Armpit Lump?

Could it be a clogged milk duct? I had one like that. It takes a while to go away. Don't freak out! I seem to remember warm compresses helped.

Those are certainly lymphnodes - they are called axilliary nodes. They are on both sides of your body.

Unfortunately, I know a lot about them because I was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma (cancer) in June, 2008.

Here are some important things to know about your lymph nodes:
1. you have 300-700 throughout your body
2. 95% of cases of enlarged lymph nodes are from minor infections
3. they are usually 0.5cm-1.5cm long
4. painful nodes are GOOD - it means your body is fighting infection. Non-tender swollen nodes are not as good and may signify something more serious
5. If they move around a lot, that is a good sign
6. 75% of your body drains to the left side, 25% of your body drains to the right. In my case, all my cancer was in both sides of my body.

My prognosis was very good, and my body has responded well to treatment. Since December, 2008, my scans have been completely clean.

My best advice: Call your doctor. I went to my OB/GYN after finding a small node around my collarbone after nursing my daughter one night. I'd already looked-up the lymphatic system and knew which nodes of mine were affected and was worried. He was not overtly concerned and asked me to come back in a week to see if they had changed. I went to my Family Practitioner the following day who was more concerned and ordered a biopsy and breast ultrasound for me.

It took 4 weeks to get the biopsy results - it was BRUTAL emotionally! It took 3 pathologists to confirm my diagnosis.

Don't wait - just call and see what they say. Trust your instincts if you believe it's more serious than what they tell you.

Good luck. Please keep us posted.

Definitely get it checked out. If it's near the surface, and it fluctuates in size, it could be a cyst. I've had those in the past. They're simple to remove (if you want it removed). It could also be tied to breastfeeding or, rather, weaning. I had a clogged duct about 7 months after I weaned. You have milk ducts even under your arms so that's a possibility as well. Good luck. It's always scary not knowing what's going on. Hopefully you'lll get in with someone asap.

A couple of years ago, I had the same thing happen to me. I had a small lump, the size of a pea, and it was painful. I was kinda freaking out too so I called my OBGYN and they referred me to get a "mammogram" although it included my armpit too.
Once it was done, the mammogram doctor came in to discuss the results and she said there was nothing wrong with me and that my "pics" were beautiful and classic textbook of what it should look like.
She said that we all have lymph nodes there and it could be that but she thought it was really just fats under the skin and that it would go away on its own. And it did go away on its own. :)
If you are concerned, maybe you should get it checked out just to ease your mind.
Good Luck!

There are a lot of good responses to your question. However, I have a different armpit lump story. I got them this winter(and I'm not pregnant or breastfeeding). I was using clinical secret deoderant. I switched to something less strong and the lumps went away.

i've been told if its painful that's good. prob a clogged pore or something?

I had the same type of lump under my armpit. I found it in the morning and had an appt scheduled with my GYN before the afternoon. Of course I was worried about breast cancer, but she reassured me by telling me that the armpits aren't part of your breast tissue. She also told me that it was just some type of cyst. They can come and go, I just probably never realized I had it before. I would definitely go to your doctor to rule anything serious out. Good luck.,

you have many lymph nodes in your armpit. they can go up and down in size when you hurt yourself or have a bad infection or they are just working to clear stuff out . (thats what they do clear out junk). Call your doc, it does not sound like an emergency because it changes size. Good luck.

i had/have lumps in my underarm area too. I had one in particular checked out once b/c it was getting larger/noticeable.... and becoming a little tender/painful to touch. My OB/GYN checked it out and thought it was nothing, but to be certain she scheduled a mammogram for me.
Both she and the techs at the mammography place told me that when it's something serious, like cancerous lumps, that they almost never cause pain to the touch. And they don't change/fluctuate in size. My lumps always would get smaller/bigger during different times of the month and one lump got considerably huge when I was breastfeeding. It all turned out to be nothing serious -- some women have extra breast tissue that extends to the armpit area.... some don't. Apparently I do b/c it fluctuated during times of the month/nursing.
Good thing to get a professional opinion about it tho!

it's probably just a clogged milk duct. If it doesn't go away soon then go get it checked out.

You have lymph nodes in your armpits - if you have been fighting off a virus or another infection, they can get swollen, especially if you have been stressed or really tired. They are usually the size of a pea as well. My son has a little "pearl" in his neck that doc says is a lymph node that just never went back down to size after an infection. She said his was nothing to worry about.

You also have a string of lymph nodes running down the side of your neck and in your groin area so you might check there as well for swollen glands. Good idea to have your doc check you out. Lots of sleep and good hydration will help your general health as well.

Please go to a doctor and please make the appointment this week. I'm not saying you have anything but this will put your mind at ease. The worst thing you can do is put things off. Let the doctor do their part by taking care of you. You are the only you, you're child will have! So just do it! God bless you!

sounds like a lymph node. ask your dr. to do a sono & the tech can tell if its a lymph node or not. its what i do for a career. good luck

For sure get it checked! Having said that I frequently get lumps in my breasts (I always get them checked). My Dr said if you can feel them on both sides the chances of it being something harmful are very slim. Please go get checked though.

I have one under my left arm that I affectionately refer to as my 3rd boob. Mine is just a milk gland. Sometimes it is a little sore, but mostly it just bugs me. The Dr. told me that it was nothing to worry about, but I would always recommend checking with your Dr. to make sure that is all it is.

What I think it is, is we all have like breast tissue from our armpit down the side of our body.. from experience since you were or are you breastfeeding, you have milk forming there. Its funny and weird. I actually have a dark spot and everytime I give birth,once my breast get hard,well so does my 3rd nipple. LOL,btw I only know because I went to they dr. concerned too.

I have these, as well, and have had them checked out several times (it's scary to have them at first). I have large breasts and it is simply breast tissue (the lumps started when I was pregnant) that are now in my arm pit area. Just like my breasts, at that time of the month, they are extra tender.
Of course, getting them checked out is the best thing to do.
Just giving my "lumpy" story,
R.

It's most likely a clogged gland. I have had them a couple of times and they just went away on their own after awhile. My husband actually had one that hurt and had the doctor check it out. They actually had to drain his...no big deal. They numb you up, cut it open and let it drain. Hopefully, it's nothing more than that, but it's good that you are getting it checked just to be safe!

I'm glad you're getting it checked out. I had strange lumps while breastfeeding and after breastfeeding for years, including the armpit that sounded just like that. The docs all said it was nothing and let it go. I always wondered how they know it's "nothing." However, it did turn out to be nothing. It's always best to get it checked out though and if you're still concerned after they say it's nothing, get a second opinion or ask for tests. Good luck to you!

I used to get that from shaving. Sometimes the hair grows in and causes the irritation. I used Neet (or equivalent product) and they went away. I hardly get them, but if I do I just lay off shaving for a few days and the problem is fixed. It really is probably nothing serious. Best wishes and God bless!

I've had these occasionally in the past, and they usually have cleared up on their own. I think you got a lot of good possibilities from other responders. However, there is one other possibility that I dealt with last year. I got a spot like that that got a little bigger, maybe grape size, and it stayed really sore and did not go away. After it had been there around a week with no improvement I went to the doctor, and as I suspected and feared- it was a staph infection. Unfortunately, it was also the "dreaded MRSA" (I say this a little tongue-in-cheek because it can be very serious, but it's also very rampant and unfortunately common); so, I had to take some antibiotics and have it lanced and drained. Not fun, but easily taken care of. If it keeps growing or does not go away, it would be worth checking out.

This lump as described sounds like a cyst.