Breast Implant Illness (BII), is a condition reported by hundreds of thousands of women on social media and in online support groups. There is a significant movement of women sharing their experiences with BII, advocating for awareness, and pushing for acknowledgment and informed consent from medical professionals.
Heidi Nichole, a resident of Austin, Texas, shares her personal journey with BII, recounting the onset of symptoms years after receiving breast implants. Her experience led her to connect with others through online support groups with well over 200k members, through which she found a community of women facing similar challenges.
BII survivors Cecily Henderson and Lisa Haskins-Pearson share their struggles with BII and their efforts to raise awareness and support others. They emphasize the need for comprehensive education on breast implants and advocate for legislative measures to protect patients' rights and ensure informed consent.
Dr. Shaher Khan, a board-certified plastic surgeon, acknowledges the growing awareness of BII among patients, attributing it in part to social media. He emphasizes the importance of educating women about the potential risks and complications associated with breast implants, including multiple cancers such as BIA-ALCL and BIA-SCC, along with B-cell lymphomas, T-cell lymphomas, and melanoma that have been linked to breast implants.
However, Dr. Scot Glasberg, president of the Plastic Surgery Foundation, states that BII is not a recognized disease and emphasizes the lack of a standardized approach to diagnosing and treating BII within the medical community. He highlights ongoing research efforts aimed at addressing testing and treatment protocols for BII.
Madris Kinard from Device Events is advocating for better access to information and stricter regulations surrounding breast implants. Madris, a former FDA public health analyst, points out the limitations of the FDA's tracking system for breast implant issues and calls for improved data accessibility.
Robyn Towt from the Global Patient Advocacy Coalition (GPAC) voices support for these efforts, highlighting the organization's mission to raise awareness, advocate for patient rights, and hold the medical community and regulatory bodies accountable.
GPAC extends a heartfelt thank you to Heidi Nichole, Cecily Henderson, Lisa Haskins-Pearson, Robyn Towt, and all advocates for their bravery in sharing their stories and dedication to advocacy.