Nurse Practitioner Questions

I have a lump in my armpit

I have a lump in my armpit that I have had for a few months, it’s not painful and seems to have shrunk after it was leaking fluid, I’m scared it’s cancer, there’s no lump in my breast but my left nipple (the side of the armpit where the lump is) is a brighter pink than the right one and is flakey

Female | 18 years old

6 Answers

Hello, I advise you see your PCP in office to further assess. Or a dermatologist. All the best. Thank you.
Hi, It sounds like you should see a provider in person to evaluate the lump you have noticed. I personally see my clients virtually so would not be able to evaluate your lump in the manner it needs, so I recommend reaching out to someone else that is a Primary Care Provider, or you can go to an urgent care or the Emergency Department for more immediate assessment and intervention. For health emergencies, call 911. Warmly, Christine
Thank you for your response. I recommend follow-up in clinic as you may require an ultrasound. This can simply be a cyst or an abscess. Continue with monthly breast examinations.
I would request an ultrasound of the breast. At your age this is more useful than a mammogram due to denser breast tissue. It could just be a cyst but it could be more serious. I would also ask about a needle aspiration of the lump. The flaking of the nipple is concerning. If you don't have a gynecologist or pcp you could go to an urgent care.
This needs to be evaluated in person by a practitioner as it could be any number of things, including an abscess that needs to be drained,
Thank you for your question. I love to be of help in providing you the answers you need but my area of specialty is psychiatry. I will encourage you to see your PCP to look into the matter.