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It’s important for women to be careful about the timing of their COVID-19 vaccines and breast exams, according to new guidelines.
According to a report from Good Morning America, the nonprofit, Society of Breast Imaging, released guidelines Thursday, advising women to consider scheduling their mammograms before taking a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or four. at six weeks after the vaccine. second dose.
GMA said there had been reports that “the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines causing swelling of the lymph nodes in the area of the armpit where the shot was administered,” precipitated the new guidelines.
GMA quoted Dr. Jennifer Ashton, chief medical correspondent for ABC News, who explained that “this area of the body is also where enlarged lymph nodes can be a sign of breast cancer.
Ashton, a board-certified OBGYN, said of the new SBI guidelines: “What they are seeing in real time is enlarged lymph nodes in women who have received the COVID- vaccine. 19 and they don’t want that to take into account the results. of their mammogram.
Ashton, added: “But most importantly, to realize that just seeing an enlarged lymph node in an armpit without a breast finding is not necessarily a sign of breast cancer.”
- Read more: Side effect of COVID-19 vaccine mimics symptom of breast cancer; experts say don’t worry
GMA noted that, according to Ashton, “swollen lymph nodes after the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are not of concern.”
“It’s just your immune system doing its job,” she says. “It’s your body doing its job.”
GMA passed on Ashton’s advice, encouraging people to talk to their doctors and radiologists, and to be “sure you know which arm” they’ve been vaccinated in.
Advice on mammograms from the American Cancer Society.
According to the American Cancer Society, “Women aged 45 to 54” should have annual mammograms, GMA reported.
GMA further explained that ACS says if women between the ages of 40 and 44 want to start annual breast cancer screening with mammography, they should “have a choice”.
The ACS also said that “Women 55 and older can have mammograms every two years or continue with annual screening,” GMA noted.
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