Lumps in the armpits can be experienced by men and women. Generally, this is a normal situation and this condition will subside as your health condition improves.
There are various causes of lumps in the armpits, among them due to bacterial infections, cysts, irritation, allergies due to the use of deodorant or the wrong shaver, and could also be due to skin tags, a type of wart on the skin surface that often rub against the surrounding skin. This lump condition is not dangerous at all and does not need special treatment.
However, a lump in the armpit can also be a sign of serious illness, for example if the lump does not hurt and does not go smaller. You should check yourself if you experience these symptoms, because there are various causes of lumps in the underarm which is an indication of serious disorders, such as:
- Side effects of vaccination.
- Virus infection.
- Fibroadenoma or abnormal growth of fibrous tissue, but not cancerous.
- Breast cancer.
- Lymphoma: cancer of the lymphatic system.
- Leukemia: blood cancer in the bone marrow.
In general, examination of other possible causes of lump in the armpit begins with questions about the changes that occur and whether the pain is felt.
The doctor will also ask if you are breastfeeding or not, and if there are other symptoms that accompany the condition. The doctor will then examine the lump by pressing or gently massaging it.
If it is deemed necessary to carry out further tests, the doctor may recommend:
- Complete blood check to check the levels of red and white blood cells in the body system.
- Mammography to see the shape of the lump more closely.
- Allergy test.
- Biopsy is sampling from lump tissue for laboratory examination.
- How to Handle a Lump in the armpit?
Handling the lump in the armpit depends on the cause. Generally these conditions do not require special handling, in addition to pain medication and warm compresses to relieve discomfort.
Such handling may be applied if the lump is caused by non-hazardous conditions, such as viral infections, lipomas and fibroadenomas. Lumps caused by viral infections can usually narrow by themselves. While the lumps caused by lipoma will usually remain, but not dangerous.
Meanwhile, lumps caused by bacterial infection can be treated with antibiotics. Lumps caused by allergies can be treated with allergy medications, and by avoiding the use of objects that are at risk of causing allergies, such as deodorant creams or shavers.
But if after the examination was a lump in the armpit identified as a cancer, handling needs to be done with surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Thus, you should be aware of the emergence of lumps in the armpits early on by doing their own checks at home. Immediately check with your doctor if you feel any oddities in your body, to get a proper diagnosis.