Lipoma?

[4658Lou]

I had what I thought was a swelling or lump in 2019 on my left lower body (bottom of ribcage are) it looked bigger than my right side so I went to the doctors. Ultrasound was done that said it was a lipoma and I think it was about 4cm I had another ultrasound done in 2020 as I felt it may have got bigger but when I had the ultrasound done they couldn’t see it and said it was a thickening of the sebaceous fat. Because I had two ultrasounds it was left, fast forward 2024 now and I felt it again thought it might have felt bigger scheduled a appointment with Gp and he felt it and said yes it feels bigger from the ultrasound I had a few years ago he asked was it painful I said no it’s not painful but it’s bothersome now I can feel it. I asked why did the second ultrasound not pick it up and only thickening fat but not the lipoma that was picked up on the first ultrasound, the doctor said they don’t disappear but can swell and go down. He said he can feel it’s ‘swelling’

The doctor said ‘no obvious red flags but going to send me ultrasound to differentiate’ (whatever that means?) and to rule out anything serious. The ultrasound was issued as ‘routine’
but I’m very worried and just want to chat to others and what can the above mean? Obviously I’m worried if it’s gone bigger than the 4cm ultrasound from 2019 which the doctor said feeling it - it had gone bigger- what will they do after ultrasound does that mean it’s more likely to be cancerous or something if it’s growing?

xx

Lipomas are benign collections of fat cells but they can grow larger. He's likely just wanting to see if it is definitely a Lipoma and how much bigger it has got.

Often they don't remove lipomas unless they are causing pain as they are classed as cosmetic issues

Hi, lipomas do not turn cancerous. They can grow/ get bigger, but that just means they are a bigger lipoma. They likely have sent it routine as you’ve already had two scans and both have been benign/lipoma/fatty lumps. A lipoma is just a fatty lump- that’s maybe why the one scan said thickened fat and the other said lipomas. Try not to worry, sounds just like they’re checking it hasn’t changed. As you’ve already had two scans of the same area I probably wouldn’t even refer you tbh.

I’m surprised they are referring you again to be honest. I have multiple lipomas in my arms, one in my leg, probably more if I go hunting for them. Had them scanned and checked they were what they thought and no action to be taken

@dementedpixie yes he must of looked at ultrasound from a few years ago and then felt and felt it was bigger x

@autumn1610 maybe because the doctor thought mine had gone bigger do you think?

@autumn1610 are yours small or big and or not changed size? If mine was 4cm ish a few years ago it might a big one by now if the doctor felt it was bigger in physical examination. That’s what I’m worried about x

…I appreciate the replies. I’m just so worried :(. I’m also a new mum too so this has just put me into full panic I’m sitting here with baby just trying to remain calm x

OP💐 I hope you feel reassured now. It is such a stressful time with a new baby and I was driven wild with fear those early months....my HV and GP supported me and I was found to have PND...both kids are strong 6 footers now..and I'm still here..But I wish I had been able to relax more..get the support that is out there..and remember they are strong little suckers!!

Yes it’s difficult anyway within first few months with a baby so this lump is really causing me distress. I am fortunate to be in the position that I did have two scans a few years ago but it’s sent me in a panic perhaps because it’s like being questioned is it a lipoma and sending me for another ultrasound to check so now I’m just waiting, I did call the hospital yesterday to see if they got the referral and the person i spoke to said that the doctor had put the scan as routine and no red flags but sending to ultrasound to differentiate and that the swelling has got bigger x

I have got various lipomas, the biggest being a 10cm square lump that hangs off my lower thigh. (I call him Bob). I have another huge one on my thigh, and several smaller ones.

Each time they have been diagnosed, they have first done an Ultrasound, and then an MRI scan to confirm its a lipoma. (Devon NHS)

10cm that is big does it look that big from the outside from looking at it? Ah ok is there a certain size they do MRI? Within the nhs? (If anyone knows)

@skyeisthelimit why was you referred to mri after ultrasound did they say? X

I had one that was about 6cm above my belly button. It was removed when I had my tummy tuck.

I first noticed it after I had my children and it did grow quite a bit before my surgery - approx 3 years between.

Surgeon said they are quite common and generally nothing to worry about apart from them being a cosmetic issue and if I hadn't been having surgery it would have been fine to leave it.

@4658Lou yes, it does look that big and it sort of hangs off my leg above my knee. I have to wear baggy trousers to accommodate it. They won't remove it unless it starts to cause me problems.

They just did an MRI to double check it each time, even though they felt it was fine on the ultrasound.

My post above, I have put thigh twice, but the second large on is on my hip, not my thigh, it's like a sausage.

@Imposter1212 how was the lipoma diagnosed before the removal? Yes I was told they are quite common

@skyeisthelimit does it not qualify for removal under nhs just because of the size?

with you having mris on them did they have to qualify for the mri after ultrasound for example if they are big?

My surgeon had a feel and got me to cough to confirm it wasnt a hernia then did a quick ultrasound at my consultation and said he was 99% sure it was a simple lipoma.

He confirmed he was right after my OP

Just wanted to update this as sometimes I come to posts that never reveal the update!

update: I had the ultrasound and it was not lipoma like I was told in 2019 it was as the other ultrasound suggested in 2020 it’s a thicken area of fatty tissue (no lump) and my ribcage is more sticky out on the left than the right

Honestly, you're lucky you got an ultrasound. I have literally hundreds of lipomas on my arms, legs and back and I can't even get a referral for someone to have a proper look at them. I've tried several GPs at various points in my life. I've got a new GP so biding my time to try again because I hate them.

@Catopia i think it was because it was a new doctor (not the doctor I saw a few years ago) and he thought it got bigger the area so referred me to see, I think it was just for ‘peace of mind’ I would definitely see another doctor they usually always refer to ultrasound for a lump? But the doctor was good in this case as this was after I had a prior ultrasound, the doctor was just reconfirming as I was his new patient

I've seen 3 so far over the past 12 years with no progress...

@Catopia maybe it’s just the doctors you’re saying? If you want one I would expressively say again you want one (directly) and see what another doctor says x

Or a private doctor? But they are a couple hundred pounds. But I would definitely ask another doctor and ask why wouldn’t they? What rules it out to qualify for it. I would definitely ask again