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Not really sure what to think about this.... the radiologist says I should wait 6 months and get another ultrasound. However, the mammogram was in Oct, and was instructed to get an ultrasound in Dec. Should I be more aggresive and find a doctor that will do a biopsy to rule things out? I have read your article, and while I dont feel a lump (to determine hard, soft, painful or painless), I havent had any recent vaccines, and have not been sick (to my knowledge) in quite a long time. I do feel run down and extremely tired though. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance
I'll assume the ultrasound didn't show a cyst, as they would have told you that. I'll also assume this lump is fixed in place; hard, rather than soft and squishy; and doesn't disappear (or get smaller, or larger then smaller) over the course of your menstrual cycle. If all of that is true, then ask why no follow-up diagnostic tests are being done. If the answer is "We don't think it's anything to worry about," then I'd push them to determine exactly what it is sooner than 6 months. Although the vast majority of lumps aren't a problem, you do need to rule out cancer. Best of luck - PJH
PJ....
Thank you for your answer. As for the answers to your questions..... No, they didnt say anything to me about it being a cyst. I cant physcially feel the lump and am unable to determine if it is hard or soft, but there is no pain there. I did watch the ultrasound technician's face and she got several pictures of the right side. When she checked the left side, she spent a very small fraction of time. She also asked me to wait until the radiologist saw it to see what he thought was the next step. She was the one who told me about the follow up 6 months later, which was followed up by a letter a day or so later. This was over Christmas holidays, and my doctor was not in the office. I agree with you though, I am not sure that I feel very comfortable with 'Waiting' 6 months.
Thank you again
Shannon, ask your regular doctor what the results of the test were. You may need to be pushy - if "inconclusive" is the answer, ask why; and ask what other test could be performed to find out what exactly the issue is.
Your doctor might have a very good answer: "This may be completely normal for you, it looks very much like a harmless (fill in the blank), but we'll check it again in 6 months just to be sure..." The one thing you shouldn't let happen, though - don't let them tell you "You're too young for breast cancer." Age shouldn't enter into this. So I guess my advice is to keep pushing till you feel comfortable with the answers, OK? Good luck - PJH
The bump is soft and squishy. I just can't understand why I have this bump. I am a 16 year old male and the pain is horrible under the arm. I had 2 shots recently, the h1n1 shot and the flu shot. I have had some redness where the lump is. I am not comfortable with this bump, and I don't know what to do. There is one thing I don't want to do is see a doctor so could you please help me determine what is wrong.
Thanks,
The Uncomfortable Male
It is weird. My lump doesn't feel hard, but doesn't feel mushy either, I don't have pain when you press on it but have had discomfort in this arm for over year it is that same kind of ache (nothing was present 1 yr ago) but dr called it mastaglia..
Breast Dr put me on antibioitics and we will go from there. One lump in armpit appeared out of left field. It is not red on the skin, it is by the muscle but can't tell where it goes when I push down. Call me nuts but I am real worried. I am now off the anitbioitics and go back in 1 week. I can't tell if it has gone down. Worried isn't even the word to describe me. I surpassed worry when the dr told me "if it don't go away we will talk about it then".
Hi - I hope you saw Phyllis' good response to your question where you posed it elsewhere. As she said, most lumps are NOT breast cancer, and even when it gets as far as a biopsy, about 85% of biopsies are negative (no cancer). So keep pursuing the diagnostic process, but please try not to worry too much; the statistics are definitely on your side. Good luck - PJH
I did. thank you both for your replies.. I think it might have gone down. I am going back to the breast surgeon tomorrow. IF i am correctly thinking, 2 days after i started the antibiotics i was in very much discomfort, it was very noticable. Now it is still there no wheres near as noticeable. No pain. (that discomfort was only 1 day really).. Appears to have not gone completely away. I will know more tomorrow
i am janna, 21 yrs old. before whenever i am having my period, i always feel a lump in my armpit, its painful. i went to dr before and he said that it is just a "KULANI" a filipino term that fights any infection. he said that it is ok. but after i take a contraceptive pills for two months, i felt that my breasts are very painful because of the pill and i also felt a painful lump in my armpit. i took the pill last october 2009 and now, its may 2010, the lump is still in my armpit. its not disappearing unlike before when i haven't took any pill. what do you think it is cause? is it cancer?? please help me..
