Headline: Unheard-of Breast Growth After COVID-19 Vaccine Spurs Clinical Concern
Article:
In a unprecedented case, a 19-year-old woman’s breasts grew from a B-cup to a triple G size over six months following receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine. This event marks the first instance where an adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine has been linked to abnormal breast growth, as reported by a team of Toronto-based researchers in the Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery-Global Open journal.
The unidentified "apparently healthy" young woman began experiencing rapid breast growth within a week of her first vaccination in September 2022, with her condition worsening after receiving her second dose. Her concerns about the vaccine’s influence on her breast size went unheeded by her primary healthcare provider, leading to a loss of trust in the healthcare system.
The study authors posited that this phenomenon, dubbed "Pfizer breasts," may be attributed to a rare condition called PASH (Plasma Cell Mastitis, Adenitis, and Sclerosing Haematoma). PASH causes benign lumps that can lead to extreme breast enlargement. The authors noted that this is the first reported case showing a temporal link between PASH and the COVID-19 vaccine.
The patient reported a sensation of numbness in her breasts prior to their growth. Blood tests revealed no hormonal changes, and prescribed steroids and antibiotics proved ineffective. Her breast growth stabilized after six months, and she underwent breast reduction surgery five months later. Unfortunately, blood loss during the procedure limited the amount of tissue that could be removed, and she remains with double D-cup breasts, potentially requiring further reduction surgery.
The Toronto-based study authors urge further investigation into a possible connection between COVID-19 vaccines, PASH, and abnormal breast growth. While breast swelling is a known side effect of COVID-19 vaccination, changes in breast structure or density are exceptionally rare.
