SALT LAKE CITY – Intermountain Healthcare doctors on Tuesday announced new mammogram guidelines in response to a surprising new side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine.
They say that women who have recently received a COVID-19 vaccine may need to have their annual mammogram postponed.
“When a vaccine is received, there is an inflammatory reaction in the arm,” said Dr. Brett Parkinson, medical director of Intermountain Healthcare’s breast care center, said.
READ: Utah Women Encouraged Not to Postpone Mammograms During Pandemic
In the past four weeks, doctors have seen swollen lymph nodes on examination of mammograms of women who have recently been vaccinated.
“When we see it on a normal mammogram, we call back the patients because it could mean metastatic breast cancer moving to the lymph nodes or lymphoma or leukemia.”
While inflammation is the body’s normal response to a vaccine, says Dr. Parkinson it surprising how many swollen lymph nodes they have already seen.
“With the Moderna vaccine, it is approximately 11% after the first dose and 16% after the second dose. We believe it is also comparable to the Pfizer vaccine. ”
In response, Intermountain has expanded new guidelines in line with the Society of Breast Imaging.
Women should get their mammogram before their first dose, or wait four weeks after their second dose.
“We do not want these patients to be false positives to have this kind of alarm,” Parkinson said.
If there are worrying symptoms, such as a suspicious lump, says dr. Parkinson’s that you should not delay a mammogram.
READ: Early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer
‘Breast cancer kills women between 40 and 50 000 a year. “Many of the deaths are unnecessary,” Parkinson said. “I know that mammography screening is the only test that has been shown over the last 30 to 40 years to reduce the mortality rate from breast cancer.”
If you have an opportunity to get the vaccine, do dr. Parkinson’s appeals to you to get it because the appointment is limited. He adds that postponing a mammogram examination for a month or two will not be as effective.