Michelle Miller is raising awareness about Breast Implant Associated – Squamous Cell Carcinoma (BIA-SCC), a rare ‘manmade cancer’ she has personally been diagnosed with.

Her personal message:
“If you would have asked me a year ago what month was breast cancer awareness month I wouldn’t have known. Now, I will forever know that it is in October. Breast cancer awareness month will live in my Octobers.
As I have made it publicly known I have cancer. I don’t actually have breast cancer but a very rare, and by rare I mean I am the 6th documented case worldwide, cancer that is / was in both breasts. Officially I have breast implant associated squamous cell carcinoma. (BIA SCC).
I have a cancer that has been caused by the recurring irritant known as my breast implants. Squamous cell cancer is not a genetic cancer. It is not a natural cancer. And by that I mean the genetic mutant kind of cancer, as most commonly known cancers are. It was caused by a foreign object.
My cancer is aggressive and basically it will kill me quickly or not at all. There is no known treatment for certain. There are no guarantees. So in hopes of surviving, I agreed to aggressive chemo and radiation in addition to bilateral mastectomy.
My goal, aside from surviving is to help raise awareness for breast implant education. Breast implants. KILL . PERIOD.
It might be slowly, so slow that you think that you are safe from harm. I had mine since 1995 with revisions and replacements due to pain and inflammation.
Please consider me before getting implants. Please consider EXPLANTING those toxic bags of shit from your body.
This is part of the NEW breast cancer awareness. Part of the cure for cancer is knowing the cause. Implants cause cancer.“

BIA-SCC was first diagnosed in the early 1990s.

We can only imagine how many others have had this cancer but, weren’t diagnosed. It wasn’t that long ago that the stats were this low for BIA-ALCL (Breast Implant Associated – Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma). Since they’ve started testing for BIA-ALCL there has been a sharp increase in diagnosed cases, including deaths. I’m sure we’ll see the incidence rate for BIA-SCC rise in coming years also. At least if they start testing more for it.

If you have breast implants and develop unusual symptoms, including sudden swelling, pain, itching, seroma (fluid), redness, hardness, lumps/masses you should seek medical attention. Symptoms of BIA-SCC can be similar to symptoms of BIA-ALCL.

Pain and swelling led to Michelle having a diagnostic ultrasound, which revealed she had a 6cm tumour in one breast, and 1cm in the other. A biopsy confirmed cancer.

It should be noted that although BIA-ALCL is associated with textured breast implants, Michelle had only smooth implants – Mentor smooth saline.

Though historically women have been implanted and left for years, or even decades, without follow-up we now know that annual follow-up with a plastic surgeon is imperative, no matter what surface implants one has.

I extend my well wishes and deep gratitude to Michelle. My personal message to her: “Michelle, thank you for your courage sharing your story even as you’re living through all that goes with having been diagnosed with BIA-SCC. You are a hero and champion. I wish you the very best and hold you in my thoughts and prayers.”