A Lump or Swelling

A lump is a localised bump, swelling, or area of fullness that you can feel or see under the skin or just beneath the surface. Lumps vary in size, firmness, and how they feel, and they can appear almost anywhere, including the neck, armpit, groin, breast, or limbs. Most arise from harmless changes in the skin, glands, or underlying tissues.

Lumps are very common, and the great majority are harmless. Swollen glands during an infection, small fluid-filled cysts, and soft fatty lumps are all frequent and usually nothing to worry about. While many lumps are essentially normal tissue changes, you cannot reliably judge a lump yourself, so any new or changing one is worth having examined for reassurance.

Common causes include swollen lymph glands, which often enlarge during infections, as well as cysts, soft fatty lumps under the skin, and swelling from injury or inflammation. Hernias can cause lumps in the abdomen or groin. Less commonly, a lump can be a growth that needs further evaluation, which is why a doctor's assessment is valuable.

Certain features make a lump more worth examining promptly, including one that grows quickly, feels hard, does not move easily under the skin, or has been present and changing for weeks. A lump with skin changes over it, or one accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss or night sweats, also warrants attention. A doctor can interpret these features properly.

A doctor will examine the lump, noting its size, texture, and whether it is tender or movable, and ask how long it has been there and whether it has changed. Depending on the findings, tests such as an ultrasound, other imaging, or a sample of the lump may be arranged. These help confirm what the lump is and guide any treatment.

Many lumps need no treatment beyond reassurance and occasional monitoring, especially harmless ones like swollen glands that settle after an infection. Some, such as cysts or fatty lumps, may be removed if they cause discomfort or for certainty about their nature. When tests identify a specific cause, treatment is directed at that cause.

Most lumps are not emergencies, but seek urgent care if a lump appears suddenly with severe pain, redness, and spreading warmth, suggesting a serious infection, or if a groin or abdominal lump becomes very painful, hard, and cannot be pushed back, which may indicate a trapped hernia. If you feel very unwell with these signs, contact local emergency services.

See a doctor about any lump that is new, is getting bigger, lasts more than a couple of weeks, or changes in any way. Also seek advice if a lump is hard, fixed in place, painless yet growing, or comes with symptoms such as weight loss or night sweats. Most lumps are harmless, but assessment provides certainty.