Originally Posted by
Crank
Ok guys, if you have a lump in your armpit, please go to your doctor and get it checked out. It could be as simple as a sebaceous cyst (blocked sweat gland, common in the armpit), a lipoma (fatty benign tumor), or an enlarged lymph node. Enlarged lymph nodes could be the result of a local or systemic infection (nothing to worry about, will go away), or could be metastatic cancer or lymphoma. Depending on your ages, I would particularly be concerned about hodgkin's lymphoma or breast cancer. Check your neck, other armpit, and groin for any additional enlarged nodes, and perform a breast self exam (yes, even if you're a guy). While it is likely a completely benign condition, such as a sebaceous cyst, please get it looked at. I am a general surgery resident, and we recently operated on a 25-yo man with breast cancer and enlarged axillary lymph nodes.