Lumps

Has anyone ever had lumps under there arm I know mine is nothing to worry about been to see my gp. She said its just a cant think of the name? I had a breast cancer scare few years ago and she said its gone under my arm dont want to guess the name because known me id get it wrong. But what I was wondering do these things get bigger hope not because the one in my boob is the size of an orange at the breast clinic they said if they took it away id lose half my boob sorry bout the graphic detail. and at the moment the one under my arm is bareable but its turning into a little hill can you take anything to reduce the size over the counter or is this a job of going back to my gp before im walking around with one hand up in the air has any of you guys been through anything like this or similaur and if anyone knows what causes this to happen would be really intrested to know if you dont mind Many thanks in advance xxxx

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Lymph node?

Lipoma?

Sebaceous cyst?

If breast related - fibroma?

Whatever it is, you need to go back to your GP if it's that big!

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Think fibroma

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Hi Kerry-anne,

I'm sorry to hear that you've had this scare and are still having problems. I know it must be very anxiety-provoking for you even though you've been told that it's not anything serious.

First up I must say that if anyone has a breast lump or a lump under their arm, or indeed a lump anywhere, please go and see your GP and get it properly checked out as soon as possible. There are many benign causes of breast lumps but it's important to rule out anything serious. Women should self-examine their breasts for lumps once a month (instructions here: hosted.aware.easynet.co.uk/... and men should also get any lumps and bumps checked out.

Kerry-anne, I'm glad that you've been to the Breast Clinic and back to your GP and that you know that the lumps that you've got are nothing serious. I know that doesn't make them less inconvenient or easier to live with, though. I'm guessing what you have is a fibroadenoma - a benign glandular lump that's common in women in their 20s and 30s. They occasionally regress or disappear on their own (in about 10% of cases), and can also be removed surgically, although as you say there may be cosmetic problems with how much breast tissue you are left with (although there are excellent cosmetic procedures these days that can be done at the same time to produce a good appearance). Surgeons may also be reluctant to subject someone with brittle asthma to the risks of surgery when it is not strictly necesssary.

It's worth keeping an eye on the lumps yourself and monitoring them - if they change in size or feel then you should go back to your GP straight away. Fibroadenomas tend to feel firm and rubbery, to be very mobile in the breast tissue, and to grow very slowly over the years. If things change at all or you are concerned in any way, do go back and see your GP as soon as you can. Things to look out for are the lumps growing rapidly, becoming hard and craggy, or fixed to the skin or the chest wall. Inversion of your nipple or blood or discharge from your nipple are also warning signs to look out for. All these things are very unlikely, and I don't mean to worry you, but these are the warning signs of breast cancer that every woman should be aware of.

There isn't anything you can take or do that will make these lumps smaller, I'm afraid. There is a small amount of evidence that taking the combined oral contraceptive pill reduces your risk of developing fibroadenomas, but there isn't much data to suggest whether taking the Pill can have any effect in shrinking exisiting lumps, and of course taking the Pill can have its own risks and problems. The only real solution, if the lumps are really causing you problems, is surgery, although that can be problematic for the reasons already discussed.

I would suggest that you go back to your GP, since the lump under your arm is obviously causing you distress and inconvenience. He or she may refer you back to the Breast Clinic for reassessment and to see if they might be prepared to operate. Depending on the size and position of the lump, it may be possible to do the surgery under local anaesthetic with sedation rather than a full general anaesthetic. Anyway, it's worth investigating.

You're certainly not alone in this problem; fibroadenoma is quite common in young women. As to why it happens: it's not completely understood. The overgrowth of glandular tissue is partly due to your hormones working on it. It can also run in families, so if your mother or sisters have fibroadenomas you are more likely to get one.

Hope this helps a bit, anyway; no easy answers as usual I'm afraid!

Take care

Em H

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Ooops, cross-posting, sorry Cathbear!

Looks like we're agreed - back to the GP with you I think! Don't worry about bothering them - that's what they're there for and this needs looking into.

Em

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LOL oh but you're so much better at it, Em

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Thanks Em thanks Cathbear very much apriciated I will ask my gp again what it is called before I say I know its called and more than likely back of to the breast clinic me thinks! again thankyou both xxxx

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Cathy and Emily

Many thanks for both of your replies was going to wait till next week before seeing my gp but shes not in next week so went today ive got a fibroma and she said under my arm it was a limpoma excuse the spelling hope you both know what I mean. Anyway she said shes not worried but if it gets any bigger to go back and see her or if any problems with them ohhhhhhhhhh yes and der brain me when I thought lump in my breast has got to size of orange she said its just breast tissue (crawled away into a corner with embarrasment). so again thanks alot cathy and Emily very much apriciated

take care Hugs

Kerry-anne

xx