Women who receive COVID-19 vaccine shots should wait several weeks to receive a mammogram, as the vaccine response may mimic the signs of breast cancer.
The problem is swollen lymph nodes.
The COVID-19 vaccine can cause swollen lymph nodes under the arm that gets the shot, the Mayo Clinic said. The swelling is the body that responds to the vaccine and builds up the defenses against the virus.
The swelling of the vaccine could cause a false reading on a mammogram, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Breast cancer can also cause swelling in lymph nodes under the arm as the cancer cells spread.
Some experts recommend getting a mammogram before being vaccinated or waiting four to six weeks after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC said.
Lehigh Valley Health Network recommends that women wait four to six weeks after completing the vaccination process to get their mammogram, either the second dose of vaccine, or, if they receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, after their only dose, Brian said. Downs, spokesman for LVHN, said.
St. Luke’s University Health Network takes into account the unique health and history of each patient, and spokesman Sam Kennedy said mammogram patients should make a decision after consulting their doctor.
For Lehigh Valley residents who are not in the networks, the Mayo Clinic recommends that mammograms continue as scheduled, but that patients should inform their physician about the vaccination, the date it occurred, and which arm was affected.
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Sarah Cassi can be reached at [email protected].