enlarged lymph node

[doogan375]

I'm a healty hy 41 year old female and recently found I have a lump in my armpit. My primary physician recommended an ultrasound which only revealed that it indeed looks like an enlarged axillary lymph node. The nurse practitioner who discussed my options with me said it didn't look like anything she was concerned about and she recommends watching it with a follow up ultrasound in 3 months, but that difinitive results could only be found only with a biopsy and left it up to me to decide. At first I agreed to wait the 3 months, but now I'm wondering if watching and waiting is  wise since it's so important to catch potential serious problems early. It's been a couple of months since I first discovered it and it's not any smaller...if anything it may be a bit bigger. It is not painful or tender, a little larger than a pea, it's movable and somewhat rubbery feeling. Any thoughts on the matter of whether or not a biopsy would be wise? I've read that biopsys aren't always difinitive since only a small amount is withdrawn. Thank you for any imput.

[japdip]

Lymph nodes can become enlarged for several reasons; one being an infection in some part of the body. I would wait the extra month (you stated that it had already been 2 mo.) and do the re-check. If it shows no change you might ask about some possible treatment. Since you are 41 and mammograms are recommended yearly after the age of 40; have you had one ?? If not it might serve to ease your mind as far as any concern related to breast issues.  Lymph nodes are about the size of a bean so I wouldn't really class your node as being terribly enlarged. If you do decide on a biopsy .. when the correct area is biopsied (such as an individual node) only a few cells are necessary to obtain a result.  Best wishes .....