A mother-of-three is urging women to consider the health implications of cosmetic surgery, following an alarming discovery that her breast implants could kill her.
Last week, Abby Squires, 37, received the shocking news that her implants could cause a 'rare and very serious' form of cancer, following a global recall of a specific type of implants in 2019.
Medically known as breast-implant associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), it's a form of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which affects certain blood cells.
Now Ms Squires is not just facing a potentially life-threatening diagnosis, but a fee of over £10,000 if she wants to get the 'toxic' implants removed, as the NHS has refused to perform the operation.
Ms Squires, a teaching assistant at Cliffe Woods Primary School, Rochester, said: 'It's quite a scary position to be in. I potentially have a ticking time bomb.
'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 just do not know where to go from here,' she added.
In 2009, the mum-of-three from Wainscott paid £5,000 for the implants with the hope that the cosmetic surgery would boost her self-confidence.
Abby Squires had surgery in 2009 where she was given textured breast implants that she hoped would help her self-image
The mother-of-three is now concerned about the risk her implants could pose to her future health
After extensive research, she booked a consultation with Transform Medical Group in Maidstone, Kent, where she had a meeting and further health checks.
She said: '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.'
Ms Squires was then booked in for the surgery at its London hospital, where she was given textured breast implants manufactured by global pharmaceutical company, Allergan.
Since then, Ms Squires has not experienced any issues with her health and has not had her breast implants checked.
Ten years later, in 2019, Allergan issued a global recall of the Biocell textured implants and textured expanders due to the suspected cancer risk.
But, until last week, when she saw a video posted to Instagram about the 'toxic' implants, Ms Squires was completely unaware of the recall.
In the video, Married at First Sight UK star Amy Kenyon revealed she had her breast implants removed after learning they could cause a rare form of cancer.
The reality star, 28, said she 'could have died' due to the implants, and urged her followers to check which types had been used in their own procedures.
Married at First Sight Star Amy Kenyon revealed she had her breast implants removed after a surgeon told her they were toxic and could cause a rare and very serious form of cancer
She also hit out at the clinic who performed her original procedure, saying they failed to contact her to inform that her implants were toxic after they were recalled in 2019.
The implants, which have a textured surface to prevent them slipping, have long been linked to the rare form of blood cancer and are no longer in use in the UK.
Now, Ms Squires is hoping to use her platform as a Miss Great Britain contestant to raise awareness of the risks associated with breast implants and other cosmetic surgeries.
She said: '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.
'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.'
The health service has told Ms Squires that in order to qualify for implant removal surgery, she would have to be suffering symptoms of the cancer.
Abby Squires, pictured with her family, is hoping to be crowned Ms Kent and Sussex in Miss Great Britain this year and is using her platform to raise awareness of the risks associated with cosmetic surgery
She said: '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.'
According to current UK government guidelines, the most common symptom of breast-implant associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is swelling or asymmetrical breasts, caused by fluid collecting around the implant.
Since 2011, when the FDA identified a possible link with the cancer, the US health authority has received 1,380 reports of the cancer, according to the latest figures.
While the majority of cases are diagnosed early and cured by the removal of implants with surrounding scar tissue, in some cases further treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy, may be required.
Officials say there is no screening tests for the disease and urge women who experience fluid, a lump or swelling around the implant more than a year after surgery to contact their GP for advice.
Transform Medical Group issued the following statement today: 'Delivering safe and compassionate care throughout a patient’s journey is our highest priority and we provide advice that enables patients to make informed decisions about their health, fully in line with the latest guidance from health and clinical authorities.
'Transform Medical Group Limited ceased trading in 2015. Allergan began a recall of implants already issued to distributors and healthcare providers in December 2018. Based on independent clinical analysis, the Allergan recall did not advise providers that historic patients’ implants should be removed.'