Janna, I doubt very much it's cancer; painful lumps seldom are, esp. painful lumps in your armpit. Please read our post on armpit lumps for lots of helpful information. Sounds like you might have an infection; have you been back to the doctor? Youmight want to check it out, see if there's any treatment that might take care of this. Good luck - PJH
pj hamel.. thank you so much for the reply! :) i went yesterday to doctor for check up, she just gave me antibiotics. she said if the lump in my armpit will not be gone in a week, i will go to her again for check up.. but i doubt that it will be gone.. but still i will take what she has prescribed to me.. i will give you updates on what will happen to my lump, and please help me again.. thank you so much.. :)
one more thing ms. pjh i am really worried about is that my lump is almost 7 months.. should i be very alarmed because of it?? its only yesterday that i had my consultation since before my first.. when i took the pill last october, my breast was really painful and my armpit had painful lumps. i stopped taking pill because of the pain. the breast pain went away but the painful armpit lumps didn't. i did not visit doctor though i thought i will be fine if i will stop the pill. now, i am alarmed because of reading some article regarding armpit lumps.. please help..
thanks in advance..
good day ms.. i am still worried about my lump.. i haven't been to doctor since the last time. my lump in my armpit is increasing in size and painful whenever i am about to have my period and it is disappearing whenever i am finish in my period.. why is that happening?
please answer me.. tnx ms pj.. please help!
A lump that grows larger over the course of your period, then disappears afterwards, is not a cancer symptom; it's almost certanly a cyst or a fibroadenoma. Did the doctor do an ultrasound, to determine which it is? If not, that's probably the next step. Either way, the lump can be drained or removed to give you some relief. Please go back to the doctor, tell him/her this is really bothering you, and ask to have it treated, OK? Good luck - PJH
Thank you very much ms pj! :) i will take your advice.. also ms pj, before when i was about 15 yrs old, something in my areol (is my spelling right?) or in my nipple not exactly in the middle form a small round, and discharged a white or a fas like liquid. it formed a small like balloon, i told my mother about that but we did not went to doctor. it just happened once, i am worried because i think that connects in my lump in my armpit..
i hope you will reply again.. tnx ms pj...
hello...
thanks for the info it helped a lot but im still kinda worried about my armpit ...i am not sure if there is really a lump there but it really hurts and i just noticed it today...i am really worried about cancer since it runs in my family ....i am only 13 though so is it possible for me to get cancer? my mom says its probably just a hormone thing but she says if its not better in a few days or so we will get it checked plz help!
Hi AT - You don't have cancer, so please try to stop worrying about it. At your age, it's basically impossible. This armpit lump could very well be a swollen lymph gland. Have you had a cold, or been sick lately? Oftentimes lymph nodes under your arm will swell up and become painful in response to some illness.
When you say cancer runs in your family, unless it's breast cancer in your family, your risk for breast cancer isn't increased. So don't worry about that either, OK?
Sounds like your mom has the situation well in hand; she'll take you to the doctor in a few days if this doesn't get better, which is exactly the right thing to do. So, hopefully it gets better soon so you can avoid a trip to the doctor, but if not - you'll find out this is an infection or "growing pains." NOT cancer. Take care- PJH
I recently noticed a lump under my right armpit and then the next day found a smaller pea size one under my left armpit. Then a lump on my upper left thigh which is coming to a head filled with puss - a boil. The lumps under my arms though are not coming to a head, do have a little redness but maybe beacause I tried to squeeze them to see if there was any puss or if they are boils also? Could they be related? I also just started taking Cipro for a UTI. Is all this related? I also had surgery about 6mos ago for cervical cancer so naturally, this all worries me a bit.
