Lump in underarm

[Yogafailure]

Hoping someone might have experience of this. Realised a few days ago that I've a small hard lump in my underarm/armpit. It's like a pea to touch (and sore!) but there's no head on it...in fact you can barely see it at all. It's not big, red or inflamed like a spot. Anyone have experience of a blocked sweat gland or throw any other light on what's going on?

It sounds like it could be a blocked sweat gland as it's painful- I had a scare when I found a lump under my arm and it turned out to just be a lipoma. Maybe just keep an eye on it and any sign that it's getting bigger book a trip to the GP? If it's a blocked sweat gland, maybe try soaking a cloth in some hot salty water and pressing it on it a few times a day

Thanks @Lifeaback. I've actually got a doctors appt on Wednesday for other reasons so I might mention it then. I feel a bit silly when it's so small (but ouchy)

I absolutely do not want to worry you but you should definitely mention it on Wednesday. I'm sure it is just a blocked sweat gland but a lump in the armpit should be checked out.

What tribpot said.^

Probably a swollen lymph node. I get them in the armpit when I'm fighting off an infection. Generally if they are moveable, small and tender they are nothing to worry about.

If you still have it in a couple of weeks have it looked it by the Gp.

Really? I'm trying very hard not to google and not to think beyond the blocked gland scenario . There's no history of anything...else in my family, I've breastfed 3 dcs too, or is that all just bollocks? The lump is nearer the fold of my arm rather than my torso, if that makes sense.

Honestly op have you never had a swollen lymph node before? Like in your neck when you have a sore throat?

What do you mean you've breastfed? That shouldn't affect anything that I can think of.

I thought breastfeeding reduced your risk of breast cancer or is that outdated info? I've had swollen glands behind my ears before but never anywhere else that I know of . This is pretty much rock hard and the size/shape of a pea from what I can feel. It's bloody sore though when you start prodding it 🙈

Ovarian cancer I think. My auntie breastfed six children and got breast cancer.

In any case any lumps need to be checked, likely nothing but better safe than sorry, particularly if it's very hard.

Some things may well “reduce” a risk .... but that’s not binary.

But, I’ve had dozens of similar lumps .... high chance it’ll be a sporner’s paradise and erupt spectacularly eventually, so don’t wear your best white shirt just now!
Do ask at the doctor though. The “risk” you talk of is probably really low, really really unlikely to be anything sinister but us strangers on the internet can’t tell you for definite. Good luck!

OP I had exactly this over Christmas. My GP said it was probably a blocked hair follicle and treated it with antibiotics. It took quite a long time to go away but it did in the end. She also referred me to have an ultrasound just to be sure and by the time I had that there was nothing left of it.

Absolutely get it checked out.

I had a lump that sounds very much like yours OP and it was just a blocked sweat gland but the DR went out of their way to tell me I was right to have it checked and if I got something similar again to come back and not assume it was the same thing.

The vast majority of the time it's nothing problematic but it's always worth getting a HCP to confirm this.

The fact that you've looked to see if there's a head makes it sound as if it's near the skin rather than deep in the armpit. That sounds more like the beginnings of a boil or something rather than a lymph gland.

I had an armpit boil once that started like this... small, hard, painful lump just under the skin and nothing to see at first (got red, larger and formed a head after a few days). It was in the same area of the armpit as you describe.

But of course, like everyone says... get it checked on Wednesday just in case.