If you ever find a painful lump in armpit, then you need to know what you should do. A lump in your armpit can be caused by several different things. Most of the time, it is caused by the enlargement of the lymph nodes under your arm. This enlargement can also be caused by several things.
However, there are certain things that you need to be cautious about when you happen to find a lump under your arm. Do not worry. We are going to tell you what you need to do if you ever find a lump in your armpit. Well, without further ado, here are some of the things that you need to know about armpit lumps.
Things That You Need To Know About Painful Lump in Armpit
1# Understand the Causes of Lumps on Your Armpit
The first thing that you need to do is to understand what might be the cause of your armpit lumps. As we have said before, armpit lumps are most commonly caused by an enlargement of your lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are a part of your immune system. They contain immune cells that can differentiate and mature in your body.
The most common cause of lymph node enlargement is an infection. However, some other reasons and conditions might cause a lump in your armpit. These conditions include:
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Lipoma (fat tissue growth)
- Fibroadenoma
- Allergic reaction
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Hidradenitis Suppurativa
- Vaccinations adverse effects
- Leukemia
- Breast cancer
- Lymphoma
One of the things that you need to be cautious about is if you find a painful lump in armpit female. This is because breast cancer might cause such a symptom. If that is the case, it is wise for you to seek medical attention.
2# Seek Medical Attention to Get a Diagnosis
Several signs should lead you to seek medical attention. If the painful lump in armpit keeps growing in size and becomes more painful, you need to immediately seek medical attention. That way, your doctor can run some tests and examinations to help you find a diagnosis. To diagnose a lump in your armpit, your doctor will perform several tests.
First of all, you will be physically examined. Your doctor will try to determine the size of the lump as well as the characteristic of the lump. That way, your doctor can determine the differential diagnosis for your lump. After that, your doctor will perform several tests that will help determine the exact cause of the lump.
You can expect tests such as X-ray, blood work, biopsy, and mammogram for women. If your doctor finds a painful lump in armpit male, then you will also need to go through similar tests.
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3# Treating Your Armpit Lump
Once your doctor has determined a diagnosis for your lump, you can have treatment to cure the cause of your lump. The treatment of the lump depends on the cause of the lump. If the cause is a bacterial infection, then you will be treated with oral antibiotics to manage the infection.
However, if the cause is something more serious like cancer, then your doctor will recommend several treatment options for you. You might also have to go through surgery if that is the case.
Final Thoughts
A lump in your armpit can be caused by a lot of different things. If you ever find a lump in your armpit, then you need to know the steps that you need to take. That way, you will be able to find the diagnosis for your lump. Once you have found the exact cause of your lump, you will be able to treat it properly. Of course, you need the help of a medical professional to do all of that. And that is what you need to do if you find a painful lump in armpit.