My perfect new D-cup boobs nearly killed me after doubling in size – they poisoned me with a killer disease
BUST HORROR My perfect new D-cup boobs nearly killed me after doubling in size – they poisoned me with a killer disease
A MUM was terrified her boob job would kill her - after one of her 'perfect' D-cup breasts suddenly doubled in size, revealing a rare disease linked to the implants.
Colette Cooper went under the knife in 2014 to boost her C-cup chest to a D-cup, having lost weight after hitting the gym.
Advertisement
7
Colette Cooper, 51, claims her breast implants of 10 years nearly killed her
Credit: Kennedy News
7
The mum woke up in March to find one of her breasts had doubled in size
Credit: Kennedy News
7
Tests showed the mum - pictured here with her daughter Elizabeth Martin, 20 - had a rare type of lymphoma linked to texture implants
Credit: Kennedy News
The 51-year-old, who had textured implants made by US pharmaceutical company Allergan, was initially pleased with the result of her surgery.
But in March 2025, she woke up one morning and noticed her left breast had more than doubled in size.
The worried mum-of-two rushed to A&E, where tests found a large amount of fluid between the breast implant capsule - a layer of scar tissue that naturally forms after surgery - and the implant.
After having 240mls of fluid drained from her left breast, doctors tested the liquid for infection or cancer.
Advertisement
In April, Colette was horrified to learn she had breast-implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) - a rare type of lymphoma that affects some people with textured breast implants.
It's a type of immune system cancer - not breast cancer - that occurs in the fluid and scar tissue around an implant.
In more advanced cases, it can spread to lymph nodes surrounding thee breast and other body parts, or into the chest wall underneath the breast.
BIA-ALCL generally grows slowly and can be treated with surgery to remove the breast implant and surrounding capsule. But in rare cases, it can be fatal.
Advertisement
Rough textured implants used to be used to help breast implants stay in place.
But 2019, a report published by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed an association between BIA-ALCL and Allergan BIOCELL textured breast implants, prompting the manufacturer to issue a recall notice and withdraw them from worldwide sale.
The signs and symptoms of cancer
As of February this year, the FDA has received 1,380 reports of BIA-ALCL cases and 64 deaths, both from in and outside the US.
According to the 2019 report, approximately 85 per cent of BIA-ALCL cases have been in people who received BIOCELL textured implants from Allergan.
Advertisement
On their website, Allergan says patients' with textured implants don't need to have them removed unless they have cancer symptoms.
Colette underwent an operation in June to have her implants removed and was subsequently told she's now cancer-free.
7
Colette got her 'perfect' D-cup boobs done after losing weight from hitting the gym
Credit: Kennedy News
7
She didn't know that Allergan implants had been recalled in 2019 due to links with cancer
Credit: Kennedy News
Advertisement
7
The mum underwent surgery to have her implants removed
Credit: Kennedy News
She's now warning other women about the potential dangers of textured implants.
The recruitment worker, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, recalled: "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.
Advertisement
"The op went really well, they were absolutely perfect.
"In the middle of March, I woke up one morning and noticed my left breast was loads bigger than the other, it was more than double the size.
"I went straight to the doctors the next day."
While waiting for her referral, Colette went to The James Cook University Hospital's A&E in Middlesbrough where an ultrasound picked up a significant amount of fluid around Colette's implant.
Advertisement
After having the fluid drained from her breast, tests revealed that Colette had a rare form of lymphoma linked to the Allergan breast implants she'd had fitted 11 years prior.
What is BIA-ALCL?
BIA-ALCL is rare cancer of the white blood cells - also known an lymphoma - that grows due to the body's reaction to a breast implant.
In the UK, the majority of BIAALCL is diagnosed early and cured by removal of the implants with surrounding scar tissue with no additional cancer treatment required.
However, a small number of people may need further treatment such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy.
BIA-ALCL has mainly been reported in people with breast implants which have a rough silicone surface.
But the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) said any breast implant may have the potential to cause the cancer.
There are no screening tests for BIA-ALCL. People with breast implants, with no breast symptoms or signs, don't routine clinical checks or monitoring with mammograms, ultrasound or MRI.
If you have no breast symptoms or signs but are worried about BIA-ALCL, BAAPS advised you contact the surgeon who put your implants in, or the clinic or hospital where you had them inserted for advice.
Symptoms can appear as early as one year after you receive the implant or many years later.
On average, symptoms start eight years after surgery.
The symptoms of BIA-ALCL include: Enlargement or swelling of your breast
Hardening of your breast
Lumps in your breast or armpit
Pain in your breast or armpit
Redness or skin rash on or around your breast (rarely)
If you experience symptoms that concern you, remember that noncancerous issues are a much more likely cause.