Sher, the lumps in your armpits could very well be swollen lymph nodes from the infection you've been battling. Keep your eye on them; if they're not gone in a month (or certainly if they get worse), you'd want to see a doctor to find out what might be causing them, OK? While a lump in the armpit can indeed be a tumor, chances of it being something else are far, far greater. Take care- PJH
Sher, the lumps in your armpits could very well be swollen lymph nodes from the infection you've been battling. Keep your eye on them; if they're not gone in a month (or certainly if they get worse), you'd want to see a doctor to find out what might be causing them, OK? While a lump in the armpit can indeed be a tumor, chances of it being something else are far, far greater. Take care- PJH
Thank you so much for your quick reply! You have really put my mind at ease and I will definitely follow your advice. I ignored my symptoms last time for far too long out of fear and it put my health in severe jeopardy. Again, thank you for your concern....you have no idea how much it is appreciated!!
Hi...
Thanks for your information. I am not sure how to procede. I just had a breast biopsy a week ago for a small "mass" in my left breast--benign! :) It turned out to be a fibroidenoma. However, I presented w/pain in the left breast--I've been having pain in it for months. I told the ultrasound tech that it was also in my armpit and down the side of my breast but she never ran the scanner there. The breast surgeon never gave me a chance to ask about the continue pain in my armpit/side of left breast area at my follow up appointment. I am still in a good bit of pain. The other night my husband felt a small pea-size lump on the side of my breast and the area near my left breast and under my arm just feels so tender and swollen. I am not sure if I should just let it go or get a 2nd opinion. I would appreciate any insights you could offer.
I did have a mammo on both breasts and they were clear. The ultrasound picked up the small mass in my left breast resulting in the biopsy.
Thanks.
Considering you're still in pain, and you've found another small lump, I can imagine you're not going to stop worrying until you figure out what's causing the pain, and until you're sure the lump isn't anything serious. And, although I'd guess this is probably hormonal, you're right to take these symtoms seriously; breast changes are always something you need to pay attention to. May I suggest you get another opinion from a breast specialist? Your surgeon should be able to recommend someone. They're often found at cancer centers; but they don't just work with cancer patients. A breast specialist should be able to get to the bottom of the pain you're having, and reassure you that the lump isn't anything to worry about.
If you'd feel comfortable, you might wait a couple of weeks, see if the pain and the lump disappear; or you might start the process of getting a referral right away, since you can always cancel it if the symtoms disappear in the meantime. And hang tough; the surgeon will probably try to talk you out of another opinion, but you know yourself, and your own body. If you feel something's wrong, you won't be able to relax until you know what it is. Best of luck to you – PJH
I agree with PJ that you want to go back and find out about this lump.
One trick I've found for getting doctors to give me time to ask questions is to walk in with a written list of questions. When the doctor starts to walk out, I say, "Wait just a second while I check to see if we have covered all my questions." Every now and then I get a doctor who stands there looking impatient with his hand on the door knob. But most of the time that slows the appointment down and the doctor sits down to listen while I look at my paper. (The question may or may not be on my list. Referring to the list gives me time to think.) Even the impatient doctors don't walk out once I specifically ask them to wait.
I'm glad your first lump turned out to be a fibroadenoma, and I hope you get similar good news about your other concerns.
Thank you for your quick response. I had been thinking of waiting just a little bit to see if the pain subsided (although I've been having breast and underarm pain for months)--I thought after the biopsy that it might go away. I did have bloodwork to check my hormone levels and they all came back w/in normal range--so that's good. Also, when I feel around under the left armpit and along the left side of the breast I feel small lumps/bump--but they are not there on the right side--didn't know if that was normal or not. I am planning to call another doc if it continues--thanks for helping to confirm that for me. I've just had an uneasy feeling since the biopsy that not all areas were completely checked--I will feel better knowing that all areas have been checked. :) Thanks!
Hi Phyllis..
Thanks for your response. I did have a list of questions for the breast surgeon, however, she came in so fast and furious that she never even gave me a chance to ask those questions. Even at my first appointment w/her she kind of blew off my questions as "you have nothing to worry about". While it was reassuring that I had nothing to worry about I still had questions that I wanted to ask, but she was pretty forceful and has a strong personality. Even on the day of the biopsy she was in and out. She was great during the procedure but when it was over she was out--if I hadn't said goodbye she wouldn't have even said it! My husband was w/me at my follow up and he got one question in that I wanted to ask but he had to ask it b/c she wouldn't give me a chance. We couldn't believe that my follow up appointment was under 5 minutes! I am definitely considering the second opinion. I am going to wait and see if the pain subsides and if not call another doc to get their opinion. Thanks for "listening" and responding.
