At age 44, Terri McGregor had Allergan Natrelle Textured Style 115 breast implants placed in 2009. Six years later, at age 50, she had her first mammogram. The routine screening revealed difficulty with the mobility of her left implant. 

After the mammogram, Terri developed painful, hard, marble-like lumps on her left breast. An MRI performed without contrast dye revealed an extra-capsular rupture and capsular contracture in her left implant, as well as an intra-capsular rupture in her right implant.

In July 2015, Terri underwent surgery to replace the ruptured implants. Despite the "concerning" appearance of the implant capsule, her plastic surgeon chose to place smooth implants.

A pathology report revealed Terri had BIA-ALCL, a rare form of lymphoma associated with breast implants. It was CD30 positive + ALK-negative. Immediately, she had the smooth implants removed. The pathology report showed clear margins of breast tissue.

However, further tests confirmed Terri’s lymphatic cancer was stage IV. It had metastasized to her pec muscle, axilla, and mesenteric lymph nodes with small bowel involvement. Her prognosis was terminal. 

Chemotherapy became Terri's first line of defense against anaplastic large cell lymphoma, but her health insurance denied her access to Brentuximab V immunotherapy. Despite undergoing six rounds of CHOEP chemotherapy and two rounds of GDP chemotherapy (Gemcitabine, dexamethasone, and cisplatin), her condition showed no improvement. 

By March 2016, Terri’s prognosis had worsened. Insurance initially denied coverage of Brentuximab V immunotherapy, but she gained access to the treatment through a clinical trial. After four rounds of Brentuximab, she achieved "no evidence of disease" status on PET scans.

To improve her chances of long-term survival, Terri underwent a stem cell transplant followed by targeted radiation. The stem cell harvest took place as scheduled, and 90 days post-transplant, she heeded the recommendation of the Tumor Board and underwent 15 rounds of radiation aimed solely at the pec muscle tumor.

Terri's story highlights the importance of understanding the risks associated with breast implants and the need for third-party oversight in product approval. Her battle with cancer changed her perspective on life, while her experience with the breast implant industry reshaped her perspective of humanity.

Terri believes no consumer or patient should be asked to make decisions without being provided a complete picture. She advocates for balanced and trustworthy information, working to make informed consent and full disclosure an integral part of the medical decision-making process.