It is common to discover lumps and bumps along the body. While most of these curvaceous growths are harmless, some can signify a serious health condition.
How can you tell the difference between a harmless swelling and one that needs medical attention?
Listen to my video explaining what are ‘Bad Signs’ for a lump?
When to Talk to a Doctor About Your Lumps
Diagnosing lumps and bumps on your own can be challenging. If you are worried about cancer or have a history of cancer in your family, talk to us about it and we will answer your question: when to worry about a lump under the skin?
Cancer or other serious lumps will have these signs:
- Firm/hard to the touch
- It doesn’t move around, fixed to the tissue
- Not tender when touched
- Felt in the breast or groin region
- Grows steadily
- Uneven surface
- New lump
One of my patients, Calla, agreed to share her experience when she presented with a similar complaint.
‘I found a breast lump on self-examination.’ – Calla.
‘I was watching videos on Youtube and came across a video by a breast cancer survivor. In that video, she showed how to conduct a self-breast examination. Curiously, I followed the instructions, and I was surprised to find a lump! For a second, I thought it could just be my imagination, but it was still there the next day. However, I had no pain, discharge, or any other abnormal symptoms.
I had been using the Your Doctors Online application for more than a month at that point, so I logged in and got connected with Dr. Honaker. He calmed me down and took a detailed personal and family history. After I had described what the lump felt like in detail, he told me the likely cause was a fibroadenoma, a noncancerous breast lump. Because I didn’t have any symptoms, the lump didn’t require treatment.
After the consultation, I finally managed to book an appointment with my GP as well. She further confirmed that it was a fibroadenoma. Your Doctors Online never fails to impress me with their quick and thorough diagnosis.’ – Calla.
Of course, you must never ignore pain or discharge and don’t assume that all cancers present lumps. For example, anaplastic astrocytoma, a malignant type of brain tumour requires diagnosis via a CT or MRi scan.
Don’t Lose Sleep Over Finding a Lump.
Don’t let a busy schedule stop you from speaking to a doctor about your health concerns. Connect with a real doctor in minutes with the Your Doctors Online app. Skip the waiting room and the germs and get medical advice 24 hours a day. Click below to download our FREE app today.
