COVID-19 shots can interfere with mammograms — plan accordingly

Click for a full-size PDF.

Some women develop swollen lymph nodes under their arm after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. It’s a normal reaction and usually goes away on its own within days or weeks at most. But because these swollen lymph nodes show up on a mammogram — and, when they’re not the result of vaccination, can be a sign of cancer — don’t schedule a breast cancer screening mammogram too close to when you receive your COVID shots or shot. The Society of Breast Imaging recommends: “Try to schedule your screening mammogram before your first COVID-19 vaccine dose or at least 4 weeks after your second vaccine dose. This reduces the chance that swollen lymph nodes from the vaccine will appear on your mammogram.”

And in celebration of Earth Day today, UMR’s Healthy You magazine notes that outdoor gardening might help us fight disease:

“Spending as little as a half hour in the sun produces between 8,000 and 50,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D in your body, depending on factors such as your clothing and skin tone. Vitamin D is responsible for numerous body functions, such as strengthening your bones and immune system, but it has also been shown to reduce your risk of cancer and certain autoimmune disorders.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *