Oh shit - Pea sized lump under arm near armpit

[Lemons1571]

Aaargh just found it. It’s small, hard and round, and I’m thin so you can see the skin moves over it when I move. The outer sides of both breasts are a bit lumpy and fibrous (worse now I’m thin - have always had lumpy breasts but it’s much more obvious now). The lumps are smooth though. But the “pea lump” side is a bit lumpier. No jagged edged rocks that I can feel though.

Can anyone talk me down? Please??

I have a pea-sized lump just below my armpit too - got it checked by GP and it was a benign cyst. It's been there for years now! Last mammogram (last month) was all clear.

Hope it's something similar for you - it's more than likely to be.

It may be nothing (as we all hope for you!!) but please get it checked. When you tell the doctors what it is they should see you very quickly. I had the same thing and it turned out to be a small benign cyst. I have to go back if it suddenly gets larger but other than that just gave me piece of mind getting it checked!

Yup I had this - went straight to GP who referred me on the 2WW but she said 'they'll probably tell me off but better seen than not'

Had mammogram and examination at breast clinic and all clear.

Has gone now so must have been a cyst that drained.

Get it checked ASAP but don't panic

Thank you all, I feel a bit better now. Never considered cysts but could be (I’m 48). Periods stopped a year ago but that might be due to (very much intentional) weight loss rather than anything else. Does anyone know what breast cancer lumps actually feel like?

I suppose I’m connecting the small pea sized lump with the general lumpiness on the same side (2+2=5 sort of thing). And thinking lymph node in response to cancer on that side. The pea sized thing doesn’t feel like cancer, but could it be a lymph node?

Another thing - the lumpiness on both sides is occasionally sore, particularly if I lean against it.

Hard not to catastrophise isn’t it

Is the armpit lump sore or tender?

If it makes you feel any better I'm same age as you and have the lumpy boob thing too which is tender certain times if the month. Gives me anxiety when I check but they've always been like it so unless I feel anything very defined I just ignore.

If I had a non tender armpit lump I'd get it checked out. If it were tender I'd assume just an inflamed node caused by shaving or something (I occasionally get these).

No the pea size lump isn’t sore or tender. It’s a round hard small lump, smooth not knobbly.

If it were me I'd give it a couple of weeks and if it is still there make an appointment.

I'll bet it's nothing to worry about op!

The majority of lumps and bumps are benign but please book a GP appointment straightaway.

I did check thoroughly in the shower this morning, as have always found that water helps me feel any lumps. I couldn’t feel anything pronounced at all really. Slightly more diffuse lumpiness on that side. It’s only tonight that the light was shining in a certain way and i saw the nearby pea lump.

The outer side of that breast is often sore if I carry something that presses against it.

it’s not like my mothers breast cancer (many years ago) - that was a sold hard “out there” lump that you couldn’t miss.

Had exactly this few weeks ago.

Went to GP, he said probably lymph node and come back if not gone in few week.

Three weeks later has pretty much gone. Get it checked though!

I get a hard, pea-sized lump or two in my armpit area every time I use a certain deodorant! The first time it happened I went to the GP and they said it was an irritated lymph node. It took me ages to work out the deodorant link, but it was definitely that causing it.

My friend also had a very noticeable lump which was found to be a cyst.

I know it's so much easier said than done, but try to stay calm and remember that most lumps are not cancer

I had this and it was an inflamed lymph node. Caused by virus of any kind! Lasted a couple of months before going down. Get it checked though. Best wishes for you.

I had one exactly like that, on tender lumpy side. Still tender if I lean on it, but I went under the 2ww and then on a routine recall 3months later. On both occasions it was palpable but nothing was found on ultrasound or mammogram, so it was put down to possibly a fibroadenoma, which are notoriously hard to see as they flick out if the way, or more likely, just an area of nodularity. Try not to worry, but do get it checked 💐

Lymph nodes also swell with viruses/ infections. Had this before several times and never been anything. Get checked of course for you're own peace of mind but in my experience it's a common and harmless thing. Just your body fighting something off

I will phone the GP surgery this morning. It’s sore now, probably all the poking about yesterday.

I'm 40 and have had lumps like these checked out three times - twice in my 20s and once in my late 30s post breastfeeding.

They were all just auxiliary breast tissue in the armpit. They're still there, they never went away.

It's likely nothing to worry about but go to the GP for a referral today and you will get the scan or mammogram within a fortnight and you can your mind to rest.

In the unlikely case that it is something to worry about, it's better to know and tackle it asap

Does it move?
Most likely something else but definitely get it checked today, particularly if your mum had breast cancer - better safe and all that
Good luck

Am now running the “call at 8am” GP gauntlet. So far been cut off once and then 20th in the queue!!

Smal pea lump still there. Still can’t feel anything defined in the left side of actual breast tissue. Just diffuse lump.

Have you managed to get an appointment op?

@Tanfastic thank you, yes I did. GP has referred me on 2ww but thinks he can’t feel a discrete lump. I asked about the small nodule and he said it’s not quite rubbery enough to be a lymph node. Could be a small cyst, or just something and nothing. So I do feel reassured as I also can’t feel a discrete hard rocky lump. Just hope there’s nothing hiding or brewing in there.

I have had a hard lump in my armpit for the last ten or so years. It has been checked out and is a sebaceous cyst. Hope yours is similarly non threatening.

Good luck then op. Do update us on how you get on.

I had a pea sized lump in my breast ten years ago. It was a benign cyst but they removed it cos it freaked me a bit (took 10 mins under local). Nothing since. I'm sure it will be fine but sending positive thoughts because it is anxiety inducing.