Along with documenting treatment breakthroughs, breast cancer research can offer insight into the safety and success of reconstruction procedures. A few key studies on breast implants can be found here:
Institute of Medicine Report on the Safety of Silicone Implants
National Cancer Institute Breast Implant Study
Clinical Data on Mentor MemoryGel® Breast Implants

There are also many resources for conducting your own research into specific breast cancer topics, including:
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute Homepage
National Cancer Institute Silicone Breast Implant Study
State Laws on Insurance Coverage for Breast Reconstruction
Evaluating Health Information on the Internet