What do mammograms have to do with COVID-19 booster shots?
COVID-19 vaccinations cause swollen lymph nodes in 10-15% of people. Swollen lymph nodes can cause abnormal mammogram results, leading to a call back for further study. This outcome makes some people hesitate to have a mammogram if they have recently had a vaccination.
The recommendation from the Breast Center: don’t delay! Read on for the details.
COVID-19 booster shots
COVID-19 vaccinations keep people from getting severe cases of the virus, and make it less likely that people will catch the disease at all. The vaccination usually requires two shots.
The CDC recommends another shot for fully vaccinated people. That’s the booster shot. Some people may even get a second booster shot.
Just like the original vaccine, COVID-19 booster shots can cause swollen lymph nodes.
Delaying mammograms
The Breast Center recommends that women age 40 and over have a screening mammogram every year. During the pandemic, many women delayed mammograms. In fact, studies showed that mammograms decreased by more than 11% in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.
The numbers have bounced back. However, some women still hesitate to have a mammogram after their vaccination.
If you plan to have a screening mammogram and a booster shot, try to schedule your mammogram before your booster shot.
You can also wait 4-6 weeks after your booster for a screening mammogram. However, some women may still have swollen lymph nodes from their vaccination after six weeks. Be aware of this possibility so you don’t feel too alarmed if you are called back for further examination.
Diagnostic mammograms
If you need a diagnostic mammogram and you have recently had a booster shot, don’t delay!
Just make sure you tell your technician that you had the booster shot. This will help make sure you get the most accurate results.
Call the Breast Center with any questions or click through to make an appointment.