Lymphoma Forum - Swollen lump and Lymphadenitis or cancer

I have a lump under my armpit that is swollen. It is sore to the touch and it acts up a lot more around the time of my period and gets even more swollen. Clothes sort of bother it when rubbing on it. Should I be worried about this, I have read a lot about cancer but heard that if it was it would not be sore.

Replies(1)

Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD

replied on March 19th, 2008

Lymphoma Answer A3808

A swollen lump under the armpit could be due to some disease located in the skin or under the skin. A possible cause, located IN the skin, could be an inflamed hair root (furunculus) or an inflamed sebaceal gland (atheroma). Both conditions are painful to the touch.

Another possible cause, located under the skin, is an inflamed lymph node (lymphadenitis). Lymphadenitis under the armpit is usually caused by some infection on the arm or breast. Lymphadenitis is also painful.

Many types of tumors or metastases in the lymph nodes look like lumps but they are not painful.

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