Understanding and Responding to Finding a Lump in Your Body

So, you’re just going about your day, washing in the bath or having a shower, and suddenly, you find a lump. It’s not a great start or end to a day!

Even if it has seemingly sprung up overnight, nobody wants to find a lump anywhere on themselves or on a loved one. So, while it may seem like the perfect time to panic, don’t. Instead, read on for a quick guide to what lumps can be and what to do if you find one on yourself or a loved one.

Causes of Lumps On the Body

There’s a medical saying: when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras. So, while it may seem commonplace to jump to the conclusion that a lump equates to cancer, there could be another cause of the growth.

Some of the most common causes include:

• Trauma (such as falling off a bike)
• Acne
• Moles and warts
• Skin tags
• Infections, such as a boil or abscess
• Cysts
• Corns
• Allergic reactions

You’ll also need to consider the location of the lump. For instance, a lymphoma lump on neck isn’t likely to be an abscess unless there’s been trauma. 

What To Do if You Find A Lump

You’ll need to look at where you found the lump as a first port of call. As before, a lump on the neck or under the arm should be treated as suspicious unless there’s been trauma. Even if lumps in these areas don’t hurt, you should still seek to have them assessed by a medical professional.

If it’s in your mouth, you should book yourself in for a dental appointment and make sure they know when you book it that you’ve found a lump, as it could be oral cancer.  If you’ve found it around your eye or anywhere else on the body, you should contact your primary or family health doctor for an initial appointment. They’ll be able to assess the lump and look to rule out other conditions that could have caused it.

Testing and Red Flags

Now, onto the part that most people think of when they find a lump, is it cancer?

There are lots of symptoms of cancer that can occur around the same time as a lump appears, which can include:

• Weight loss
• Skin rash (leukemia)
• Persistently swollen lymph nodes
• Fatigue and weakness
• Chest pain and coughing (lung cancer)
• Moles that are itchy or growing (melanoma)

If you have any of these symptoms or any other unusual symptoms, you should always contact your primary or family health doctor. Be sure to let them know the symptoms to make sure that you’re seen in a timely manner.

When you see your doctor, depending on where the lump is located (and the other symptoms), they’re likely to perform a physical exam. This will help them to assess the size and movement of the growth, which can point to cancer or something else. 

If they have concerns, they may order blood work to assess blood cell count, as well as refer you for a CT scan, an MRI, or an ultrasound. If they suspect melanoma or lymphoma, they’ll also likely refer you for a biopsy.