Lumps and Bumps on Your Body: When You Should Worry

Finding a new lump or bump on your body would give most of us pause. After all, a lump can, in rare cases, mean cancer. But not every bump or lump should cause concern or worry.

The good news is that a majority of these lumps are harmless and not a cause for concern. A number of skin or medical conditions can cause lumps and bumps to appear on the surface or just below the skin.

When not to worry

Lumps that are not a cause for concern have some distinctive characteristics.

One major marker is if you can connect the lump’s appearance to a specific trauma or activity, says orthopedic surgeon Nathan W. Mesko, MD. Athletes of all levels experience the occasional bump as a result of exercise, training, competition or other physical activity.

In that case, we recommend you follow the basic RICE method of rest, ice, compression and elevation,” Dr. Mesko says. “If, over time, the lump or swelling improves, that’s a reassuring sign that it is harmless and nothing to worry about.”

Not-so-serious lumps usually are:

• Soft
• Mobile, meaning it moves and changes form when you touch it
• Located in the superficial or fat layer of skin
• Grow large and painful with activity, and diminish in size with rest

One of the most common conditions that cause lumps, bumps or swelling are cysts. Some common cysts include Baker’s cysts, a fluid-filled bulge that forms behind the knee and ganglion cysts, rounded lumps filled with a jelly-like fluid that develop along tendons and joints.

Other conditions that can cause swelling include tendonitis, enlarged lymph nodes when accompanied by inflammation or infection, or rheumatoid arthritis.

When more investigation is needed

In rare cases, an unexplained lump, bump or swelling can be a sign of a more serious issue beneath the skin.

Bumps that are cancerous are typically large, hard, painless to the touch and appear spontaneously. The mass will grow in size steadily over the weeks and months. Cancerous lumps that can be felt from the outside of your body can appear in the breast, testicle, or neck, but also in the arms and legs.

One type of cancerous lump that can form almost anywhere in the body is called adult soft tissue sarcoma. The soft tissues of the body include the muscles, tendons (the bands of fiber that connect muscles to bones), fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves and the tissues around joints.

“Adult soft tissue sarcoma is a disease in which malignant cells form in the soft tissues of the body,” he says. “In the early stages, it rarely causes symptoms because the tumors often are located deep in the tissue.”

Soft tissue sarcomas can grow to be quite large before causing symptoms because they often are embedded deep in the body.

Most commonly, soft tissue sarcomas feel like masses or bumps, which may be painful. If the tumor is in the abdomen, it may produce nausea or a sensation of fullness as well as pain, he says.

It’s important to talk with your doctor about any lumps that are larger than two inches (about the size of a golf ball), grow larger, or are painful regardless of their location.

What Does a Breast Cancer Lump Feel Like?

Although breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women, most breast lumps are not cancer. In fact, more than 80 percent of them end up being benign. But can a woman tell if a lump is cancer by the way it feels?

While the majority of lumps are benign, experts at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers say it is important for women to speak with their doctor if they notice changes to their breasts.

In general, cancerous lumps tend to be more irregular in shape. They may also feel firm or solid, and might be fixed to the tissue in the breast. They are also often painless. However, in a small percentage of women, a painful breast lump turns out to be cancer.

Cysts, which are fluid-filled lumps, are common in the breast and are benign. They form when fluid builds up inside breast glands, and tend to be smooth or round. Fibroadenomas, which are benign tumors made up of glandular and connective breast tissue, are usually smooth and firm or rubbery to the touch. Both of these conditions tend to affect younger women; fibroadenomas are most common in women in their 20s and 30s, and cysts are most common in women under 40.

Despite these common descriptions, it is impossible to tell by touch whether a lump is cancer.

“The key point is that a woman should seek medical attention for any concerning lumps in her breasts,” says Harold Burstein, MD, PhD, a breast oncologist with the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber. “Simple imaging techniques such as a mammogram or breast ultrasound can usually provide reassurance that the breast lump is benign, and if necessary, a breast MRI or biopsy can be used to evaluate whether the lump is cancerous.”

How To Tell If A Lump Might Be Cancerous

Thyroid nodules

How they feel Hard, and they don't hurt or move. You would find one in the lower half of the neck.

Why they pop up The cause of thyroid nodules is not known. After verifying that yours is benign, your M.D. might simply monitor you. If you have additional thyroid symptoms, however, treating the underlying disorder with medication or with radioactive iodine can shrink the lump.

Cysts

How they feel Like a soft grape. They are often tender to the touch. These fluid-filled sacs are common in breasts and the genital area.

Why they pop up Breast cysts tend to wax and wane with your cycle; if you have one that persists longer than a month, request an ultrasound or a fine-needle aspiration. Should you find a soft genital bump, it's likely that a blocked oil duct has caused an epidermoid cyst, says Anita Shivadas, M.D., an internist at the Cleveland Clinic. If it is sensitive, apply warm, moist compresses and antibiotic cream. No pain? Leave it alone.

Lipomas

How they feel Like a squishy ball of tissue that moves easily. These fat deposits show up mostly on the legs, trunk and arms, explains Eileen S. Moore, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Why they pop up Lipomas tend to run in families. Unless they are painful or impinge on a nerve or blood vessel, your M.D. can keep an eye on them; otherwise, they can be surgically removed.

Fibroadenomas

How they feel Similar to a smooth, rubbery ball that moves easily within the breast tissue.

Why they pop up The cause is not known, but they are particularly common in women in their 20s and 30s. Your doctor might immediately suggest a biopsy or a fine-needle aspiration to confirm the diagnosis. Afterward, most can be left as is. But if a fibroadenoma is large or happens to make you feel anxious, your doctor can remove it.

Swollen lymph nodes

How they feel Soft, rubbery, movable and sometimes tender. You have lymph nodes in your armpits and neck (especially under your jaw, behind your ears and at the base of your skull), as well as in the groin.

Why they pop up Swollen nodes are usually due to a bacterial or viral infection. The swelling should subside within three weeks of kicking the bug, Dr. Shivadas says. If it doesn't, call your doctor for a quick check.

Ganglion cysts

How they feel Firm or slightly spongy. These painless, immovable cysts can form on the top of the foot, the top of the wrist and the back of the hand. They can be as small as a pea or as large as a plum.

Why they pop up Ganglia tend to develop after an injury. They contain synovial fluid, which lubricates tendons and joints. If yours isn't causing discomfort, it can often be ignored and may disappear. Ganglia that limit movement or cause numbness, however, should be drained or removed.

When to see a doctor fast

There's no easy way to tell if a lump is cancerous from the outside, but there are some red flags, Dr. Shivadas says. If you experience any of the following, make an appointment pronto:

• A hard, immovable lump that isn't tender
• Any bump in the breast or genital area that persists longer than a few weeks
• A growth that seems to be enlarging rapidly