A new form of cancer could be triggered by a type of breast implant popular with British women Daily Mail reports. At least 150 cases of the disease, called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) of the breast, have been reported, including a handful in Britain. Nine in 10 cases of the disease – a cancer of the immune system – have been in women who have received breast implants with a textured outer shell, according to experts.

Scientists say this rougher surface is ‘the ideal breeding ground’ for bacteria which could sow the seed of cancer. Women should be warned of the cancer risk before undergoing implant operations, they argue. Most women with ALCL have made a full recovery after surgery. In some cases they also needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, some – including one Briton – have died.

But European studies have found no ingredients in the now banned PIP implants – illegally made with industrial grade silicone – to be carcinogenic. Now scientists suggest ALCL is linked to a relatively common complication of having textured breast implants inserted, called capsular contracture.

Implants can enhance women's lives but can also be a cause of long-term illness ‘Countries that mainly use textured implants, like Australia, have seen proportionally more cases.’ But plastic surgeon Fazel Fatah, of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said: ‘These tumours are extremely rare, treatable and patients should continue to feel safe. There is no need to remove implants unless they develop sudden unexplained changes or swelling.’