Christina Applegate investigating breast implant illness after MS misdiagnosis
What is multiple sclerosis?
Some people with severe multiple sclerosis, known as MS, may lose the ability to walk -- while others may experience long periods of remission without any new symptoms.
Christina Applegate is searching for answers after discovering she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and she’s now investigating whether breast implant illness could be behind her ongoing health struggles.
Chrisina Applegate looks at breast implants for potential MS symptoms
Big picture view:
The 54-year-old "Dead to Me" actress revealed on a Nov. 10 episode of her MeSsy podcast that she was exploring whether the condition could explain why she "hurts all over" and suffers from chronic fatigue.
Her suspicions grew after someone recently mentioned a study with her suggesting breast implant illness can present with symptoms resembling MS.
What they're saying:
"I swear, over the last five years or whatever, I thought, what if they’re leaking and they’re like poisoning me?," Applegate said. "So that's one that I will be looking into, because it's something I've thought about."
Christina Applegate at the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Fairmont Century Plaza on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
In 2008, Applegate survived a breast cancer diagnosis after undergoing a double mastectomy, followed by breast reconstruction.
She added that she was "way overdue for having them replaced."
Dig deeper:
Current scientific and epidemiological evidence has not established a causal relationship between silicone or saline breast implants and multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases.
Although several epidemiological studies have found no statistically significant increase in neurological disease risk among women with breast implants, the available evidence regarding MS remains inconclusive, and a causal association cannot be definitively excluded.
Christina Applegate misdiagnosed with MS
The backstory:
Last month, Applegate revealed in her podcast that she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
In 2021, Applegate first announced her multiple sclerosis diagnosis and made her first public appearance when she attended her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2022.
RELATED: Christina Applegate says she was misdiagnosed: 'Congratulations, you don’t have MS'
"This may come as great news, but to me, I’m back at square one," she said. "It’s hard to say that [my doctor] came into my room, and she said, ‘Congratulations, you don’t have MS.'"
Applegate says her illness and symptoms are now a mystery. "I have every symptom of someone with MS. Every single one," she said. "Now, we both know that there are many things that mirror MS — many different things."
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Dig deeper:
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society says multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system which includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
MS disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and the rest of the body.
Symptoms also vary from person to person and can include:
- Fatigue
- Memory difficulties
- Mobility issues
- Mood changes
- Numbness
- Pain
- Tingling
- Vision impairment
MS can affect different areas of the body and symptoms depend on where inflammation and damage are occurring at any specific time.
Applegate rose to fame as the teen character Kelly Bundy on the sitcom ‘Married…. with Children," which aired from 1987-1997.
Applegate has also starred in various movies and television shows, including "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004) and "Dead to Me" (2019–2022).
She also appeared in the films "Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead" (1991), "Across the Moon" (1994), and "Wild Bill" (1995).
The Source: The information for this story was provided by Christina Applegate's podcast MeSsy, previous FOX Local reporting. This story was reported from Los Angeles.