Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Lump in armpit, any ideas?

45 replies

Demented · 12/10/2003 11:21

On Friday in the shower I noticed I had a small lump in my right armpit. It is slightly painful to the touch although not really sore. I am still b/feeding DS2 (16 months) and wondered if it could be connected? Can you have a blocked duct under your arm? I did feel a bit fluey (sp?) on Friday and fed him from the right hand side, I don't fee fluey anymore but still have the lump.

I know nobody can give me definate answers and I will phone my GP if it is still there on Monday but I just wondered if anyone else has had this, I am putting the worse case scenario to the back of my mind at the moment but do wonder if the slight pain/discomfort that goes with the lump is a good or bad sign.

Any comments welcome!

OP posts:
whymummy · 12/10/2003 11:29

hi demented i usually get one every month when i have a period,they're painful but disapear after a few days

Jimjams · 12/10/2003 11:48

I think pain with a lump is a good sign. Certainly when I've had blocked ducts I've had pain extending towards the armpit. Get it checked out though.

Jimjams · 12/10/2003 11:50

Oh and I guess if you have had a slight infection your lymph glands there may just be swollen- neck ones are sore when the swell with an infection aren't they? Sure its fine.

musica · 12/10/2003 12:20

I had one when I was feeding ds. Don't think it was actually related, but was a sebaceous cyst. Would be worth checking with your GP though. Definitely a good sign to have soreness though.

Tinker · 12/10/2003 12:24

Do you shave under your arms? Could be an infected hair follicle, feels like a painful lump.

I wouldn't agree with the pain = less to worry about. My cousin saw her GP about a lump in her breast which he dismissed since she said it was painful. It did turn out to be cancer and she has had the breast removed. Don't mean to alarm you, sure this is nothing to do with that, just an aside about pain/serious trouble link.

LizC · 12/10/2003 13:03

I had 2 lumps under my right armpit a month or so ago and they were sore when I tried to shave under my arm. I was a bit worried as they are one of the things to look out for with breast cancer. However, they actually disappeared a week later, although I still felt slightly tender where they had been and then a bit itchy for a while - presumably it was something like an infected hair follicle.

The cancerbacup website does say that pain is not usually a sign of breast cancer, but pain is common with hormonal causes of lumps or some types of benign lumps (www.cancerbacup.org.uk). I suppose pain makes it less likely to be cancer, but not impossible as Tinker says. I'd always go and see your GP anyway as it's much better to have your mind put at rest.

robinw · 12/10/2003 14:29

message withdrawn

Original poster
Demented · 12/10/2003 16:37

Thanks for all your messages, I will get the lump checked, it's reassuring to hear that others have had lumps that were harmless. I do shave under my arms and I am just back from holiday where I have been shaving them every second day so there is very possibly a connection there.

Thanks again and I will be on the phone to the doc first thing in the morning.

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 12/10/2003 16:40

Hope everything is ok, demented, good luck at the docs.

CONNEELY · 12/10/2003 16:43

I too have had a lump in my armpit,and it was just a lymp gland but do get it checked esp if still there by tomorra,let us know how you got on xx

Jollymum · 12/10/2003 19:39

Demented-get it checked out and good luck . I have a lump on the inside of my knee and it is an infected hair follicle, caused through years of shaving. It gets really tender sometimes, so much that I can't sleep with my knees together and the doc just said it may/may not go. Good luck and I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. LOL

SueW · 12/10/2003 20:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

judetheobscure · 12/10/2003 20:37

I had a small lump early on when bf'ing one of mine. HV said it was almost certainly a small blockage but if it didn't clear up within a week or was painful to see GP.

CnR · 12/10/2003 20:41

I had a small lump in my arm pit a couple of years ago just before my holiday. I went to the GPs in a hurry and it turned out to be an infection, probably caused by a blockage. A course of antibiotics got rid of it for me.

Gilli · 12/10/2003 20:53

I have had two lumps removed over the years, both of which were firbroadenomas, or benign breast lumps. Always get lumps checked, but try not to worry to much. FWIW, my surgeon said that once women find a lump they tend to constantly check it, which can make it sore and painful very quickly, which can be confusing. Best to leave alone as much as possible. Thinking of you.

Marina · 12/10/2003 21:47

I also had a lump in one armpit Demented and feared the worst (I didn't know about pain being a "good" sign and it was agony). It was a blocked sweat gland and cleared up in about 48 hours with antibiotic cream. Good luck with the doctors and let us know how you get on.

Original poster
Demented · 13/10/2003 13:54

Thanks for all your kind comments. I didn't phone the Doc today as I could barely find the lump this morning, it seems to have shrunk to almost nothing so I am going to give it another day or so and see what happens.

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 13/10/2003 14:06

Demented I hope everything is ok. Sounds like good news if it's shrinking.

rainydays · 12/11/2003 23:17

Sorry to revive this one again. I have changed my name for this as I am worried i am worrying about nothing!

About 2 months ago I noticed a lump in my armpit. I didn't take too much notice as I do shave and was breastfeeding at the time so put it down to a blocked duct. Anyway, it hasn't gone away but has not grown either. It isn't at all painful and is just smaller than a very small elongated pea (sort of rugby ball shaped petit pois). When I look in the mirror I can see it and it is easy to feel as well. I have been checking every day and I can't feel any other lumps.

I visited my doctor a month ago and she agreed it was probably a blocked duct but said if it hadn't gone away to come and see her in a month. As it hasn't gone away, I made another appointment to go back next Friday.

I am worried my doctor will think I am a pratt if it is nothing to worry about. I don't know what kind of lump it a bad lump and what is considered a good lump - apologies for the phrasing as I do not know how else to phrase it. Can any of you help me?

BTW Dp thinks I am worrying about nothing.

Tinker · 12/11/2003 23:21

Can't help you rainydays but if your doctor said go back in a month, and it is now a month late, then you're not a prat. Just following doctor's orders. Hope everything is ok, as I'm sure it will be

naayie · 12/11/2003 23:26

Had a lump in my breast when i was pregnant with my youngest son, ignored it for a while and then my GP told me to come back if it got bigger or after the baby was born, well it did get bigger, so i went to a private hospital and the specialist said it was non-cancerous lump (thank god. i was so scared) It did feel uncomfortable as it got bigger and i was aware of it, it had a slight ache? she advised that i have it removed as it had grown somewhat, so i did and i am fine. What i am trying to say is - see the doctor - you will be ok.

aloha · 13/11/2003 07:29

rainydays, definitely make that appointment today. Your dr actually asked you to go back! Breast cancer is very rare in young women (I know that's what you are worrying about) but you have to get lumps checked out properly. There are whole host of other things it is more likely to be but nobody could possibly even think of diagnosing them over the internet, not even a specialist dr, so get back to your GP ASAP.

M2T · 13/11/2003 08:49

My Aunt found a lump under her armpit and completely panicked! Turned out to be her lymph glands.
The fact that you were fluey and the lump is a wee bit sore definitely sounds like that is the most likely explanation.

Original poster
Demented · 13/11/2003 21:11

raindays, I agree with everyone else the Dr won't think you are a "pratt" afterall they told you to come back if it was still there. I was certainly ready to take the advice to see the Dr but thankfully my lump disappeared and was probably nothing more than a blocked duct.

I found the comments on this thread very reassuring as it goes not show that a lump doesn't always mean the worst. Hope you are OK.

OP posts:
rainydays · 13/11/2003 21:20

Thanks for all the messages. I will go back next Friday and see what the doctor says. I will let you all know how I get on. At least we are on holiday next week (hense not being able to see doctor until Friday) so at least I will have some distraction.

Thanks again.