It is important that women pay attention to the timing of their COVID-19 vaccines and breast exams, advise the new guidelines.
According to a Good Morning America report, the nonprofit, Society of Breast Imaging, released guidelines on Thursday, advising women to consider scheduling their mammograms before taking the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or four to six weeks after the second dose vaccine.
The GMA said there were reports of “both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines causing swollen lymph nodes in the armpit area where the injection was administered”, which precipitated the new guidelines.
GMA cited 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-19 vaccine and do not want it to cause confusion with the results of their mammography. “
Ashton added: “But the most important thing is to realize that just seeing an enlarged lymph node in an armpit without finding a breast is not necessarily a sign of breast cancer.”
- Read More: A side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine mimics a symptom of breast cancer; experts say not to worry
The GMA noted that, according to Ashton, “swollen lymph nodes after the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is not a cause for concern”.
“This is just your immune system doing its job,” she said. “This is your body doing its job.”
GMA went over Ashton’s advice, encouraging people to talk to their doctor and radiologist, and to be “sure they know in which arm” they were vaccinated.
American Cancer Society mammography advice.
According to the American Cancer Society, “women between the ages of 45 and 54” should undergo annual mammograms, reported the GMA.
The GMA further explained that, according to the ACS, if women between the ages of 40 and 44 want to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms, they must “have the choice”.
The ACS also said that “women aged 55 and over can switch to mammograms every two years or continue annual screening,” noted the GMA.
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