These may include: Capsular contracture
Implant rupture
Infection
Recent trauma
Source: BAAPS, Cleveland Clinic
Colette said: "I was upset about my children, I was worried about work, I was devastated. 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.
"So they said they'd take a part of my pec muscle away in case it had spread.
Advertisement
"He did tell me that this [cancer] is only in textured implants. These implants have now been banned and taken off the market.
"I didn't know anything about it until this."
Smooth breast implants aren't as commonly associated with BIA-ALCL, but research is still underway to confirm this.
Calls for compensation
After a successful operation to remove her implants last month, Colette was told she is now cancer-free but will need reconstructive surgery on her breasts in the future.
Advertisement
Colette believes anyone with Allergan implants should be offered a free removal due to the proven risks, and compensation should be offered to patients who do develop cancer.
Colette said: "Even if you have these implants, if you've got no symptoms, you can't just ask to have them out.
"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.
Advertisement
"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.
"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.
"It's not as uncommon as they're making out. Everybody who has these implants should at least be offered some sort of scan.
Advertisement
"I think they should pay out to people who get sick, there should be some kind of compensation.
"I've not been able to work and it's caused a huge amount of worry to me and my family."
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says there is no need for people with breast implants but no signs or symptoms of BIA-ALCL, to have them removed or checked.
But anyone with unusual signs or symptoms, such as swelling around their breast implant, should see a doctor.
Advertisement
Allergan said they didn't have anything additional to add beyond what they posted on their website.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
I tested natural deodorant after FDA recalled 67,000 cases of popular brands - here's why I'll never go back
With the FDA recalling 67,000 cases of popular deodorant brands, one journalist made the switch to natural deodorant and was shocked by the results. Sophie Bates, a writer for The Sun, tried the natural product from Wild, a company that launched in 2020 with a focus on eco and skin-friendly products. Bates tested the deodorant daily for a month, putting it to the test through the office, gym and overnight. She went in with concerns of irritation and effectiveness, but found she was 'pleasantly surprised' by the product. 'For the first few days [I] didn't feel as fresh as I usually would with a traditional deodorant, but after that, I didn't notice much difference at all,' she said. 'I found myself free from body odor for the majority of the day, but I did sweat more than I usually do at first.' Bates said that while the natural deodorant took 'some getting used to,' she found that any odor neutralized following a couple of days of use. 'Everything about Wild is natural, from the recycled packaging to the chemical-free formula, but without compromising on quality,' she added. 'Once you get over the initial transition period, Wild's deodorant effectively keeps odor at bay, and I noticed long-lasting results without needing to top up.' Bates said the deodorant, while a little messy and more expensive, was overall a great natural option. Wild is available from $16 for cases and refills, $7.50 for refills and $11 for cases only, with a choice of scents and packaging options. The company's refillable options for natural deodorant is in an effort to reduce single-use plastics, and it claims that each refill saves 30 grams of plastic from reaching landfill sites. Bates testing of the product comes as the FDA announced a recall of 67,000 cases of the popular Power Stick deodorant brand. The Pennsylvania-based manufacturer, A.P Duauville, LLC, initiated the voluntary recall of 67,214 cases in total on July 10. The recall included more than 20,000 cases of the brand's 'power fresh'-scented Power Stick for Her Roll-On Antiperspirant Deodorant. It also covered more than 22,400 cases of 'spring fresh'-scented Power Stick Invisible Protection Roll-On Antiperspirant Deodorant, and more than 23,400 cases of the brand's Power Stick Original Nourishing Invisible Protection Roll-On Antiperspirant Deodorant. The Pennsylvania-based manufacturer, A.P Duauville, LLC, initiated the voluntary recall of 67,214 cases in total on July 10 All recalled items were packaged in a 1.8 ounce size. The recall was issued due to reported 'cGMP deviations,' which indicates a procedure and standards issue for product manufacturing, according to the Current Good Manufacturing Practices. Customers were able to purchase the recalled products at Walmart, Dollar Tree and Amazon.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Gene therapy maker Sarepta tells FDA it won't halt shipments despite patient deaths
Drugmaker Sarepta Therapeutics said late Friday it won't comply with a request from the Food and Drug Administration to halt all shipments of its gene therapy following the death of a third patient receiving one of its treatments for muscular dystrophy. The highly unusual move is a latest in a string of events that have hammered the company's stock for weeks and recently forced it to lay off 500 employees. The company's decision not to comply with the FDA also places future availability of its leading therapy, called Elevidys, in doubt. The FDA said in a statement Friday night that officials met with Sarepta and requested it suspend all sales but 'the company refused to do so.' The agency has the authority to pull drugs from the market, but the cumbersome regulatory process can take months or even years. Instead, the agency usually makes an informal request and companies almost always comply. 