Swelling in armpit

[yah]

I have swelling in my armpit.  It hasn't gotten any bigger but it hasn't gone away either. What could that be?  And I have had a lump in my breast for awhile. If it was cancerous how long would it have taken me to find out?

[advocate544]

A related discussion, swelling under armpit was started.

[artemis24]

I too have a lump under my right armpit.  I felt something rubbing, thinking it was the underwire of my bra.  One day I realized it was a lump.  It's shaped oval like an eye and is the size of a small plum.  I was surprized because I had a mamogram a month before and the results came back fine.  I went to my GYN who told me that it was probably a hematoma from the mamogram and to come back in a month to see if it went down.  I went back and it was still there with no reduction in size.  I was then sent to a radiologist who did a sonogram.  He found it but I had to sit up for the exam because when I laid down with my arm up it would dissapear. He says it is above the muscle and not part of my breast.  I live in Belgium so I don't know if this is different here because everything I've read says that the area under your armpit is considered part of your breast.  I had him look at the mamograms that were taken in May 2006 and 2003 and he found the lump immediately on the Right Axilla xrays.  It was small in 2003 and now it is clearly 5 times the size it was then.  My question is why didn't this get noticed by the radiologist who performed the mamograms?

Anyway, the current radiologist didn't seem too concerned saying it was not part of the breast, perhaps a lympnode, etc.  He says my options are to biopsy it, remove it or wait and have another mamogram of my right axilla in 6 months?  I'm afraid to biospy it in case it is cancer and it causes it to spread.  I am meeting with my GYN tomorrow to see where we go from here. Should I be worried?  If it's a lymphnode, can't that also be cancer?

[LatinaLady]

Hi, what other symptons do you feel? does it hurt and do you feel like a burning sensation under ur arm? thats what I feel I have a swollen lymphnode, is been like that for over 2 months they didnt see it in the mammogram, but in a sonogram n then in the MRI, I have been to different Dr's with different opinions, right now Im waitng to do a needle biopsy on it. Lymphnodes are supposed to, if inflamatory to go down after a while after u take antibiotics and antiflamatories n mine is 2.7cm big since april.and still the same. well take care and have it check it out! let me know what else comes about!

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear YAH, Without benefit of physical exam, being able to ask questions etc. it is difficult to comment.  It is best to have this checked out by your doctor.

[healthcareguerilla]

I'll state the obvious.  Go to a doctor.  As for "how long it would taken you to find out" if the lump you have is cancerous...if you mean would it give you some kind of symptoms other than the lump?  Not necessarly.  If you mean how long does it take from the time you see a physician to the time cancer is diagnosed?  Not long.  Days or less, but that, too, depends upon where you are seen.

The swelling under your arm could be related to a number of physical ailments.  All in all, it's just time for a trip to see the best physician in your area.

[ihatepvc's]

Sounds like you need to see a gynocologist who will probably refer you to a radiologist for a mammogram. I have a lump in my armit too. The doctor thought it was part of my muscle, rather than a swollen gland because he could only feel it when my arm was stretched upwards. Can you feel yours when your arm is at rest? To be safe, I am seeing a surgeon who will test it. Good luck!