braveheart226

There are LOTS of reasons for a lump in the armpit, not all of them bad news.....

Lumps in the armpit have various causes. Cysts and infections on the surface of the skin of the armpit may be caused by shaving or use of antiperspirants (as opposed to deodorants). This occurs most frequently in adolescents just beginning to shave. Abscesses under the skin may also produce large, painful lumps in the armpit.

Lumps may be produced by lymph nodes enlarged due to bacterial infections, viral infections, vaccinations, and malignancy. A breast self-examination should always include the armpit because breast cancer can enlarge the armpit lymph nodes even when the breast itself seems perfectly normal.

Lymph nodes are filters that can catch malignant tumor cells or infectious organisms. When they do, lymph nodes increase in size and are easily felt.

Common Causes
Bacterial
Localized infection, possibly somewhere in the arm or breast draining into the glands of the armpit, or infection within the armpit itself
Cat scratch disease
Ascending lymphangitis
Lymphadenitis
Viral
Infectious mononucleosis
Chickenpox
Shingles (herpes zoster)
HIV disease (AIDS)
Malignant
Hodgkin's lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Leukemia
Fungal
Sporotrichosis
Antigenic
Smallpox vaccination
Typhoid vaccine
Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (rare)
Allergic reaction possibly caused by sulfa drugs, iodine, or penicillin
Other
Lipomas (harmless fatty growths)
Benign (harmless) cyst
Normal breast tissue (breast tissue extends into the armpit area)
Home Care
Check with your health care provider to determine the nature of the lump.

For a lump in the armpit caused by an infected, painful gland, follow the instructions about the proper treatment for the underlying infection.

A lump in the armpit caused by a generalized viral infection will eventually disappear without treatment. A lump in the armpit caused by an allergic reaction will go away after the "trigger" is removed. No treatment is necessary for a lump in the armpit caused by normal breast tissue. Usually, no treatment is necessary for a cyst.

A lump in the armpit caused by a lipoma is harmless, unless it grows so large that it causes discomfort.

For a lump in the armpit caused by a malignancy, follow the appropriate cancer treatment recommended by a doctor.

Call your health care provider if
Call if you have any unexplained armpit lumps. Do not try to diagnose lumps without professional help.

What to expect at your health care provider's office
Your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask medical history questions about the armpit lump, such as:

When did you first notice the lump?
Is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?
Are you breast-feeding?
Have you noticed any factors that make it worse?
What other symptoms are also present?
Is the lump painful?
The physical examination may include palpation -- gently pressing the nodes with the fingertips.

Testing depends on what is found during the physical examination. Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Liver function tests
Kidney function tests
Lymph node biopsy
Platelet count
Routine blood work, such as a complete blood count (CBC)
X-ray of the chest
Liver-spleen scan
Mammogram