Armpit lumps — Sick with Worry

[daysinthesun]

You know, I’m aware that I go back and forth. I haven’t been on this board in months but I feel I have nowhere to turn.

I have lumps under my armpits. At first it was only one under my right arm a few days after I shaved. Started small, got bigger. It’s started to go down but it’s been there about two months now.

I started to feel really good about it but then slowly I had a painful spot under my left arm and sure enough, a lump grew there. In addition to these lumps (that have started to go down but still somewhat painful), there are two smaller lumps near them.

Some days, I put it out of my mind. I ignore what’s under my arm. Other days, I cry myself to sleep imagining a cancer diagnosis in my future. I know the answer is “go to the doctor” but I don’t have insurance. I don’t have a doctor. i can’t run to the emergency room about this.

My family doesn’t believe that they are serious issues despite our family history of cancer. My mother refuses to do anything besides buy me “boil away” despite the fact that these aren’t boils (I think.)

I am just at the end of my rope. I am so tired. Why is my brain this way? Why has god chosen to punish me this way? I haven’t been a bad person. Why is this happening to ME?

 

[Larii]

Hi.
There are many reasons for armpit lumps, most of them harmless. This sounds like it could be ingrown hair follicles. Generally cancerous lumps are rock like and immovable. Also if you developed the first lump, and it started to go down, thats proof its unlikely to be cancer as it would keep getting worse. I once had a huge lump in my armpit that disappeared after a few weeks. Basically the chances of it being serious are low.

 

[daysinthesun]

Hi.
There are many reasons for armpit lumps, most of them harmless. This sounds like it could be ingrown hair follicles. Generally cancerous lumps are rock like and immovable. Also if you developed the first lump, and it started to go down, thats proof its unlikely to be cancer as it would keep getting worse. I once had a huge lump in my armpit that disappeared after a few weeks. Basically the chances of it being serious are low.

I googled (I know, I know.) and they don’t look like i grown hair follicles. They’re basically under my skin. No black dot on them to indicate a hair there. Just wish I could go to a doctor and get an answer. Not having one is driving me insane. I cry any time I have a moment to myself. I am just all burned out on hope.

 

[Larii]

I googled (I know, I know.) and they don’t look like i grown hair follicles. They’re basically under my skin. No black dot on them to indicate a hair there. Just wish I could go to a doctor and get an answer. Not having one is driving me insane. I cry any time I have a moment to myself. I am just all burned out on hope.

I'm really sorry to hear that this last week i was in a similar frame of mind and crying so i totally get it.
When i had my armpit lump it was also under the skin and very sore to the touch. Just because they don't look like the ones on google doesn't necessarily mean its not the same thing. Would you mind sending a pic of the lumps, if you're comfortable with that??

 

[matisworried]

the fact that you have this issue in both armpits should be reassuring. cancer and other nasty things like that don't tend to be symmetrical.

it's not uncommon to get ingrown hair or boils under your arm - especially if you shave or wax. do you use deodorant? being allergic to deodorant is very common as there are plenty of things in most brands that one could be allergic too.

 

[daysinthesun]

I'm really sorry to hear that this last week i was in a similar frame of mind and crying so i totally get it.
When i had my armpit lump it was also under the skin and very sore to the touch. Just because they don't look like the ones on google doesn't necessarily mean its not the same thing. Would you mind sending a pic of the lumps, if you're comfortable with that??

I tried to take pictures but the lumps kind of don’t show up? I can feel them when I run my hand under my arm. I can even pull and pinch the skin where they are to demonstrate but they don’t show up in the pictures. Sometimes they hurt and sometimes they don’t. You’re right though. I have to stop thinking google can answer my question and solve my problems. Honestly, you’re the sweetest for being willing to see. Just that gesture, that desire to listen, helped me so much.

the fact that you have this issue in both armpits should be reassuring. cancer and other nasty things like that don't tend to be symmetrical.

it's not uncommon to get ingrown hair or boils under your arm - especially if you shave or wax. do you use deodorant? being allergic to deodorant is very common as there are plenty of things in most brands that one could be allergic too.

I shave typically but I haven’t since the lumps showed up. It’s been almost two months of me not even wanting to go there because I just want them to go away. I’ve had painful boils under my armpit but they haven’t stayed this long before. Or if I did, I never noticed. This health anxiety thing is new to me. The last year has just been so difficult.