Sometimes you have to just stick with it until YOU feel that things are OK; otherwise you just keep worrying... Best of luck as you go forward. And it's tough to stand up to those very forceful doctors - but if you have to grab her, do. Look her in the eye, say, "I have some quetions and I'd appreciate it if you could slow down a minute and answer them." It's SO tough, but sometimes that's just what it takes to get a doctor to see you as a person rather than a number on a chart. Take care- PJH
You are right. Some doctors are not very good at listening. Because sometimes these doctors are the tops at surgery, you may be stuck with someone who rushes. If the key word "WAIT," doesn't work, you can also let the appointment person or nurse know ahead of time that you have some questions for the doctor and want enough time scheduled for the appointment to allow you to get your questions answered. Since this doctor seems especially impatient, the second opinion sounds like a good idea.
Thank you SO much for this very helpful article. I found a lump under my arm tonight, but it grew in just a few days, and it was very red and sore. I was quite concerned, but after reading this article I feel a bit better, since chances are it is just an infection, not cancer. I think I will be able to sleep tonight and not just worry. Thanks so much for posting such helpful information!
11 months ago I went to my doctor after finding 2 tiny lumps in my right arm pit. He poo-poed me and told me they were simple little cysts. Well, my simple little cysts turned out to breast cancer. I will be having my 3rd surgery August 31 to finally remove all the cancer cells which will then be followed by radiation. Why do we even bother to do the self exams when the doctor brushes you off when you find something?
I am so sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, not all doctors follow through when patients report symptoms. If your doctor thought you had cysts, he could have easily double checked that by ordering an ultrasound. Most of the time lumps in the armpits are lymph nodes swelling as they fight an infection, so doing a biopsy on every lump right away isn't practical. But lumps that don't go away within a couple if weeks can be symptoms of breast cancer or lymphoma, so they need to be taken seriously. You can use your experience to urge your friends to ask for a second opinion if they ever find themselves in a situation like yours.
I hope your surgery and radiation go well and that the delay in diagnosis doesn't have a negative effect on your outcome.
hi Im 18 female, last week theres pain in my armpit and it turn out to be a Lump but i ddnt worry because its not my first time, but when the Lump is fading i discover another one and it takes about 3 day they are 6 already with different sizes. they are very painful I couldnt raise my arm anymore, red allover and its just my left armpit. Please please I need your advice what should I do, and now I feel sick cold coming I guess. Thankssss so much!
This sounds like more than your normal enlarged lymph nodes fighting a cold. That level of pain and redness signals that you need to see a doctor. At age 18, it is highly unlikely that your lumps are related to breast cancer, especially since they come and go. However, you might have some sort of underlying infection that needs an antibiotic, or the lumps and redness might be a signal of another problem that needs a doctor's advice.
Do you live in a place where antibiotics are available over the counter? If not, I hope you are not taking leftover antibiotics prescribed for another problem. It's important to take the right kind of antibiotic. Some work best for strep throat; some work better for a sinus infection; and so forth. Checking with the doctor would be better than self-prescribing an antibiotic.
Late April, 8 weeks before I had my baby I developed a soft lump under my right arm. I was told not to worry about it as the Dr.'s thought it was just breast tissue associated with the pregnancy. After I delivered and began producing milk, the lump turned hard like a rock and painful and about the size of a golf ball. It went back down after I stopped producing milk and became soft agin and no longer painful. However, it never went away completly. I was referred to a breast surgeon who ordered an ultrasound, the radiologist after performing the ultrasound did a mammogram as well. The Dr. said the mammogram was normal but that the ultrasound showed an abnormality. The Dr. couldn't perform a needle biopsy because of the position of the lump, and now he wants to surgically remove the lump for biopsy and I'm terrified. Any thoughts? Has this happened to anyone else? Could it be cancer? I'm only 31. I had a great grandmother who had breast cancer, but grandmother, mother, aunts and sisters are all fine.
Hi - Thankfully, these don't sound like breast cancer symptoms. A cancerous tumor is rarefly painful; and it doesn't get smaller, only larger.
