s/o Routine mammogram after COVID vaccine

[Anonymous]

I'm two weeks post 2nd Pfizer dose and I am overdue for a mammogram. I am finally both comfortable (COVID-wise) doing doctor's appointments and have time to do it but just read in another thread not to do mammograms for 4-6 weeks (or 90 days!) after the vaccine because if the common side effect of swollen lymph nodes. I do not have a swollen lymph node and I am overdue. Can I go for my mammo now or should I still wait?

[Anonymous]

I'd go. If you have swollen lymph nodes, you'd know.

[Anonymous]

I think it is recommended not to do it. My MIL did one before this advisory went into effect and it led to a whole callback stressful thing. I think it can impact nodes even if you don’t see them. If you don’t have a pressing concern I would wait a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Wait the 6 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Have you asked your doctor? I’d get shot #2 this week and visit my gym a couple days later for my annual exam and plan to ask him about how long he recommends waiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you asked your doctor? I’d get shot #2 this week and visit my gym a couple days later for my annual exam and plan to ask him about how long he recommends waiting.

*gyn

[Anonymous]

You’re supposed to wait six weeks

[Anonymous]

I'm in a similar position and waiting a bit. Assuming mammo is routine, no need to add stress.

[Anonymous]

I had my annual gyn visit 4 weeks after my 2nd Pfizer vaccine and asked my gyn if my underarm lymph nodes felt swollen to her (as they had previously felt swollen to me). She said they felt normal. I had my mammogram exactly 6 weeks after my second vaccine and it was totally normal.

[Anonymous]

Just wait. A mammogram is not that time sensitive.

[Anonymous]

I recently went 5.5 weeks. I didn’t know about the six week waiting period (it wasn’t in place when I made the appointment). They left it up to me whether I wanted to cancel when I checked in. I think it just would increase the possibility you’d need follow up imagery.

[Anonymous]

You do not have to wait 6 weeks unless you know you have swollen lymph nodes. Even if you have swollen lymph nodes, you can still get a mammogram and they may note the size of the lymph nodes and bring you back in a few weeks to see whether the swelling has gone down. I am going through this right now.

[Anonymous]

Chill and wait the 6 weeks.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I think I’ll wait. I have already had a couple of callbacks due to dense breasts so not looking for any additional reason to increase my chances of a callback!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wait. A mammogram is not that time sensitive.

Yeah, I'd wait.

If you get it now, and it's negative, then you didn't gain anything by getting it early. If you get it now, and it's positive, you're just going to need more imaging, which will slow you down. Plus it's likely you'll go through a scare for nothing.

My understanding is the the lymph nodes can be swollen enough to show on the mammogram, without being large enough for you to notice.