Canada Allergan Class Action Says Breast Implants May Cause Cancer

Allergan failed to properly warn consumers about the dangers posed by its Biocell breast implants, according to a class action lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia last year.

Plaintiff Samara Bunsko filed the breast implant class action lawsuit against the Allergan defendants, claiming they conducted inadequate testing for their products as required for their Health Canada license.

The Allergan class action also claims that they failed to adequately warn consumers about the risks associated with Allergan breast implants.

In November 2017, Health Canada issued a safety notice regarding reports of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can develop next to the breast implant.

The rate of BIA-ALCL in Canada is reportedly significantly higher in patients with macro-textured breast implants than those with any other type of breast implant.

Last year, Health Canada suspended Allergan’s licenses for Biocell breast implants after it completed an update to its 2017 safety review on BIA-ALCL and determined that the potential risks associated with Biocell breast implants outweigh the benefits.

Allergan Biocell breast implants are reportedly the only macro-textured breast implants that were available in Canada at the time. The affected products include:

• Natrelle Saline-Filled Breast Implants (Textured)
• Natrelle 410 Truform Silicone-Filled Breast Implants
• Natrelle Silicone-Filled Breast Implants – Biocell Round
• Natrelle Inspira Truform 1 (Responsive) Breast Implant (Textured Shell)
• Natrelle Inspira Truform 2 (Soft Touch) Breast Implant (Textured Shell)

Of the 26 confirmed Canadian cases of BIA-ALCL, 22 reportedly involved Biocell breast implants. No Canadian cases of BIA-ALCL have been reported that involve smooth surface breast implants.

Bunsko says she underwent breast augmentation surgery in 2015 with Allergan’s Natrelle 410 breast implants. She says that, due to the “defective nature” of the Biocell textured breast implants, she experienced a variety of health issues including (but not limited to): hair loss, abnormal thyroid levels, autoimmune issues, migraines, radiating pain in her breasts and rib cage, and a tight air bubble pain in her right breast.

These alleged breast implant complications caused Bunsko to experience pain, suffering, permanent physical disability, lost earnings, lost earning capacity, and loss of enjoyment of life, the breast implant cancer class action lawsuit says.

According to the Allergan breast implant class action lawsuit, no medical professional had determined that Bunsko’s medical issues may be linked to her breast implants. She reportedly discovered that her symptoms may have been related to her Allergan breast implants in November 2018.

Bunsko says she would not have had breast augmentation surgery if she had known about the potential for Allergan breast implant complications. She says Allergan under-reported serious breast implant side effects and complications, including those of breast implant cancer.

She also claims the company placed the allegedly dangerous products on the market even though it knew that the breast implants had risks that outweighed their potential benefits.

A U.S. class action lawsuit investigation into breast implant side effects is currently underway.

Do you suffer from breast implant side effects? Let us know in the comments below.

The plaintiff is represented by Rice Harbut Elliott LLP.

The Allergan Breast Implant Cancer Class Action Lawsuit is Samara Bunsko v. Allergan Inc., et al., Case No. 196308, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Canada.

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