Am I crazy, Paranoid or what?

I would be interested in this myself...I had one about a week ago that dissapeared...but now I have another one just below. I realize they are probably just an ingrown hair or something like that...but I did have cancer about 11 years ago and freaks me out anytime I think theres a chance...no matter how slim.

Hi Katie

Have you changed to a new deodorant lately? Sometimes when I change deodorants, I get a small lump under my arm, but it is always tender to touch. After a time, it disappears.

Also, I have fibrocystic breast disease, too. I know from my own physician exams that a lump that is NOT painful to touch, and is 'fixed' in place is a lump that needs further evaluation.

If a lump can easily be moved around, it is usually noncancerous, but no lump should be taken for granted so I'm glad you are going to have it checked.

Have you ever had a breast biopsy before? If so, what did your previous biopsy (sies) show? Women, like you and I, who have fibrocystic breast disease have very lumpy breast most of the time. These lumps become more tender around the time of month we ovulate, or on or near our monthly menstrual cycle. Although they are generally just a pain in the breast, no palpable lump should be ignored. Perhaps the doc will ultrasound the area to see what it is while you are in his/her office. If not, suggest one be done, especially due to its location (under your arm) - no mammogram will be able to reach that far. My prayers are with you because I know from personal experience that any lump felt is nerve racking.

Sounds like a sebaceaus cyst.

Just a quick slit and out they pop like a pearl...
If they go to long they will eventually fester and pop (gross and painful)..

I have learned the hard way that they are usually not an emergancy for the Doctors office and it is just easier to remove them myself than have it fester while waiting for an appointment.

Now if only I could do my own tummy tuck...

If a person your age is too young to get cancer, then ask your doc to explain why children die daily from it and insist on a mammogram!!!!! I will keep you in my prayers and please keep us posted on your outcome. Also, if you're not happy with his words of wisdom, there's no harm in a second opinion. Please take care of YOU for there is only one of you and that makes you very special.

Do you have any auto immune disorders perhaps??

I ask because I have ulcerative colitis - for about the last 13 years - and while I rarely have any GI symptoms (The disorder shows up clearer on GI biopsies), I do tend to have the skin manifestations (rashes, lesions like you describe in the armpit, erythema nodusem patches on my joints - occasional febrile arthralgias). The armpit lesions started first. I also know people with asthma, RA, fibromyalgia, and lupus that have those little knots.

Oh Man, I'd LOVE to see that!! How big are they, generally?

Love

Dennie

My dear Katie, NO ONE - ABSOLUTELY NO ONE is TOO YOUNG to get cancer! Tell that doctor a bazillion nurses told you so, and get that mammogram! Research it for yourself...go on a website that is a support group for breast cancer recipients and you will see the numbers of young women with breast cancer. Call your local American Cancer Society and ask them for the statistics...they'll be more than glad to mail you a brochure/booklet on the stats. And, I'm not your mother or sister or even bestest of friend, but I am a fellow nurse like yourself and I care about YOU! Sounds like you need a second opinion by a real doc who isn't as narrow minded as the one you will be seeing on Friday. It is also NOT true that if you don't have a family history of breast cancer or any other kind of cancer that you aren't a candidate for the disease because stats have proven that statement to be wrong as well. Take control of your body! TELL that doc you insist on a mammogram, and a biopsy of that lump...ultrasound it if they must, but whatever you do, learn to take charge of your body, and don't believe everything some dimwit of a doc tells you. Whenever a doctor tells a woman she is "too young" to have a mammogram, she needs to tell him to go tell that lie to the many women who are "too young" to be dying of cancer right now because some dimwit doc told them their lump wasn't to be taken seriously because they were "too young" for such nonsense. How long have you been a nurse? What area of nursing are you working in? How old are you?

Excuse me for being so BOLD - and having NO shame in my game - but it's being 50 years old that gives me such audacity to ask you these questions and to be so forthright with you. I myself had my first breast biopsy at the tender age of 29. From that age on, I have had four breast surgeries...all benign - Praise God -- and mammograms every year since then because of my "questionable history". The very first time I had a breast biopsy, the general surgeon gave me the following advice: (1) take vitamin E 400 IUs per day, (2) avoid caffeine at all cost, (3) get annual mammograms (4) always always always question to understanding any lump I get in my breast or under my arms no matter what anyone says.

You'll be in my prayers on Friday, as well as that doc! He should be shot for telling young women the nonsense he does! I'd call him myself and give him a good piece of my mind if you post his number here. Heck, I'll even call him before your Friday appointment and school him on a few things about the realities of having breast and armpit lumps, etc. Let me at 'em!

It may be a sebacous cyst. I had one on my wrist and my instep foot. It got hard but not painful. I showed to my ED doc and he said it was a sebacous cyst. There are two tx for these. you can incise them like a former poster stated. Or smash them with a PDR! He said when you do that you make many little drain holes. Incison can lead to infection (DUH) and you have a possibilty of them returning.
He Bashed me a bunch of times and the cyst turned mushy and they both went away. Both of my cyst's were on bones so I dont know if the book trick will work for you. But get it checked out right away. Just ask a friendly doctor to check it out in the hospital. Say "Hey doc I need to show you something..in private..I need to take of my blouse!" May save you some anxiety and a copay at least.