Finding a new lump or bump on your body can be concerning. While many lumps are harmless, some may indicate cancer. Telling the difference between a cancerous lump and a benign lump based on appearance alone can be difficult, but there are some key differences to look for.
What is a lump?
A lump is simply an abnormal mass or swelling that forms under the skin or in the tissues beneath the skin. Lumps can form on any part of the body. They may feel soft or firm to the touch, and some are painful while others are not.
Some of the most common types of lumps include:
- Lipomas – benign fatty tumors that feel soft and movable under the skin
- Cysts – fluid-filled sacs that often feel smooth and rounded
- Warts – rough, rounded skin growths caused by HPV
- Abscesses – collections of pus that feel tender and warm
- Ganglion cysts – benign bumps filled with gelatinous fluid, often on wrists or hands
While most lumps are noncancerous (benign), some may be cancerous tumors. Cancerous lumps form when abnormal cells divide and grow out of control.
What are the most common cancerous lumps?
Some of the most common types of cancerous lumps include:
- Breast cancer lumps – Most often found in the breast or armpit area in women. May feel firm, irregularly-shaped, and painless.
- Skin cancer lumps – Most often found on sun-exposed areas like the face, neck, and arms. Vary in appearance but often dome-shaped.
- Lymphoma lumps – Can develop anywhere in the body, often feeling rubbery and movable under the skin.
- Testicular cancer lumps – Hard, painless lumps on the testicles most common in young men.
- Thyroid cancer lumps – Often feel like nodules or swollen glands in the neck area.
Differences between cancerous and non-cancerous lumps
There are some general differences between cancerous and benign lumps:
| Cancerous lumps | Benign lumps |
|---|---|
| Typically painless | Can be painful or painless |
| Do not fluctuate in size | Size may fluctuate |
| Continue to grow | Growth stabilizes after forming |
| Often firmly fixed in place | Often movable under skin |
| May have irregular borders and shape | Usually more rounded and smooth |
However, the characteristics of an individual lump can vary. Some key warning signs of cancer to look out for include:
- A lump that is painless, hard, irregularly shaped, and continues to grow
- A lump that feels tightly fixed deep below the skin rather than movable
- Changes to the skin overlying the lump, like thickening, dimpling, or puckering
- Discharge or bleeding from a lump
- A lump that forms again after surgical removal
When to see a doctor
You should make an appointment to see your doctor if you notice any new lump that:
- Is larger than 1 cm (about the size of a pea)
- Does not go away after a month or two
- Is growing larger or changing shape
- Feels hard or firmly fixed in place
- Causes pain, tingling, or burning sensations
- Causes skin changes like dimpling, redness, scaling, or discharge
While most lumps will be benign, it’s always best to get them properly evaluated. Your doctor will take your full medical history and perform a physical exam. They may recommend additional testing like an ultrasound, CT scan, or biopsy to determine if the lump is cancerous.
Breast lumps
Distinguishing a breast cancer lump from a benign breast lump can be challenging. According to the American Cancer Society, most breast lumps are caused by benign breast conditions rather than cancer. Here are some key things to know:
- Benign lumps are often movable, rubbery, firm, or softly rounded. They tend to be located in the upper outer quadrants of the breast.
- Cancerous breast lumps feel differently than the surrounding tissue – they are often hard, unevenly shaped, fixed in place, and found in the upper inner breast.
- Breast cancer lumps are often completely painless, but benign lumps may be painful.
- Both benign and cancerous lumps can cause skin puckering or dimpling.
- Benign breast lumps are most common in younger women, while cancer rises with age.
Your doctor will perform a careful breast exam to assess any new lumps. They may order breast imaging including mammograms, ultrasounds, or MRIs. A biopsy can confirm whether a suspicious breast lump is cancer.
Common types of benign breast lumps
Some specific types of benign breast lumps include:
- Fibroadenomas – Rubbery, movable lumps made of fibrous and glandular tissue. Most common in young women.
- Cysts – Fluid-filled round lumps that tend to be smooth, firm and movable. Can be painful.
- Fat necrosis – Lumps formed by damaged fatty breast tissue, often tender and round.
- Adenomas – Small, rubbery lumps formed from gland tissue. Usually not painful.
When to see a doctor for a breast lump
Any new breast lump warrants a prompt medical evaluation. See your doctor right away if you notice any breast lump with the following features:
- Larger than 1 cm
- Hard, irregularly shaped, or immobile
- Persistent over several menstrual cycles for women
- Growing larger or changing
- Associated skin changes
- Causing nipple discharge
Breast lumps in men should also be evaluated quickly. Male breast cancer is rare but can occur.
