Latest news with #Allergan
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
My perfect new D-cup boobs nearly killed me after doubling in size – they poisoned me with a killer disease
Everything you need to know about the rare disease linked to breast implants - from telltale symptoms to whether you need your boobs redone 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.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
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. 7 7 7 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. 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. 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. 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 7 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. "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. 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. "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. 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. "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. "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. Allergan said they didn't have anything additional to add beyond what they posted on their website. 7
Irish Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Allergan leaves Ireland as parent company re-domiciles to US
ALLERGAN, the pharmaceutical company best known for producing Botox at its long-standing plant in Westport, has officially re-domiciled to the United States under new ownership by American pharma giant AbbVie. The move reverses a major corporate decision from 2015, when Allergan shifted its headquarters from the US to Ireland following a merger with Actavis. Changes to US tax policy under Donald Trump have made such schemes far less attractive to US companies. AbbVie CEO Rob Michael said the 2017 U.S. tax reforms—cutting corporate tax rates and removing inversion incentives—were key to the company's $60 billion acquisition of Allergan in 2020 and its recent re-registration in the US. 'Tax reform allowed us to acquire Allergan and re-domicile it into the US,' he told a public news conference. While Allergan's Westport plant remains operational and continues to manufacture Botox, the company's corporate headquarters are now back in America. In 2023, Allergan reported a turnover of $5 billion, with nearly ¾ of sales coming from the US. The re-domiciling could just be the beginning: US pharma companies with major Irish operations—such as Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson—are increasingly investing back in the states amid political uncertainty. AbbVie plans to invest over $10 billion in the US over the next decade, encouraged by Trump tax reforms and recent incentives in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' Trump has also threatened a 200% tariff if pharma companies don't shift operations back to America. Ireland is currently home to over 900 US multinationals, many of which are in pharma, tech, and finance. These firms employ more than 200,000 people directly and indirectly support many more. Allergan's move raises worry about a potential exodus, especially if future US policies continue to punish offshore operations. While Ireland still offers a favourable corporate tax rate and strong regulatory environment, the tide of US reshoring incentives could pose long-term risks to its role as a global hub for American business. See More: Allergan, Botox, Pharmaceuticals, US Trade Tariffs, Westport
The Australian
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Australian
TGA issues fake Botox alert over two imports seized at Australian border
Australian authorities have seized fake Botox at the border purchased from an overseas website. Two unrelated batches of dodgy Botox were seized at the border, both in apparently genuine boxes from manufacturers Allergan and AbbVie. Dodgy spelling, grammar and fonts tipped off authorities. In an alert issued on Thursday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration said the products were purchased from an overseas website, not obtained by an Australian pharmacy. 'These injectable products may pose a serious risk to your health and should not be used,' a TGA spokesperson said. 'We advise consumers to exercise extreme caution when purchasing medicines from unknown overseas websites.' Botox injectables - a type of neurotoxin protein called botulinum - are prescription-only medicines in Australia. The substance temporarily paralyses the muscles that cause wrinkles. 'For your safety, always buy medicines from reputable sources and consult your healthcare provider or local registered pharmacy if you have any concerns,' the TGA warns. The product boxes listed the correct types of botulinum toxins, but incorrect spelling, spacing and text bolding aroused suspicions. Genuine Botox manufacturers have confirmed to the TGA that the specific batch numbers C7211C4 and HA 33946 are not legitimate. 'Consumers should be warned that manufacturers of counterfeit goods are producing products that, to the untrained eye, may appear legitimate, highlighting the need to purchase your medicines from legitimate sources,' the TGA warns. Internationally, non-approved Botox products have been linked to severe botulism infections, a life-threatening infection where a person's nervous system hinders breathing and movement. Australia's injectable cosmetics industry was valued at $4.1bn last year. Blair Jackson Reporter Blair's journalism career has taken him from Perth, to New Zealand, Queensland and now Melbourne. Blair Jackson
Perth Now
10-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Dead giveaway that Botox was fake
Australian authorities have seized fake Botox at the border purchased from an overseas website. Two unrelated batches of dodgy Botox were seized at the border, both in apparently genuine boxes from manufacturers Allergan and AbbVie. Dodgy spelling, grammar and fonts tipped off authorities. In an alert issued on Thursday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration said the products were purchased from an overseas website, not obtained by an Australian pharmacy. 'These injectable products may pose a serious risk to your health and should not be used,' a TGA spokesperson said. 'We advise consumers to exercise extreme caution when purchasing medicines from unknown overseas websites.' Botox injectables - a type of neurotoxin protein called botulinum - are prescription-only medicines in Australia. The substance temporarily paralyses the muscles that cause wrinkles. 'For your safety, always buy medicines from reputable sources and consult your healthcare provider or local registered pharmacy if you have any concerns,' the TGA warns. The product boxes listed the correct types of botulinum toxins, but incorrect spelling, spacing and text bolding aroused suspicions. Genuine Botox manufacturers have confirmed to the TGA that the specific batch numbers C7211C4 and HA 33946 are not legitimate. 'Consumers should be warned that manufacturers of counterfeit goods are producing products that, to the untrained eye, may appear legitimate, highlighting the need to purchase your medicines from legitimate sources,' the TGA warns. Internationally, non-approved Botox products have been linked to severe botulism infections, a life-threatening infection where a person's nervous system hinders breathing and movement. Australia's injectable cosmetics industry was valued at $4.1bn last year.
