New warning for women who've received the COVID-19 vaccine
New warning for women who've received the COVID-19 vaccine
Share
Updated: 5:28 PM EST Feb 22, 2021
New warning for women who've received the COVID-19 vaccine
Share
Updated: 5:28 PM EST Feb 22, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript
TONIGHT - A NEW WARNING WHEN IT COMES TO THE COVID-19 VACCINE. SOME WOMEN ARE EXPERIENCING LUMPS AS A SIDE EFFECT OF THE SHOT. I CAUGHT UP WITH A LOCAL DOCTOR TO FIND OUT WHAT WOMEN OF ALL AGES NEED TO KNOW. THE SOCIETY OF BREAST IMAGING IS WARNING WOMEN ABOUT A POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECT OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE. THE ORGANIZATION SAYS - SOME WOMEN WHO WERE RECENTLY VACCINATED ARE EXPERIENCING SWELLING OR A LUMP IN THEIR ARMPIT AREA - WHICH CAN BE MISTAKEN AS A SIGN OF BREAST CANCER. BUT DR. ROCELLE RINGER SAYS - THERE'S NO NEED TO PANIC AS THIS CAN BE A BODY'S *NORMAL RESPONSE. DR. ROCHELLE RINGER, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE HILTON HEAD HOSPITAL BREAST HEALTH CENTER: "IF IT DOES APPEAR TO BE A SIDE EFFECT OF THE VACCINE, EITHER WE'D SEE IT AND WE'D KNOW THAT AND JUST KNOW THAT EVERYTHING'S FINE. AT MINIMUM SOMETIMES WE JUST RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO COME BACK IN A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE THAT HAS GONE AWAY. DR. RINGER SAYS - IF YOU HAVE AN UPCOMING MAMMOGRAM - JUST LET YOUR DOCTOR KNOW IF YOU'VE RECEIVED THE COVID VACCINE IN THE PAST 4 TO 6 WEEKS. SHE STRESSES - IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR REGULAR MAMMOGRAM SCHEDULED - AS EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER IS CRUCIAL. SOT RINGER: "IT'S KEY IN HOW WELL WOMEN DO. BUT IT'S ALSO KEY IN HOW MUCH TREATMENT THEY MIGHT NEED. AND WE'D WANT TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF TREATMENT THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE TO CURE A CANCER, AND OBVIOUSLY, WOMEN WANT THE MINIMAL AMOUNT THAT THEY NEED. DR. RINGER ALSO SAYS - DATA SUGGESTS PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN THE PAST YEAR AREN'T DOING AS WELL AS THEY TRADITIONALLY WOULD BECAUSE OF DELAYS IN CARE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC - WH