Armpit Lump?… Potential Causes.
An armpit lump is a swelling or bumps under the arm. A lump in the armpit can have many causes.
[blockquote footer=””]If you’ve found a lump under your armpit, it is important to contact your doctor. While it could potentially indicate cancer is present, it is far more likely to be a benign condition like an infection, allergy, or cyst.[/blockquote]
An underarm lump that occurs with breast pain, a breast lump, or other changes in the breast may be a symptom of breast cancer or a breast infection. Seek prompt medical care if you think you have symptoms of breast cancer.
Potential infectious causes of an underarm lump include:
- An abscess (infected pocket of tissue)
- Bacterial infection, such as a streptococcal or staphylococcal infection
- Cat scratch fever (bacterial infection from being scratched or bitten by a cat that carries the bacteria)
- Chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus infection)
- Folliculitis (infected or inflamed hair follicle)
- Fungal infection
- HIV/AIDS
- Lymphadenitis (bacterial infection of the lymph nodes)
- Mastitis (breast tissue infection)
- Mononucleosis (viral infection)
- Shingles (varicella-zoster virus infection)
- Vaccination for various viral diseases, including measles, mumps and rubella.
Feeling worried about the lump?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Has the lump been there for more than 2 weeks?
- Is the lump getting bigger?
- Have I lost weight without trying to?
- Do I have any other symptoms I can’t explain?
- Has the lump returned after being removed?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s best to see a doctor as soon as possible.
