Breast implants in France will come with a health warning after experts discovered a link with a rare form of cancer . France 's National Cancer Institute said there was a 'clearly established link ' between a specific type of implant and the disease . Experts said they have identified 18 cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma since 2011 , linked to silicone breast implants . Given the rarity of cases , the Institute said there is no need to recommend the removal of the implants . Breast implants in France will come with a health warning after 18 women were found to have a rare form of cancer after having an augmentation operation . 'This complication presents very infrequently , ' the body said . France 's health minister immediately sought to calm fears haunted by a similar scare in 2011 . French firm PIP sparked a global health scare in 2011 , when plastic surgeons began reporting an unusual number of ruptures in their products . The PIP implants were banned and the company eventually liquidated . 'We do not recommend that women carrying these implants have them removed , ' Health Minister Marisol Touraine said . Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma - a blood cancer . It is a cancer of the lymphatic system , which forms part of the body 's immune system . The rare disease is more common in children and young adults . It develops when abnormal white blood cells divide in an uncontrolled way . The cancerous white blood cells then travel to parts of the body , commonly the lymph nodes , spleen , bone marrow and blood and form a tumour . Symptoms of the disease include : . The disease makes up around three per cent of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas in adults and 10 to 30 per cent in children . It grows quickly and usually needs immediate treatment with chemotherapy . Some patients may also need radiotherapy or stem cell transplants . Source : Macmillan Cancer Support and Lymphoma Research Foundation . She urged women not to get 'carried away by excessive worry ' , about the implants . 'Our vigilance is absolute , ' she said . Ms Touraine said no particular brand of implant was in question . However the Parisien Daily reported that 14 of the 18 cases of the rare cancer were found in women with breast implants made by US pharmaceutical company Allergan . Allergan said in a statement : 'The security of patients is our first priority . ' It added the company is collaborating closely with the health authorities and the drug agency ANSM . The company added that all women aged 25 or over should have an annual health check . The head of the National Cancer Institute , Agnes Buzyn , said the increased detection rate could also be attributed to better screening . According to Francois Hebert , deputy head of the ANSM drugs agency , around 400,000 women in France have had breast implants . Of those 80 per cent had the procedure for cosmetic reasons , while 20 per cent had the operation following breast cancer . Almost 50,000 women in the UK and some 400,000 worldwide , were affected by the PIP scare came to light . There was uproar when it emerged the French firm Poly Implant Prothese ( PIP ) had been manufacturing implants using industrial grade silicone intended for use in mattresses . However a report into PIP scandal , published last May , found 'no convincing ' medical data which suggests women with PIP implants should have them removed . French firm PIP sparked a global health scare in 2011 , when plastic surgeons began reporting an unusual number of ruptures in their products . European health officials found no medical or toxicological evidence to justify removal . The European Commission 's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks found no reliable evidence that ruptured PIP implants posed a health risk . They concluded a ruptured PIP implant posed not greater threat than a ruptured implant from another manufacturer . Their findings backed a 2012 review by NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh , which concluded the implants were not toxic or carcinogenic . However Jean-Claude Mas , the founder of the company , was jailed for four years in 2013 for fraad , at a court in France .
France 's the Parisien Daily found 'clear link ' between breast implants and a rare form of cancer . Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma . Experts found 18 cases of the disease linked to silicone breast implants . Given rarity they say there is no need for women to have implants removed .