Get Your Mammogram Today

The COVID-19 pandemic put routine doctor appointments on hold for over a year, leading to a decline in cancer screenings. Now, women are overwhelmed with scheduling their primary care appointments, thyroid exams, and lipid panel tests. So, it’s no surprise they are putting off their gynecologist visits—where they typically have their mammograms ordered— until next year.

“This has been a huge health concern,” said Dr. Yelda Nouri, a hematologist-oncologist at New York Cancer & Blood Specialists (NYCBS). “Women are being diagnosed at later stages because they haven’t had their screenings. So I offer every patient a script for a mammogram.”

Prevention, detection, and early intervention are critical in the fight against breast cancer. Regular screenings such as breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and annual mammograms are the most reliable ways to find breast cancer early. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, patients are encouraged to schedule regular screenings and perform breast self-exams.

Breast self-exams are especially important for younger women who are not candidates for mammography, but every woman should regularly look and feel for changes. Most self-exam findings are not signs of breast cancer, but any discomfort or changes in the breast’s look, feel, or size still warrants evaluation.

“As women begin making these important screenings, they should be aware that the COVID-19 vaccine can temporarily cause swollen lymph nodes, resulting in mammographies to look aberrant or different,” Dr. Nouri said.

When scheduling a mammogram, the patient’s imaging center will ask COVID-19 vaccine-related questions to ensure scheduling the mammogram before the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or four to six weeks after the second dose.

To make an appointment, please call NYCBS at 1-833-CANCER9 or visit nycancer.com. For more information and screening locations, please visit timetoscreen.org.