I've never heard of a lump that couldn't be accessed for a needle biopsy; it seems kind of drastic to remove the whole thing surgically. Since it looks normal on a mammogram and the ultrasound "sees something;" and since ultrasounds are very good at picking up cysts; and since cysts are painful, common in women your age, and can become larger and smaller with time, I'd say this sounds very much like a cyst. Before undergoing surgery, I'd get a second opinion - a breast specialist would be your best bet. You absolutely don't want to ignore this; but you do want to avoid surgery (and its possible complications) if you can. Good luck - PJH
Have the surgery and remove the lump. Better safe than sorry.
My story is similar to yours...
I noticed a lump right after I delivered my daughter last spring. I thought it was blocked ducts because it seemed to be there and then dissappear which I thought was weird, but it was my first baby and I didn't know any different. On my 6 mo. follow up visit from my c-section, my obgyn felt the lump and sent me to get a mammogram...which lead to biopsy...which lead to my breast cancer diagnosis. I was 31 yrs old and my baby wasn't even 1 yr.
It is better to be proactive than reactive. I would definitely follow your docs advise.
Don't mean to scare you, but wanted to share my story.
BTW... 7 mo. out and I have finished 2/3rds of my treatment and I doing great! :)
Bridget, I'm glad you're doing well - hope the rest of your treatment goes uneventfully.
I'd still try for a needle biopsy first, though, before invasive surgery; just because one doc says a needle biopsy can't be done, that doesn't mean it's impossible; it just means that particular doctor can't do it. Obviously, this lump shouldn't be ignored; it has to be diagnosed. But if you can get away with a needle biopsy, it would be preferable... PJH
Thanks so much for your advice! The Dr. I did see was a breast surgeon, he said because he couldn't see the area clearly on his ultrasound and because of the blood vessels in the surrounding area that removal was the best option. I'd prefer just the needle biopsy but I have a follow up w/my PCP this week, maybe he can refer me to another Dr. who could perfore the needle biopsy as opposed to the surgery. I'd prefer not to do surgery if possible. Thanks again for your help!
A breast surgeon is different than a breast specialist - you might ask your PCP for another opinion with either another breast surgeon, OR a breast specialist. You don't want to risk cancer; but neither do you want to risk "over-treatment" via possibly unnecessary surgery, which is quite common around cancer. Good luck to you - PJH
There's no telling what any armpit lump really is until you get it checked out by a doctor, Bethany. If you've had this issue longer than a month (or longer than 2 weeks, if you're post-menopausal), then best to get it checked out ASAP, OK? You can wait and worry, or take action and get some results; I'd suggest the action course. Good luck - PJH
I read this but am still a little confused. I have a lump in my armpit, definitely bigger than a pea and it doesnt move at all. Its not red, doesnt leak pus or anything, but it does hurt. I also have a little pain in my breasts and a lot of pain in my back right behind my breasts. Cancer does run in my family so I know that I need to be conscious of that but I'm only 21. I was just hoping someone could fill me in on whether it sounds like a doctors visit is necessary or if I should just tough it out.
Thanks
At age 21, it's very unlikely you'd have breast cancer. And unless your family history includes breast cancer, in a sister or your mother, your risk isn't increased very much. Breast pain can come from a number of sources, but very seldom is it due to cancer.
I'd say keep an eye on that armpit lump; if it's not gone within a month, then you should have a doctor check it out, just in case. As a general rule, any change in your breasts (or lumps in the armpit) should be checked by a doctor when they last longer than a month. I hope this turns out to be a swollen lymph node, and that it disappears on its own soon. take care- PJH
At age 21, it's very unlikely you'd have breast cancer. And unless your family history includes breast cancer, in a sister or your mother, your risk isn't increased very much. Breast pain can come from a number of sources, but very seldom is it due to cancer.
I'd say keep an eye on that armpit lump; if it's not gone within a month, then you should have a doctor check it out, just in case. As a general rule, any change in your breasts (or lumps in the armpit) should be checked by a doctor when they last longer than a month. I hope this turns out to be a swollen lymph node, and that it disappears on its own soon. Take care- PJH
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Hope you get good news today - PJH
Thanks so much for this great article. It was very informative and helpful.
You're welcome! Glad we could help. PJH