Should You Worry About a Lump?

Probably not, but it is worth a look. Most lumps people find are not cancer. Common causes include cysts, swollen lymph nodes, and harmless fatty lumps called lipomas. A lump that is hard, painless, growing, or does not go away after a few weeks is more worth checking.

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac under the skin. It is usually soft, movable, and harmless. A lipoma is a soft, movable lump of fatty tissue, also not cancer. Swollen lymph nodes, the small glands that help fight infection, often show up in the neck, underarm, or groin during a cold or a skin infection nearby. These usually shrink back down within a couple of weeks as you recover.

A lump that feels hard and does not move easily under your skin is more concerning than one that is soft and slides around. A painless lump deserves attention too. This can be counterintuitive, since a painful lump feels more urgent, but pain often points to inflammation or infection, while many cancers grow without causing pain at first. A lump that keeps growing over weeks, rather than staying the same size or shrinking, is another signal worth acting on. Any lump that lasts more than a few weeks with no clear explanation should be shown to a doctor, even if none of these other features are present.

Your doctor examines the lump's size, texture, and how easily it moves. They ask how long it has been there and whether it has changed. For many lumps, a physical exam and a short observation period are enough. If there is any uncertainty, an ultrasound is often the first imaging test, since it is quick and shows whether a lump is solid or fluid-filled. A solid lump that raises concern usually leads to a biopsy: removing a small sample of tissue, or sometimes the whole lump, to check under a microscope. The National Cancer Institute says the pathologist usually sends the report to your doctor within 10 days of the biopsy or surgery.

If your doctor thinks a lump is likely from a recent infection, they may reasonably suggest watching it for two to four weeks rather than testing right away. This is a standard, safe approach, not a delay in your care. If the lump has not changed or gone away by your follow-up, further testing usually follows at that point.

An ultrasound that looks reassuring rules out many worries, especially for a fluid-filled cyst. It is less definitive for every solid lump. If a lump remains after your follow-up, or starts changing, say so rather than assuming the first look settled things for good.

• Call 911 or go to an emergency department if a lump in the neck or throat is making it hard to breathe or swallow, or a lump swells rapidly and the skin over it turns hot and red while you feel unwell.
• Call your care team the same day if the lump is growing visibly week to week, or the skin above it dimples, puckers, or breaks open.
• Call your care team within a day or two if a lump has stayed put for more than a few weeks, feels hard and anchored rather than slippery, or has weight loss, drenching sweats, or a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher alongside it.

• Here is where the lump is and how it feels [describe] — should it be checked?
• Could this be a cyst, swollen gland, or fatty lump?
• Does it need a scan or a biopsy, or can we watch it?
• How long should I wait to see if it settles?

• American Cancer Society — Signs and Symptoms of Cancer
• National Cancer Institute — Cancer Diagnosis
• National Cancer Institute — Pathology Reports