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Original poster

Worried sick about underarm lump/lymph node

14 replies

Beth749 · 11/07/2025 17:51

Hi all, firstly apologies if this isn’t the place but I guess I’m just looking for some reassurance or even somebody who may of been in my position. 3 weeks ago when I was 14 weeks pregnant after showering I noticed a little bump under my armpit, instantly I panicked as I have no idea how long it’s been there. Called my gp who got me in the following day, said it was a lymph node and to go back in 3 weeks time to be re checked. I attended yesterday and whilst the node had subsided but not completely she has referred me on the 2ww. I’ve attached some photos of the area the first was June 30th and the second was today, it isn’t huge, and sometimes is hard to detect on a photo. I’m now 17 weeks 2 days pregnant and absolutely beside myself thinking all sorts of horrible outcomes.

Worried sick about underarm lump/lymph node
Worried sick about underarm lump/lymph node
OP posts:
Gettingonabitnow · 11/07/2025 19:18

I have just posted an almost identical post! Although I’m not pregnant.

Zoereferral · 11/07/2025 19:21

Well in the second photo the lump looks like it has reduced considerably👍

Original poster
Beth749 · 11/07/2025 19:24

Zoereferral · 11/07/2025 19:21

Well in the second photo the lump looks like it has reduced considerably👍

It does seem to go up and down, it’s so worrying

OP posts:
anyzee · 11/07/2025 19:27

I have one that looks exactly the same, and is in the same place underarm as your first photo. Have had it over 20 years now and no doc is concerned. A little cyst is what they said way back without any testing or anything. And it looks like they were right!

I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine, especially since the lump/cyst has gone down considerably. Congrats on the pregnancy BTW.

Original poster
Beth749 · 11/07/2025 19:33

anyzee · 11/07/2025 19:27

I have one that looks exactly the same, and is in the same place underarm as your first photo. Have had it over 20 years now and no doc is concerned. A little cyst is what they said way back without any testing or anything. And it looks like they were right!

I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine, especially since the lump/cyst has gone down considerably. Congrats on the pregnancy BTW.

Thank you for replying, my gp didn’t seem confident it was anything other than a lymph node which is why I’m so concerned and scared 😔

OP posts:
anyzee · 11/07/2025 19:52

I know you are worried and anyone would be. But I think the chances of it being anything other than a benign bump are small. You could have infection somewhere that the gland is trying to fight. There are lots of reasons, including an ingrown hair which can come and go like yours. And of course the elephant in the room, a malignancy, which is the first thing we all assume, but it's not necessarily the case at all.

I hope the tests prove that everything is OK for you, and I'm sure it will be. Good luck with it all.

jamanbutter · 11/07/2025 19:55

Most lumps tend to be cysts or fibrous tissue. Cysts are common when hormones fluctuate. Easy for me to say but try to take your mind off it.

BlueWorkDay · 11/07/2025 19:58

I had one just like that earlier this year.

And (of course) I feared the worst.

I took it to the GP who examined my breasts, found them to be fibrous and referred me on 2WW for a mammogram and ultrasound.

Of course, I was terrified.

The mammogram was far less painfull than I expected, and with results came back clear, it was just a cyst of some sort, and cleared up within days of the mammogram.

Im telling you this because, although it's scary, it's often nothing to worry about.

Original poster
Beth749 · 11/07/2025 20:02

BlueWorkDay · 11/07/2025 19:58

I had one just like that earlier this year.

And (of course) I feared the worst.

I took it to the GP who examined my breasts, found them to be fibrous and referred me on 2WW for a mammogram and ultrasound.

Of course, I was terrified.

The mammogram was far less painfull than I expected, and with results came back clear, it was just a cyst of some sort, and cleared up within days of the mammogram.

Im telling you this because, although it's scary, it's often nothing to worry about.

So unfortunately for me because I’m pregnant I’m not able to have a mammogram carried out, the only options available are an ultrasound, which I know are just as useful in determining if it looks to be something concerning or not. How long did you have your lump for? What makes me more anxious is that I don’t even know how long mine has been there for since I first noticed it 😩 - I’m glad yours turned out to be nothing serious!

OP posts:
TenThousandSpoons00 · 12/07/2025 09:08

OP, have a google of “accessory breast tissue.” Is it your first baby? Not at all uncommon to have extra breast tissue in your armpit, which can then enlarge in pregnancy/when you’re breastfeeding as it responds to the same hormonal stimulation as your other breast tissue. Sometimes it’ll even produce milk!! The timing seems like it could easily be this for you.

thaisweetchill · 12/07/2025 09:28

If it’s going up and down could it be an infected hair follicle? I recently had an ingrown hair in my pubic area and it got infected, I had a lump that kept going up and down in size and turns out it was the infection. I was given some antibiotic cream and it’s got rid.

Original poster
Beth749 · 12/07/2025 09:49

TenThousandSpoons00 · 12/07/2025 09:08

OP, have a google of “accessory breast tissue.” Is it your first baby? Not at all uncommon to have extra breast tissue in your armpit, which can then enlarge in pregnancy/when you’re breastfeeding as it responds to the same hormonal stimulation as your other breast tissue. Sometimes it’ll even produce milk!! The timing seems like it could easily be this for you.

This isn’t my first baby it’s my second. Although my daughter is nearly 14 haha I did google all of those things but it seems a little unlikely that’s what it could be from the photos I’ve seen, mine seems to be quite high up and a lot smaller than what other women’s looked like

OP posts:
BlueWorkDay · 12/07/2025 10:12

@Beth749 I had both a mammogram and an ultra sound in the same day... thinking back it may be that the mammogram was for the general fibrousness (as manual breast exams are difficult), and the ultrasound was for the lump.

I made a GP appointment the day i saw it through the skin, I'd felt it for a few days before that when i was washing.

TenThousandSpoons00 · 12/07/2025 10:29

Beth749 · 12/07/2025 09:49

This isn’t my first baby it’s my second. Although my daughter is nearly 14 haha I did google all of those things but it seems a little unlikely that’s what it could be from the photos I’ve seen, mine seems to be quite high up and a lot smaller than what other women’s looked like

Show quote history

Ah less likely then as you’d prob have had it last time. As others have said though - super unlikely to be anything worrying. All the best :)

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