'We believe in access to drugs for unmet medical needs but are not afraid to take immediate action when a serious safety signal emerges,' FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a statement. Elevidys is the first gene therapy approved in the U.S. for Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, the fatal muscle-wasting disease that affects males, though it has faced scrutiny since its clearance in 2023. The one-time treatment received accelerated approval against the recommendations of some FDA scientists who doubted its effectiveness. The FDA granted full approval last year and expanded the therapy's use to patients 4 years and older, including those who can no longer walk. Previously, it was only available for younger patients who were still walking. Sarepta said Friday that its scientific review showed 'no new or changed safety signals' for younger patients with Duchenne's who have earlier stages of the disease. The company said it plans to keep the drug available for those patients. 'We look forward to continued discussions and sharing of information with FDA,' the company said in a statement. Sarepta halted shipments last month of the therapy for older boys with Duchenne's, which gradually destroys muscle and skeletal strength, resulting in early death. The move followed the deaths of two teenage boys taking the therapy. The company also confirmed a third death Friday: a 51-year-old patient who was taking an experimental gene therapy in a trial for a different form of muscular dystrophy. Sarepta said it reported the death to the FDA on June 20. The FDA said Friday it placed that trial on hold. Sarepta noted that the gene therapy involved in the incident uses 'a different dose and is manufactured using a different process,' than Elevidys. All three patient deaths were linked to liver injury, a side effect noted in Sarepta's prescribing information. Earlier this week Sarepta announced it would add a bold warning to drug and lay off a third of its employees. The company did not mention the third patient death in its news release or conference call announcing those changes, sparking pointed criticism from Wall Street analysts. Company shares fell more than 35% Friday to close at $14.07. Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Sarepta has received FDA approval for three other Duchenne's drugs since 2016, none of which have been confirmed to work. The company has long been criticized for failing to complete several studies needed to secure full FDA approval of its drugs. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Exclusive: Sarepta says it won't comply with FDA request to stop shipping gene therapy Elevidys
July 18 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators asked Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT.O), opens new tab on Friday to voluntarily halt shipments of its Elevidys gene therapy after a muscular dystrophy patient who received a different, experimental treatment died, but the company said it would not do so. The Food and Drug Administration announced the move, confirming an earlier Reuters report, after making the request at a meeting with Sarepta on Friday. After the FDA request, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Sarepta said in a statement that it will continue to ship the therapy to ambulatory people but maintain a halt it implemented June 15 for non-ambulatory patients after reporting to the FDA a case of acute liver failure in a patient who could not walk. Sarepta said it made the decision "based on our comprehensive scientific interpretation of the data, which shows no new or changed safety signals in the ambulant patient population." While the 51-year-old man with limb girdle muscular dystrophy who died most recently was not taking Elevidys, his experimental therapy and Elevidys are based on similar gene technology, the FDA said. The FDA said it was putting clinical trials for limb girdle muscular dystrophy on hold due to safety concerns. Elevidys received traditional approval in 2024 for patients age 4 and older with the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene mutation who can walk, as well as accelerated, conditional approval for those with the muscle-wasting disease who cannot, even though the therapy failed to meet the main goal in a late-stage trial. In another setback, the regulator also revoked the platform technology designation for Sarepta's gene therapy, a status that can streamline regulatory review and that is given when a technology has promise across multiple indications. Sarepta shares ended down 36% at $14.08. At one point on Friday, the stock tumbled over 40% to a more than nine-year low after the company disclosed the third patient death. The agency increased scrutiny of Sarepta when two teenage boys receiving Elevidys died this year. All three of the deaths were caused by acute liver failure and occurred in non-ambulatory patients. The FDA said it is continuing to investigate the risk of acute liver failure with serious outcomes, including hospitalization and death, with gene therapies using Sarepta's AAVrh74 platform technology. Wall Street analysts have said the third death could make patients more hesitant to use Elevidys. Patient groups said the developments around Elevidys have been concerning. "Families with Duchenne muscular dystrophy are grappling with a mix of disappointment, uncertainty about choices they are making for their own children or themselves," said Debra Miller, founder of the non-profit CureDuchenne. On Wednesday, Sarepta said it was working with the FDA to add a warning label about liver toxicity risks to Elevidys' packaging. On an investor call on Friday, analysts asked Sarepta why it had not disclosed the latest patient death on Wednesday, when it announced 500 layoffs and cuts to its limb-girdle muscular dystrophy program, citing financial reasons. CEO Doug Ingram said the matter was "neither material, nor central" to Wednesday's update and the decision to end the limb-girdle muscular dystrophy gene therapy study was made independently of the patient death. The company also said liver issues were not a new safety signal in the study. However, some analysts, including those at BMO Capital Markets, warned that Sarepta's handling of the disclosure could damage management credibility. At least two analysts asked whether other deaths had occurred in Sarepta's gene therapy programs. The company said it was not aware of any beyond the three that were disclosed.
