# When to see a doc about an armpit lump **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-see-a-doc-about-an-armpit-lump/233299 "2004-03-09T14:38:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fox\_Paws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/85e7bf/32.png) [@Fox\_Paws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fox_Paws)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-see-a-doc-about-an-armpit-lump/233299/1 "2004-03-09T14:38:42Z")
I have a lump in my armpit. It’s a fairly new arrival – it will be four days old today. It is roughly marble sized altogether, with about 1/3 to 1/2 sticking up and the rest submerged under the surface. It is reddish in color, but not a raging infection type of red; it’s just a calm, irritated color of red. It doesn’t really hurt, but it is sensitive to touch, and when I outstretch my arm my armpit feels “tight,” for lack of a better descriptive word. Oh, and I have a slight cold right now; just a runny nose, mostly. I’m not looking for a diagnosis or anything. I have read a bit about armpit lumps, and I know the gist of the various benign and not-so-benign possibilities. What I haven’t been able to find – and what I’m hoping you folks can provide – is information about what I should look for to help determine if and when I should see a doctor. For example, should I wait a week, and if it goes away just forget about it? Should I go RIGHT NOW? Should I go or not go based on its appearance? Should I try some home remedies, and if they don’t work then head to the doc’s? In short, what are some rules of thumb I can apply? I don’t want to bother my doctor any more than I have to. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-see-a-doc-about-an-armpit-lump/233299/2 "2004-03-09T15:03:29Z")
IANAD. But I have had a swollen lymph gland under my arm before. Kind of a nagging soreness. I had a strep infection at the time. The lump went away after I finished a course of antibiotics. Are you running a fever? Go to the doctor. You may have an infection that’s turned your immune system up. If the lump doesn’t go away on it’s own within a week, you need to see a doctor. It could be many things, from a little sebaceous cyst to a swollen lymph gland to just about anything. It’s probably nothing but if it doesn’t go away, you need to see a doctor. And I’ve never heard of any home remedies for this. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-see-a-doc-about-an-armpit-lump/233299/3 "2004-03-09T15:05:57Z")
Don’t fuck around with that. Go see a doctor. Make an appointment and get in as soon as is reasonable. Wouldn’t you rather hear from a professional than it’s nothing to worry about? Best of luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-see-a-doc-about-an-armpit-lump/233299/4 "2004-03-09T19:24:00Z")
Hmm, is sounds like you may have something similar to what I had a couple years ago. I wasn’t too worried about it at first, but after a month it grew to the size of a golf ball and hurt like hell. When I went to see the doctor (they cut it open; it was quite messy), they told me that people have died from this. So if it doesn’t get any better, I definitely suggest seeing a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-see-a-doc-about-an-armpit-lump/233299/5 "2004-03-09T19:55:24Z")
I am not a doctor and you should of course go see a health care prof anytime you have concerns such as that. However, one benign possible explanation for the lump is that you’ve developed an allergy to your anti-perspirant. Try switching to deodorant, or to a brand without any ‘aluminum-something’ as an ingredient. I had the same thing, and it cleared up in just a few days. So if you’re obsessing about all the terrible possibilities, you can reassure yourself with this option while you’re waiting for your dr.'s appointment time. ---
**Author:** ![Fox\_Paws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/85e7bf/32.png) [@Fox\_Paws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fox_Paws)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-to-see-a-doc-about-an-armpit-lump/233299/6 "2004-03-10T15:40:58Z")
Well, the good news is I’m not dying. The bad news is I have two different infections battling for supremacy in my body (the lump, and a bi-lateral ear infection). Fun stuff. I’m on antibiotics now and all should be well again within a few days. Thanks, all, for your opinions on this.