Paranoia

[ursulav]

There’s a small painful lump in my left armpit and I THINK it’s a clogged pore because I don’t think you get cancer overnight but maybe it’s been there forever and it just started hurting today except it hurts exactly like a zit but maybe that’s what cancer hurts like I don’t know so I am alternating between trying to pop it and telling myself it

Comments

[terrykun]

Try massaging it with a hot compress. If it is a clogged pore, that should help bring some of the mass to the surface. If nothing happens, probably not a clogged pore.

Offhand analysis from dealing with years of foster rats' abscesses, and learning to differentiate them from tumors, so make of that what you will.

Good luck!

[anonymous]

*hugs*

That happened to me, but on the lip of my labia*. I was convinced it was either cancer or some sort of STD. It turned out to be a spot. I'd give it 3 days and see what it does, and then go and see someone about it if it hasn't become Obviously a Spot.

* I know etymologically that's a horrid sentence.

[highlyeccentric]

Aaaargh labial zits are the worst. THE WORST.

[contradictacat]

Rivaled only by zits/cysts right where your butt meets your crotch. GOD, those suck.

[gwalla]

Gah. I didn't even know you could get zits on your taint.

Inside-of-the-thigh zits are bad enough. The chafing...my god, the chafing...

[saffronhare]

I had something like what you're describing a few years ago. It was diagnosed as a very unremarkable cyst; I went on some antibiotics and steroids to dry it out. Worst part was I couldn't shave my pits for a couple of weeks. I hope you can go it checked out soon and receive similar reassurance. :)

[la_chica_08]

A few years ago I noticed a lump on my hip, I thought it was a pimple or bug bite maybe (it really hurt though) and then woke up the next morning with it tripled in size and throbbing. Turns out I had a staph infection and it got to be the size of a orange before I managed to get it lanced (actually I had my boyfriend cut it open...I was in so much pain I didn't care I just wanted it opened, instant relief)

but if it is that, make sure you take the antibiotics religiously because a few months later I got another abscess in my armpit. And another round of even stronger antibiotics...

[miz_hatbox]

For the love of fuzzy ducklings, don't squeeze it! Let's just say I learned that the hard way.

Warm compresses are great. Soak it in a hot bath... a pitz bath if you will. :-)

[lantairvlea]

Because you don't want it to rupture internally, even if it is just a cyst or blocked pore! Also learned the hard way ...