Swollen lymph nodes under armpit after COVID-19 vaccine can mimic symptoms of breast cancer – here’s what you need to know

A leading breast cancer organization in the country recommends that women should wait to schedule a mammogram up to four weeks after their COVID-19 vaccine over concerns about a strange new side effect.

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The Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) warns that women who have recently been vaccinated may have swelling and a lump in the lymph nodes of their armpit, which may be mistaken as a sign of breast cancer. The SBI issued the recommendation in a three-page document recently released, warning of the risk that the vaccine could cause armpit adenopathy, or a change in the size and consistency of lymph nodes in the armpit that signifies of breast cancer. (In the case of breast cancer, armpit adenopathy may be a sign that breast cancer has spread.)

While the SBI says that armpit adenopathy is generally ‘rare’ and ‘rarely reported’ after HPV and flu vaccines, it also notes that women who have recently been vaccinated against COVID-19 may experience it.

The SBI states that 11.6% of patients who received the Modern COVID-19 vaccine had swelling or tenderness after receiving their second shot, and that lymphadenopathy, ie swelling, in more than 1% of people occurred in clinical trials. These symptoms were rare in people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, but they did occur.

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Notably: the SBI guidelines also state that the “true incidence rate” of these symptoms is “probably higher” with both vaccinations – meaning that more women are likely to have experienced this side effect and not noticed or not reported it.

As a result, the SBI has issued this recommendation: ‘If possible, and if it does not unnecessarily delay care, consider screening examinations before the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination or 4-6 weeks after the second dose of COVID plan. -19 vaccination. “The SBI also recommends that clinicians discover the vaccination status of a patient before the mammogram and when the vaccine is given.

The biggest concern: A vaccinated woman may be worried that she has contracted breast cancer after noticing a breast lump or getting a false reading on her mammogram and being subjected to unnecessary tests.

Although the news is a bit freaky, doctors are not shocked that this is happening. Here’s why.

First, a summary of how your lymphatic system works

Your body has a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes that are part of your immune system. The American Lime System collects fluid, waste materials and other things such as viruses and bacteria that occur outside your bloodstream in your tissues, explains the American Cancer Society (ACS).

The lymph vessels are similar to your blood vessels, but carry a clear, aqueous fluid called lymph instead of blood. Lymphatic fluid can do a few different things, but one important function is the ability to fight infections by using white blood cells that carry it. Your lymph nodes are small structures that act as filters for harmful substances, and they contain immune cells that help you fight infections, says the ACS.

If you have an infection, injury or cancer, the nodule in that area may swell or enlarge as it tries to filter out the bad cells. And while swelling in lymph nodes is usually a sign of an infection, it can also indicate cancer in that area, the ACS says.

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Here are the ‘official’ side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine

The CDC cites the following as possible side effects of receiving the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine:

• Pain in the arm where you got the shot
• Swelling in the arm where you got the shot
• Fever
• Cold Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache

OK, so why might the COVID-19 vaccine mimic breast cancer symptoms?

It’s all part of your immune system’s response to the vaccine, says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Health. “The lymph nodes are part of your immune system, and although you are vaccinated in your outer arm, some of the material can get into your local lymph nodes,” he explains. “They can be activated as part of the immune system’s response.” Note the softness and swelling.

It can happen with certain vaccines and infections, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Safety. Health. “Any form of immune stimulation will eventually affect the lymph nodes near the site of infection or injection,” he says.

Discomfort – and possible outburst – aside, Dr Schaffner says the swelling is not necessarily a bad thing: “It’s another proof that your immune system is waking up and responding to the vaccine.”

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How long will this symptom last, and what should you do if you experience it after being vaccinated?

It is not entirely clear, but dr. Adalja says that the swelling and tenderness of the lymph node may remain for a while. “It will usually take a week or so,” he says, adding that it may take longer. That is why dr. Schaffner’s recommendation to wait four weeks after your vaccination to have a mammogram is ‘good advice’.

While a lump or swelling near your breast may be linked to the COVID-19 vaccine, it could also be a sign of another infection or even breast cancer. Dr. Schaffner recommends calling your doctor if you notice this symptom and it does not go away within a week, or if it feels like the discomfort is getting worse. And according to Dr. Adaliah, if you had the bruise before you were vaccinated, you should definitely check it out.

But if you have a lump or swelling, the pain is manageable and you are pretty sure it is due to the COVID-19 vaccine, says Dr. Adalja that you can try applying cool compresses on the area to get relief.

The information in this story is accurate from the press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it is possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health wants to keep our stories as current as possible, we encourage readers to stay up to date with news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local department of public health as resources.

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