My breast implants could be toxic — it feels like my chest is a ‘ticking time bomb’

A mom-of-three feels like she has a “ticking time bomb” in her chest after finding out her breast implants could be “toxic” and have been linked to a rare cancer.

Abby Squires, 37, paid $6,700 for the cosmetic surgery in 2009 as she felt insecure about her boob size and felt the procedure would help her confidence and self-image.

After thorough research, she found Transform Medical Group which had a clinic in Maidstone, Kent in the UK, where she had a pre-consultation meeting and health checks.

There were no issues, so she was booked in for the surgery at its hospital in London and was given textured breast implants by global pharmaceutical company Allergan.

Abby, who is from Wainscott, says she has had no problems with the implants since and never needed to get them checked. 

But, last week she saw a social media video from Married at First Sight UK contestant Amy Victoria Kenyon informing her that Allergan had recalled a type of implant in 2019.

The reality TV star had her implants replaced in Turkey where she was informed they were the ones linked to a “rare and very serious” cancer, something she did not know.

Now, Abby is concerned about the risk her implants could pose to her future health. 

She added: “It is quite a scary position to be in. I potentially have a ticking time bomb.

“I have not had any issues, luckily, but who knows what could happen in the next month, six months or a year. I do not want it to get to the point where I have symptoms.

“I went to Transform Medical Group, which was not a back-alley company, as it was really well-known. I did my research and had confidence in it.”

Allergan initiated a global recall of Biocell textured breast implants and tissue expanders in 2019.

It came as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found growing evidence that they were linked to a cancer of the immune system called breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

It is not known why some patients develop this type of cancer and others do not, however, it has mainly been reported in people with textured breast implants.

The teaching assistant at Cliffe Woods Primary School added: “It is scary to think that there may be thousands of women out there who have not heard anything about this.

“Breast implants are so common now. It seems that so many more women are having them done compared to when I did in 2009.”

Abby said she knew she had textured breast implants from Allergan but explained there is no way to know for sure if they are the recalled Biocell type without undergoing surgery.

She has since contacted cosmetic surgery companies and has been quoted upwards of $13,200 to have the implants removed and replaced as they would be unavailable on the NHS.

She said: “I just do not know where to go from here. I have not got the money to have them replaced so I have just got to hope for the best until I can get something together to have them redone.

“I just want to raise that awareness and hope that it does help as many girls as possible that are more than likely in the position I am.”

Internationally, it is agreed that there is no need to have the silicones removed if you do not have symptoms of BIA-ALCL.

These include breast hardening, changes in appearance, enlargement, fatigue, lumps, swelling, redness and weight loss.

Abby is hoping to be crowned Ms Kent and Sussex in Miss Great Britain this year and is using the platform to spread awareness of breast implants as she knows many women in the glamour industry have had cosmetic surgery.