Lump on left shoulder/top of arm

[Jazie543x]

Hi, so I've had a soft moveable lump on my left shoulder for over 3 years, it's grown slightly but not a lot, if say it a small grape. I have had it checked a few times and have said it's fatty tissue. I have health anxiety so constantly thinking something is wrong. I try to forget about it and I do for months and months but seen something on my Facebook that has triggered me to worry about it and I've gone from 0-100 with worry. I've actually managed to get a docs app to have it checked but until then has Anyone got any reassuring stories of what it could be as I'm in a panic 🤦🏻‍♀️

I had one of those on top of the shoulder decades ago and yes, it was a fatty lump, I did have it out.

More recently I found a similar on the same arm but a bit lower and had it scanned twice and was told it's a fatty lump too, not changing so leaving it for now.

@GlassHeart1 thank you for replying. What did it feel like? My feels softish, and it moves under the sick. If I put my arm in different positions I can't even see it/feel it. But if I put my arm across my body that's when I can see it/feel it most. It's on top on my shoulder where my arm starts if that makes sense lol! I'm really panicking it's something awful 😫 I keep reminding myself it's been there for 3+ years and hasn't drastically grown or caused any problems!! Hoping and praying they say it's fatty tissue 🤞🏻

Mine felt like a softish oval cushion, the size of approx a Brazil nut, maybe slightly bigger, yes, it was on top of the shoulder, just on the outside where the bra strap sits.

If I had to guess, I would say perhaps it was somehow triggered by carrying skis on that shoulder in the past.

The current one is the size of the grape, showed up grey on us scan and I was told it's a fatty lump.

They don't remove them on NHS anymore so leaving it for now. I was also told that some people get more of them as they get older.

You need to address your health anxiety, not constantly seek reassurance for an issue that has already been addressed. Reassurance doesn’t work, so this post won’t work for you either. You know it won’t work because you’ve already had multiple reassurances from doctors.

Sorry to be blunt, but you’re wasting a life not getting treatment for your actual problem.

@Didimum no u r 100% right and I needed to hear that! I've suffered with this for years! Do take meds for it but they only mask it I feel tbh. I did go to the GP today to get the lump checked again and was told the exact same thing as before and was told I could got for a scan but they don't think it's nessasary so as much as it's reassured me it's still what if etc etc so it's a never ending cycle!!

Don't think I'm saying all that because I think it's an easy process. I know it isn't. I suffered terribly with health anxiety for years. I still have flare ups during times of stress, but it's managed so much better now. I remember all of it so well – the endless cycles of going to the doctor, feeling huge relief, and then it creeping back again and again and again – always stuck in the same loop. What if they didn't check properly? What if it's changed? What if I didn't explain it well enough? Looking things up on the internet, asking for reassurance from my mum and sister and boyfriend (at the time) again and again. It was exhausting and debilitating.

What did work was several rounds of CBT – I think I had a course every 1-2 years, about three times – and diligent application of everything they told me to do. I was really strict with myself. It's bloody hard, but you can break the loop and you can get out of it. And once the loop is broken, you're free.

I also had a fatty lump in the same place as you, it stayed small, squishy and grape sized for a few years. It did grow a bit after putting on a little weight after the kids so they do change size with weight but I had mine removed and they confirmed from the biopsy that it was just a fatty lump. I also have a tiny one on my arm which has been there for about ten years it is one you can’t see but I can feel it if I am looking for it, again got it checked and just a fatty lump.

@Didimum I'm so glad you wrote on my post, someone that actually understands how hard it is! So thank you. When I get these moments I literally feel like I'm going mad 😫 see mine all stems from when i was 17 (I'm now 37) my dad passed away of cancer so any little thing I get I jump straight to that 🤦🏻‍♀️ it's actually draining!

@aroundtheworld247 thank you for replying...yes mine is bean size I'd say, moveable, squishy/doughy to touch. I would say it's grown slightly but not a lot over 3+ years. Doc did say I can have it removed they do it there so I've actually asked to go on the waiting list for it but also as I have anxiety am thinking is it really worth it as doc doesn't think it's necessary 🫤

Understanding where it stems from is a really useful thing. My dad also passed away from cancer. I understand.