Swollen lymph nodes are a sign that your body is making antibodies to fight an infection, just what a vaccine should do. But doctors say getting it just before a mammogram can lead to a false positive.
The Society of Breast Imaging is warning the medical community about this temporary side effect, now that the COVID-19 vaccine is being administered.
Dr. Priya Sareen, of the Lehigh Valley Health Network, says she is seeing many swollen lymph nodes in women who have recently been vaccinated.
“It leads to a little more anxiety because you know, when we see them for the first time, unfortunately we have to call women back and have an ultrasound to document the lymph nodes,” said Sareen.
Sareen says that additional follow-up is needed.
But health officials are trying to avoid the false positive by changing the pre-screening process for mammograms, educating women about the temporary side effects of the vaccine and when women should have their mammograms.
“About 4 to 6 weeks after the second injection,” said Sareen. “You know we certainly don’t want women to delay vaccination or, if you know you have some time before you get your first injection, do it in advance.”
Sareen says it is important to remember that the side effect of enlarged lymph nodes is only temporary, and women over 40 should not postpone preventive tests or give up the vaccine.
Sareen says they are both powerful tools for saving lives.