WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A Wichita breast cancer specialist shared her concerns about the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine for breast cancer survivors.
Dr. Therese Cusick said she has seen many of these patients in Wichita with a common side effect after getting the injection, swollen lymph nodes in the chest area.
The vaccine can cause temporary swelling of the lymph nodes on the side of the vaccine and it scares women that their cancer will return.
“This won’t happen for most people, but it will for some people, so it’s still very important to get the vaccination,” said Dr. Cusick. “We just want to avoid unnecessary worry and there is no reason to cause anxiety if this all gets better on its own.”
She asks women to get their shot in the other arm of their cancer and to have their mammogram before they are vaccinated.
If you’ve already received the vaccine, she recommends delaying your mammogram for 4-6 weeks.
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