February 27, 2021 8:15 AM M.
Kristen Robinson, MD, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
publication date: February 27, 2021 8:15 AM M.
Updated: February 27, 2021 9:51 PM
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Regardless of whether you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, it is important to practice safe behaviors.
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: A friend of mine shared that she went to her annual mammogram last week. At the appointment, they asked her if she had been vaccinated against COVID-19 and had seen any changes in her breasts. I recently received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Although I feel fine, I wonder if there is a link between vaccination against COVID-19 and an increased risk of breast problems. I will be present for my mammogram appointment in a few weeks.
Answer: In some women, breast cancer can present with swollen lymph nodes under one arm. Some patients have reported developing enlarged lymph nodes after COVID-19 vaccination, and this has raised questions about whether the mammogram should be rescheduled due to concerns that this finding may be incorrect for a possible diagnosis of breast cancer.
The Mayo Clinic recommendation is that women should not delay a preventive checkup. Regardless of whether you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, you must attend a mammogram. You must inform your mammography technician that you received the COVID-19 vaccine, along with the number of doses you received and which arm it was administered to. This information will be helpful in understanding mammography.
In your particular case, you may want to have a mammogram before your next dose of COVID-19 vaccine. If this is not possible, be sure to contact the technician regarding your vaccination status.
Lymph nodes are part of the body’s immune system that fights germs. Lymph nodes, also called lymph nodes, play a vital role in the body’s ability to fight infection. They act as filters, trapping viruses and bacteria before they spread to other parts of the body. This is the reason why swollen lymph nodes are common in many people when they are sick. Common areas where you may notice swollen lymph nodes include the neck, under the chin, armpits, and groin.
When a person receives a vaccine, the lymphatic system is activated. Swollen lymph nodes are a common and harmless reaction to many vaccines, including against COVID-19. It usually occurs under the arm where the injection was given. Swelling is a sign that your body is responding to the vaccine.
Depending on the amount of swelling, some people may notice that their lymph nodes are larger and these lymph nodes may feel tender or tender to the touch. The challenge is that when your health care team sees swollen lymph nodes on a mammogram, they will want to evaluate it further. With reports of swollen lymph nodes related to COVID-19 vaccination, your healthcare team will want to be particularly vigilant and ensure that enlarged lymph nodes are related to vaccination against COVID-19 and not breast cancer.
It is also important to note that enlarged lymph nodes do not appear in all women who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and then have had a mammogram. Most patients do not show changes in the size of the lymph nodes on a mammogram.
For those patients who feel enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit area, the current standard is to have a mammogram and ultrasound of the area. If enlarged lymph nodes are seen on a mammogram, but you have no symptoms, an ultrasound will likely be recommended for further evaluation. You may need to return for a follow-up within three months for a new exam.
COVID-19 has put everyone on alert, but my advice to women in general is that if you cannot get a mammogram before vaccination against COVID-19, attend the already scheduled mammogram appointment and inform the technician about the vaccination . Encourage your family and friends to stay up-to-date on preventive checks too. I also tell my patients that any skin changes (breast lump, new lumps or lumps, or nipple discharge) should warrant an imaging exam. This applies to both women and men, because breast cancer can affect both genders.
Early detection of breast cancer saves lives, so whatever happens in the world, it is important not to delay the detection of breast cancer.
Cancer patients are at increased risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19, and vaccination against COVID-19 is one of the tools to help prevent infection. We see guidelines that state that women at any stage of breast cancer treatment should get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they can. I encourage all cancer patients to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when it is available. But regardless of whether you’ve received the COVID-19 vaccine, it’s still important to practice safe behaviors, such as wearing a mask in public places, practicing social distancing, and doing proper hand hygiene.
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