breast implants, which were banned in 1992 by the Food and Drug Administration.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in the breast. It can occur in men, though it is most common in women.
Silicone
Silicone is a man-made, rubber-like substance that is used for various applications including cookware, adhesives and medical equipment.
Silicone Implants
First marketed in the early 1960s before the Food and Drug Administration required proof that medical devices were safe, silicone implants were considered biologically inactive.
Theories/Speculation
A study conducted by the National Cancer Institute in 2006 investigated the theories that silicone implants contribute to connective tissue disorders and the development of cancer, specifically in the breast.
Participants
The participants in the 2006 NCI study included 13,500 women who received either silicone or saline implants in both breasts for cosmetic purposes before 1989.
Findings
The 2006 NCI study found no association between breast implants and subsequent breast cancer and no association of breast cancer risk in years to follow. Though breast cancer was detected at a later stage among breast implant patients, breast cancer was not associated with any particular type of implant.
Tags: breast cancer, breast implants, 2006 study, Drug Administration, Food Drug, Food Drug Administration
