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Doctors recommend that patients schedule their mammograms before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, or space the two appointments apart, after some women have mistaken swollen lymph nodes for breast lumps.
These swollen lymph nodes, which are a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine, can also show up in mammograms and other types of imaging scans, experts say.
“There were a few situations where the patient went for a mammogram and on the mammogram, it was there,” said Dr. Harold Burstein, a breast oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Lymph nodes are specialized tissues in the body’s immune system that contain white blood cells and help fight infections and disease, according to the National Cancer Institute. They are normally the size of a lima bean and are all over the body, Burstein said, but the most important lymph nodes are located in the armpits, neck and groin.
Those under the armpits are most likely to swell after vaccination because they are closest to the injection site. They might start to swell a few days after vaccination and last for up to 12 weeks. In addition, the vaccine should not create abnormalities in the breast itself, only under the armpit.
But health experts point out that this is completely normal, as increased inflammation suggests that antibodies are protecting the body against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
“This is a normal immune response to a potent vaccine,” Burstein said. “This is to be expected. This is a much desired consequence of the vaccine. “
Other vaccines elicit a similar response, such as influenza and human papillomavirus vaccines. Some experts believe this may happen more frequently as more and more people get their COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.
The two mRNA vaccines authorized for the disease are very effective. They are known to cause other side effects like mild fever, chills, headache and fatigue.
It is possible that potent mRNA vaccines cause lymph node swelling at a higher rate than other vaccines because they seem to cause more side effects, said Dr Jessica Leung, professor of diagnostic radiology and vice president of breast imaging at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
“But with vaccines without mRNA (like Johnson & Johnson) it will be interesting and educational to see what happens,” she said.
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Even though swollen lymph nodes might mimic a disturbing mass during a self-exam or mammogram, it’s still important to get both the COVID-19 vaccine and breast cancer screening, Leung said. .
To avoid confusion, she recommends getting tested before getting vaccinated. If that’s not possible, guidelines from the MD Anderson Cancer Center say you should wait about four to six weeks after receiving the vaccine.
“Don’t wait too long after six weeks,” Leung said. If it is not possible to postpone your mammogram, “do your mammogram anyway, but let your healthcare providers know that (you) received the COVID vaccine in that arm, on that date.”
Most providers can tell the difference between a swollen lymph node and something worth worrying about, especially if they know the patient has been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the past few weeks.
Leung and Burstein know how difficult it is to get a COVID-19 vaccine because the supply is still limited, so they advise against rescheduling your appointment to get the vaccine.
“(But) don’t forget your mammogram even with that because cancer is still a big problem in this country and it’s a test … that can potentially save a woman’s life from breast cancer,” Leung said.
Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.
Patient health and safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide any editorial contribution.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID Vaccine: Side effect mimics breast cancer sign on mammogram
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