small lump in armpit

[jakey2]

I'm 34 yrs old female, in general good health.  However, 40pds overweight.  No history of any cancer in my family.  I work out 40 mins everyday.  This past Saturday the 26th, my left armpit area was irritating me, I say irritating because it felt like a razor burn.  I felt my underarm and found a pea size lump.  I did a self breast exam and do not feel any other lumps.  On Thursday the 24th, I did shave my underarm, with a week old razor.  The lump is small, hard, and I don't have to press down on my skin to feel it, the skin feels somewhat raised, but the lump also feels alittle deep.  However the lump isn't noticable to the eye. It does hurt when I touch it and for a little while afterwards, but then pain goes away, at times it can be alittle itchy.   I've looked in a minor and don't see really anything out of the ordinary, such as a sore.  I know that it can be many thing, cyst, in grown hair, even a sign of breast cancer.  I've never had an in grown hair so I'm not sure if there would be obvious signs of that.  Looking for advice on how long I should wait to see a doctor, and should I go to a Dermatolgist or Gynologist.  And what else could this be, I feel healthy otherwise. What other things can this be.  I'm very anxious and nerves about this.  Please help!

[jakey2]

again, many thanks for the advice and input.  Its nice to know that I'm not alone here.  I'm waiting for a call from my Dr to see when I can go in and see her.  If I can't see her, I think I'll make an appointment with my gyno.  Although it is sooooo hard not to worry, I'm trying to stay optimistic, its just hard, thoughts go everywhere.

[jakey2]

Thank you for the comment and reassurance.  I guess my mind can do and think the craziest and worst thing.  Anyway, what is an INT Doctor? sorry for the dumb question.  Also, just after my shower tonight I took at look in the mirror to see if I can tell more closely what it is, the lump is under the skin, round, pea size, hard, I squeeze it and it looked like there was puss coming out of a pour.  Anyway, how long should I wait to see a doctor? 1 week?

[planetmars]

int doc...Internal medicine doctor or your family doctor.  I also think (without bieng a doctor) that it is probably an ingrown hair.  You say you shaved with a dull razor, and it could be under your skin.  I have heard of people who have their glands swolen by ingorwn hairs!!  I would go to the doctor soon, if not to find out what it is, but releive you of what it isn't!!   I also wanted to state when I said you do have them under your pit, I was saying you do have lymph nodes under there not that what you have under there IS a swollen lymph node, just that they are located there too and it could be something to do with lymph node instead of breast or tumer.... Good Luck!

[planetmars]

Let me know what the doc tells you!!
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God luck, try not to worry (although I know it is implssible)

[De-De]

I'm just going through this same problem.  On 3/1 awoke with  two painful lumps in my left armpit.  I immediately called my Dr., he saw me next day.  They were swollen, hot and painful. He looked at them and said folliculitis (fancy name for infected hair follicle).  He prescribed antibiotics for 10 days.  It took the pain away after 3 days and considerably shrunk the lump.  Was off the antibiotics for approximately 10 days when low and behold, 3 more popped up (1 in the armpit, 1 in the groin and another have mercy was in my privates).  Back to the Dr., he said now I have to be on the antibiotic for 30 days and that he felt it was a staph infection.  In addition, I've got to put bacitracin in my nose at bedtime for 3 weeks.  He advised that staph is a common bacteria that everyone has on their body.  It actually lives in the nose.  You see, I had been ill with a viral thingy for about 4 weeks before the outbreak.  It seems as though my immune system was depressed and the bacteria was able to get a good hold on me.  Hopefully, we can get rid of this, cause it's miserable and I don't know what we'd do next.  Hang in there.

[jakey2]

Thank you very much for the advice again, I'm deathly afraid, but I will make an appointment with my doctor this week.