Testicular lumps
Lumps in the testicles are a concern for testicular cancer. Testicular cancer most often develops as a hard, painless lump in a testicle. Features that can distinguish testicular cancer from other testicular lumps include:
- Painless, rock hard lump on a testicle
- Lump does not transilluminate (shine light through it)
- Lack of redness or warmth indicating infection
- Enlarged or swollen testicle
- Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
Conversely, benign testicular conditions like hydroceles or varicoceles often cause testicular lumps or swelling accompanied by pain and discomfort. They may be soft, movable lumps that transilluminate.
Any testicular lump or abnormality should prompt an urgent doctor’s visit. Your doctor will perform a testicular exam to assess the lump. Scrotal ultrasounds and blood tests like AFP and hCG can aid diagnosis. Testicular lumps may require surgical biopsy.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor right away for any testicular lump, especially if you notice:
- A hard, painless lump on a testicle
- Swelling or enlargement of a testicle
- A dull ache or feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
- Changes like redness, hardening, or asymmetry of the scrotum
Getting an early diagnosis offers the best chance for successful treatment of testicular cancer. Most testicular lumps will be benign growths, but it’s essential to get checked out.
Skin lumps
Distinguishing a skin cancer lump from a benign skin growth can be challenging. The ABCDE criteria can help identify the warning signs of a cancerous mole or lump:
Asymmetry – One half looks different from the other half.
Borders – The edges are uneven, ragged, blurred, or irregular.
Color – Shades of black, brown, and tan. Can also be reddish, white, or blue.
Diameter – Larger than 6mm or about the size of a pencil eraser.
Evolving – Changes in size, shape, surface, shades of color, or symptoms like itching or bleeding.
Seborrheic keratoses are common benign skin lumps that can be mistaken for melanoma. However, they tend to have smooth, well-defined borders and uniform coloring. They don’t display warning signs like changing size or bleeding.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor promptly if you notice any unusual skin lumps with the ABCDE features. Also watch out for lumps that:
- Appear suddenly or are rapidly changing
- Bleed, ooze, or crust
- Itch, hurt, or become tender
- Have an uneven or raised surface
Your doctor can examine suspicious moles and lumps. They may recommend a biopsy to check tissue samples for cancer cells.
When to seek emergency care
In some cases, you should seek emergency medical care for lumps:
- Large lumps that appear suddenly and severely restrict breathing or swallowing
- Lumps accompanied by severe unexplained pain
- Bleeding lumps that cannot be stopped with direct pressure
- Testicular lumps with sudden, severe swelling or pain
- Head or neck lumps that develop with numbness, weakness, vision changes, or difficulty speaking
Rapidly growing lumps that impede vital functions require emergency assessment to rule out dangerous causes like cancer or infection.
Diagnosing lumps
Doctors use a variety of techniques to evaluate lumps, determine if they are cancerous, and diagnose their cause. Diagnostic approaches include:
- Medical history – Discussing your symptoms, risk factors, and health history.
- Physical exam – Palpating the lump size, texture, mobility, and appearance.
- Imaging tests – Mammograms, MRIs, ultrasounds, CT scans, PET scans, etc.
- Biopsy – Removing tissue samples to examine cells under a microscope.
- Blood tests – Testing blood for indicators of cancer like tumor markers or hormones.
These approaches help doctors determine whether a lump is potentially cancerous and if further treatment or removal is needed.
Treatment options for lumps
Treatment depends on the type of lump and whether it’s benign or cancerous:
- Benign lumps – Often only require monitoring or draining fluid/removing tissue. No further treatment if they are stable.
- Cancerous lumps – Treated with surgical removal, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or other cancer therapies.
Some common lump treatments include:
- Surgical lumpectomy or excision
- Cryosurgery freezing
- Steroid injections for inflammation
- Antibiotics for infections
- Hormone therapy for certain cancers
- Targeted cancer therapy drugs
Early treatment is key for cancerous lumps. Noncancerous lumps may simply be monitored or removed if troublesome.
Preventing harmful lumps
While many lumps form unpredictably, you can take some steps to lower your risks:
- Practice monthly self-exams to detect testicular, breast, and skin changes early.
- Get lumps evaluated promptly to diagnose any cancers at initial stages.
- Follow cancer screening guidelines for your age like mammograms.
- Reduce skin cancer risk by limiting UV exposure and using sunscreen.
- Maintain a healthy body weight to lower risks for some cancers.
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol which increase cancer risks.
Remaining vigilant about your health and knowing your body can help spot any abnormal lumps.
Conclusion
Lumps and bumps under the skin are very common, but some may indicate a serious underlying condition like cancer. Pay attention to the specific characteristics and changes of any lumps you find. Seek prompt medical evaluation, especially if a lump is enlarging, immobile, painless, or displays other red flag signs. Tests like imaging scans and biopsies can determine whether a concerning lump is benign or malignant. Early detection and treatment provide the best odds of cure for cancerous lumps. Work with your doctor to quickly diagnose the cause of any lumps and get appropriate care.