Hospitals nationwide, including Utah’s Intermountain Healthcare, have been adopting new mammography guidelines for women receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. According to doctors, mammogram results can be skewed due to subsequent swelling caused by the vaccine. Many recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine have reported swelling in their arm, any swelling in the arm can also lead to swelling in the lymph nodes located in the armpit, which are visible and monitored during a mammogram.
The main concern with these vaccine induced swollen lymph nodes in regards to a mammogram is that doctors typically don’t see swelling in this area unless breast cancer has spread to those areas. Therefore, the vaccine could be exhibiting signs of a much more serious condition, that might not even be there in the first place.
No need to panic if you are in this demographic of women, simply plan to get your annual mammogram before your vaccine or wait a few weeks before going in for the checkup.
If you have any major concerns, be sure to consult with your physician or feel free to call Lotus Health.
