Raleigh, NC – Research shows that the coronavirus vaccine is raising red flags on mammograms.
Between 8 and 16 percent of people who receive the vaccine will develop swollen lymph nodes. Although the swelling can be a sign that your body is preparing a response to the virus and creating antibodies, it can also be a sign of cancer during a mammogram.
To avoid a false positive on a mammogram, the The Society of Breast Imaging has recommended that women undergo screening before being vaccinated or wait four to six weeks after receiving the second dose of the vaccine.
But Dr. Laura Thomas, a radiologist at Raleigh Radiology, discouraged women from skipping the annual check during the pandemic.
“That said, I would encourage women to have their mammograms if you have any symptoms like chest pain or lumps,” said Thomas. “A painful lump, which still needs to be checked.”
She said she did not see the same side effects in patients who received the flu vaccine or the shingles vaccine.