Understanding Armpit Lumps: Exploring Non-Cancerous Causes

Lumps or swelling near your breasts can be worrisome. For example, an armpit lump can be an indicator of breast cancer, which is one of the most common cancers in women and occurs when cells in the breasts begin to grow uncontrollably, leading to a tumor.

Can armpit lumps be cancer?
An armpit lump can be a sign of cancer. But it is mostly rare and can be detected by proper physical examination or specific tests.

Here are some guidelines for your questions:

Consult a healthcare professional: It is important to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis. They may perform a physical examination and possibly order more tests.

Biopsy: If a lump is suspicious, a biopsy may be done. This involves removing a small sample of tissue from the lump and examining it under a microscope to determine if it is cancerous.

Other possible causes of armpit lumps

Armpit lumps can be caused by many other possible causes, including:

Swollen lymph nodes: Lymph nodes in the armpit can become swollen due to infection or other medical conditions. Infections such as a cold or flu, skin infections, or injuries to the arm or breast can cause swollen lymph nodes.

Hidradenitis suppurativa: This is a chronic skin condition that can cause lumps, blisters, and scarring in areas such as the armpits, groin, and buttocks.

Cysts: Cysts are cyst-like formations that can develop on the skin or inside the body. They can sometimes occur in the armpit area.

Lipomas: Lipomas are non-cancerous fatty lumps that can develop anywhere on the body, including the armpits.

Fibroadenomas: These are non-cancerous breast tumors that are sometimes found in the armpit area.

How to know if an armpit lump is cancerous? Describing a breast cancer lump, he says it can feel like a hard mass that is separate from the surrounding tissue; It feels firm or round and can occur anywhere in the breast.

Additionally, breast cancer lumps are mostly painless.

Conversely, a benign armpit lump can often be accompanied by pain, which may indicate a swollen lymph node. Additionally, unlike breast cancer lumps that feel firm and round, cysts, infections, or fatty growths feel soft to the touch. Breast self-examination is an effective way to find breast lumps. The doctor says that you can feel the lump by gently pressing your fingers against your skin, or you can also undergo necessary tests to determine the cause of the lump.