MEQUON, Wis. — With it being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, screenings are top of mind for many.

For a local doctor, those screenings are what she analyzes every day and has noticed a few trends over the past year or so. As a radiologist with Ascension Columbia St. Mary in Mequon, Dr. Rachel Loomans spends a lot of time looking over scans. In her six years with Ascension she’s been able to provide answers for a lot of patients.

“One thing that we really love doing is giving good news," Ascension Columbia St. Mary radiologist Dr. Rachel Loomans said. "So whenever we can tell someone their mammogram is normal or their breast ultrasound is normal that is the best part of our day."

She’s also noticed trends as a radiologist, once they hit that one year mark since the start of COVID-19.

“That same time period in 2021 we didn’t see really any patients like we typically do because no one was due for their annuals or their six month check up because there had been that eight week gap when pretty much nothing was happening,” Loomans said.

She’s also seen a few cases where patients lymph nodes were enlarged after getting their COVID-19 vaccine. This is why it's since been recommended to wait a few weeks after.

“When you get the COVID-19 vaccine it can cause the lymph nodes on the side you got vaccinated to enlarge," Loomans said. "This is why we are asking who are going in for screening mammograms or screening MRI’s to delay them for four to six weeks after their vaccine dose so it doesn’t cause a confusing picture with enlarged lymph nodes on the mammogram and we don’t know where those are coming from."

Now in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a busier time for screenings. Loomans said early detection and regular screenings are always a bonus and hopes this time of year serves as a reminder to schedule.

According to the CDC, other than skin cancer breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. Forty years old is the recommended age to begin those screenings.