lump in armpit that appeared all of a sudden

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navy1305
navy1305 Member Posts: 34
edited June 2018 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Hi friends,

I had a right mastectomy about 1.5 years ago. Yesterday I had a lump appear all of a sudden in my right armpit. It was kind of red and warm. Today it is less red, but the lump is still there. I will be calling to make an appointment tomorrow to get it checked out, but was wondering if anyone had experienced anything similar.

Thanks.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited May 2018

    Definitely get it checked. It could be an infected hair follicle, but always best to be safe.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited May 2018

    I had one of these biopsied this week and the results came back clear. Worth getting checked.


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  • navy1305
    navy1305 Member Posts: 34
    edited June 2018

    KBeee, thanks, I did get it checked this week.

    Traveltext, I'm glad your lump came back clear!

    I saw my PCP on Weds. and she told me to come back in a week and if it hadn't resolved on its own by then, she was going to order a PET/CT scan. I would have thought a biopsy would be the next step. But I guess a scan could reveal more. I do have intermittent back pain that is pretty intense. I had an X-ray of my back about a year ago and the radiologist thought it was arthritis. I am currently 40 so I'm not sure how arthritic I really am.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited June 2018

    navy1305, the first time I threw my back out, an x-ray revealed "degenerative osteoarthritic changes in facet joints."

    I was 31.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited June 2018

    can you check with MO or BS? They may prefer an ultrasound or MRI first. I am surprised anyone would jump to PET/CT, unless it is to address the back pain.

    Either way, hoping it is benign

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  • navy1305
    navy1305 Member Posts: 34
    edited June 2018

    I get my treatment through the VA and the breast surgeon who did my mastectomy is leaving the VA in June, and I guess they are not going to replace her, so I don't exactly have a surgeon any more. The breast clinic happens on Mondays, which is when I would see the surgeon and oncologist every 4 months. Unfortunately for me this lump was not there when I had my surgeon/oncologist appointment 3 weeks ago. I thought I would be able to get in sooner if I made an appointment with my PCP, so that is the route I went. I will call the women's health center on Monday morning to leave a message for the oncologist so she can coordinate with my PCP in the event she is not already aware of the issue.

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  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 2,600
    edited June 2018

    My daughter had an infected hair follicle in her armpit that popped up out of nowhere and was red, warm and painful.

    I have a bc friend who had a random lump pop up in her armpit, and it turned out to be nothing.

    I'm on my third bc diagnosis, and this one spread to my lymph nodes very quickly. My armpit became grossly swollen and puffy over the period of several weeks. There wasn't a small, specific lump. Just generalized swelling and edema.

    I'm voting for infected hair follicle for you. Glad you're getting it checked out, though.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited June 2018

    I should add that I tend to make lots of lumps/scar tissue. I have had 4 biopsied since my original diagnosis, and only the one was cancer. It felt different from the others; it felt identical to my original tumor; the others felt different. Calling the MO so he/she can coordinate with your PCP is a great idea.

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  • Lee65
    Lee65 Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2018

    Hi, I had grade 3 stage 1 breast cancer in (ER+PR+) 2016. Lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy in October (margin clear, nodes clear) six weeks rads and tamoxifen. About six weeks ago I found one large (about a marble) and two smaller enlarged lymph nodes under my arm on the same side. I had mammo, ultrasound then biopsy of the large lymph which showed cancer. I then had CT scans of lungs, abdomen, pelvis and bone scans. Bone scans showed two spots on my skull so then i had ct of brain and skull. Such scary times but all scans clear! I had axillary node dissection last week and saw the surgeon today. 8 out of 26 nodes positive and seeing the oncologist tomorrow.

    I’m so happy that I found the lump and saw the doctor next day. Following up so quickly is the best thing you can do. Lump may just be a hair follicle or an infection, hopefully, but check out ASAP.


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  • navy1305
    navy1305 Member Posts: 34
    edited June 2018

    Thank you all so much for your replies! I had a follow-up on Wednesday and the lump had gotten smaller so we figured it was some kind of infection/inflammation that is going down. The lump is not painful. I will keep an eye on it to make sure it goes away completely.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited June 2018

    Great news

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