I use two or three different deodorants. Honestly, whatever is around the house goes under there. I’ve been doing research and the odds are that they are either cysts or lipomas. I’ve decided to pay out of pocket to visit the doctor in the next two weeks. I need to know for sure.

 

[daysinthesun]

Just updating this thread because it helps me feel calm, like I have a plan. I have a doctor’s appointment on Nov. 18th. I will let everyone know what the doctor says (good or bad) but please send me calming vibes or prayers. I desperately want it to be good news.

 

[matisworried]

I’ve been doing research and the odds are that they are either cysts or lipomas. I’ve decided to pay out of pocket to visit the doctor in the next two weeks. I need to know for sure.

ok... rule number one of health anxiety: DON'T FRIGGIN' GOOGLE IT!!! it is NEVER a good idea to do "research." first and foremost, all googling your symptoms will do is make your anxiety worse. ALWAYS. researching your symptoms will never relieve more anxiety than it creates. EVER. second, having internet access does not make you and doctor and it doesn't replace a medical degree. self-diagnosing yourself is a horrible idea 100% of the time. more importantly, doing so can make treating you much more difficult from a doctor's perspective. imagine trying to sort through symptoms and decide what treatments to order and what tests to run when the person you're trying to diagnose has already done it themselves... and has already (poorly) educated themselves based off of information they've read on some random "medical" site on the internet.

 

[daysinthesun]

I know, I know. That’s why I stopped and booked an appointment at the doctor. I kept reading horror stories of people who weren’t diagnosed properly and freaked out so I knew it was past time to stop at that point because I was looking for reasons not to believe a doctor before I even went. I called this morning and my appointment is the week after next. No more googling for me. I blocked key word searches on my computer and going to see if I can do that on my phone. I know I’ve been handling this anxiety in the worst way. I’m going to do it right this time and get a diagnosis. Even if I do have cancer, I won’t be hopeless anymore. I have too much to fight for. Even if I am fighting alone. Thank you for responding to me. It’s been a relief to get this all out.

 

[matisworried]

I know, I know. That’s why I stopped and booked an appointment at the doctor. I kept reading horror stories of people who weren’t diagnosed properly and freaked out so I knew it was past time to stop at that point because I was looking for reasons not to believe a doctor before I even went. I called this morning and my appointment is the week after next. No more googling for me. I blocked key word searches on my computer and going to see if I can do that on my phone. I know I’ve been handling this anxiety in the worst way. I’m going to do it right this time and get a diagnosis. Even if I do have cancer, I won’t be hopeless anymore. I have too much to fight for. Even if I am fighting alone. Thank you for responding to me. It’s been a relief to get this all out.

first things first... YOU DON'T HAVE CANCER. don't even entertain the thought. nothing about what you describe sounds like cancer. in fact, most cancer of the "lump" variety is painless (and itchless.) also, cancer doesn't get smaller. if it changes size at all, it'll continue to get bigger. cancer is also very rarely symmetrical. the fact that you have this issue in both of your armpits alone pretty much rules it out.

 

[Bobnnat]

first things first... YOU DON'T HAVE CANCER. don't even entertain the thought. nothing about what you describe sounds like cancer. in fact, most cancer of the "lump" variety is painless (and itchless.) also, cancer doesn't get smaller. if it changes size at all, it'll continue to get bigger. cancer is also very rarely symmetrical. the fact that you have this issue in both of your armpits alone pretty much rules it out.

Also, adding to Panic's post, my goodness don't get sucked in to these supposed horror stories. First, they may or may not even be true. Second, if they are true, you know nothing about the particulars of that person and their situation, their life, their lifestyle, etc.. Finally, there are exceptions to every rule. A 1 in 1,000,000 incidence of something still means that 999,999 out of the 1 million do not have what that person has.

And if you buy a lottery ticket with 1,000,000 - 1 odds, you know you won't win. Similarly, you don't have the supposed disease that person has. Said in another way, if I told you that a slot machine would double your money 999,999 times in 1,000,000 and you'd lose your money 1 time in 1,000,000 I'm sure you'd play that machine until it broke.

Bob