Puffy aching armpit
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Puffy aching armpit

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Puffy aching armpit

  • Post
    • May 11, 2017 at 4:35 pm
    Remi
    Participant

    Hi, I just wanted to share my worries with you to see if anybody else has experienced this or if it's just health anxiety. 

    I had invasive melanoma removed from the very top of my left arm 3 years ago which was in vertical growth phase so I was told that I had 5% chance of reccurrence (I know that very good and I'm grateful).  I was told I had to have check ups qtrly for 2 years however I stopped after 1 year. (could be something to do with having insurance at the begining but then losing my job with the stress.  They are not as keen to see you once your not paying) I am in Jersey Channel Islands. 

    For months now, maybe even a year, I keep aching in that armpit and when I lift my arms above my head the left arm pit looks lumpy compared to the right.  

    I showed this to a doctor and she she just asked my to raise my arms and said "oh yeah it does look puffier than ther one but in the best of faith I would say its probably ok" and that was it!  Im not freaking out about it or anything but it's on my mind. 

    I am not sure how a lump in the armpit would look or feel.  If I run my hand over it with my arm up its lumps but I put my arm down and I can't feel any. 

    Can anybody offer advise?  Thank you in advance x 

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  • Replies
      • May 11, 2017 at 7:52 pm
      BrianP
      Participant

      Remi,

      I don't want to sound like an alarmist but you really need to get this checked out further.  My story goes like this.  In 2006 I had a relatively thin melanoma removed from my left upper chest (.91mm).  Following the excision I had regular derm checkups every 6 months.  In 2011 I felt some discomfort around my left lat/pectoral muscle.  Thought maybe I had pulled something.  After a few days of this I was standing infront of the mirror and raised up both arms and it was clearly obvious my left armpit was more "puffy".  It turned out to be melanoma in two of the lymph nodes in my left armpit.  I personally could never really make out the two nodes and one of them was about 4 cm. 

      With your history I think your doctor's response is pretty careless.  I would insist further examination.  Based on your history I think a CT or ultrasound is justified. 

      Hope it's nothing but I really think you should check it out further.

      Brian

      • May 11, 2017 at 11:22 pm
      Ridingaroundwith27Jennifers
      Participant

      I think if you should have this checked out by another Dr.  I had a dermatologist tell me I had nothing to worry about after having a resection ten years prior and it turned out I had stage IV metastatic disease.  I'm not telling you to worry you but so that you don't end up with a similar story.  Better to have two doctors tell you it's nothing than to have one be wrong.

      • May 11, 2017 at 11:54 pm
      lindanat
      Participant

      Hi Remi,  I would definitely get this checked out.  I had a lump under my right armpit which quickly grew into more of a mass.  After finally getting to the right set of docs, the biopsy was "highly suspicious for metastatic malignant melamona"  Get this, though, much of the mass was blood so the initlal diagnosis was a "hematoma" – a smart doc who did a followup biopsy was concerned about the underlying cells and, sure enough, he was right.  The mass was removed and stage 4 diagnosis was determined.  The melanoma spread rapidly to my lungs and my adrenal gland.  The good news:  I have been in treatment since Nov. 2016 and so far the "spread" has reduced dramatically and there has been no additional spread.  I know it sounds scary – but I would defnitely get your primary doc to refer you for a biopsy and find out what is happening.  Better safe that sorry (and worrying).  Let me know if I can further help!

      Linda

      • May 12, 2017 at 12:02 am
      cancersnewnormal
      Participant

      I don't want to sound overly dramatic, but it sounds as though someone (family doc, nurse, dermatologist… pick your medical professional) needs to order scans, blood labs, a biopsy… some form of testing to rule OUT the fact that this may be spread of melanoma that you were already confirmed to have. I had a stage 1a removed from my RIGHT shoulder in 2007. Skin checks every 6 months with primary care doc and nothing alarming showed up. Healthy as a horse, riding my bike 225 miles each week. Jump ahead to November 2012… I crashed my bike and ended up in the ER with a naaaasty road rash on my LEFT side. ER doc suggested I have a tetnus shot, since I couldn't last recall when I'd had a booster. The left side of me was missing most of the skin, so I offered up the RIGHT arm for the shot. The next day, my RIGHT armpit was swollen and painful… doughy… like pushing on unbaked bread dough. My primary care doc was out of town, so I had his brother (also a general practitioner) look at it, along with a physician's assistant from my cycling club. Both gents told me to take some anti-inflammatories and I'd be fine in a few days. They were right. I was… or so we thought. Skin healed, back on the bike, the world was lovely. Jump ahead 5 months… April 2013… I had a gran mal seizure at work. Trip to the ER… CT… MRI… 3 brain lesions and a golf ball size tumor in my RIGHT lung (along with a few smaller ones as well). Your lymph nodes are telling you something is wrong. It may very well be some benign infection that you can clear up with antibiotics. It may be something that resolves on its own. Buuuuuut… the alternative, given your melanoma history (not to mention on that same side)… well… it's not good. Please get checked, and rule out the most frightening possibility. You're better off over reacting than thinking everything is juuuuust fine, when it really may not be. 

      • May 12, 2017 at 5:44 am
      Remi
      Participant

      Thank you for your replies.  I'm sorry to hear your stories.  

      I am going to move GP surgery as so many people I speak to are unhappy with them.  I always had doctors on a peddlestall but I now realise that they are human and therefore you get kind ones, horrible ones, smart ones, lazy ones …….

      I was so annoyed at that visit with this woman, I didn't know whether I was going to cry or punch her.  Luckily (for her) I cried.  I had actually gone for the pain in my hip which had got so bad over the last year, Im walking like my mum who's 83! I had had an xray and was going back the results which just showed osteoarthrits in both hips, mild in right, moderate in left.  I was going back for the results and she was horrid to me from walking in.  First asked why I was there, I said because I had a phone call to come in and discuss my results.  She said "I haven't even seem them".  I said another doctor called me yesterday and said due to my history I should come in and discuss it with her.  She read the results stating OA in both hips to me then said "what do you want me to do about it" .  I said well your the doctor what can I do? its stopping me sleeping and im in pain everyday/night.  "take some painkillers" she said,  "what everyday?" I said? "if you need to you yes!" she said.  Then I told her about my puffy armpit.  pointless.  She is a horrid, horrid doctor.  I did eventually get to see orthopeadics and he said my pain wasnt even the OA is was greater trochanteric burstis so he gave me a steroid injection which sorted it out.  I had to argue to get that appointment as she was adamant she was right.

      Anyway I have waffled a bit there and gone off on a tangent! I just get annoyed/confused as when I was discharged I was told to be really vigilant and to check that armpit every month and my skin, then when I do think there is a change nobody will look at it. 

      I will register with a new practice next week and get it checked out. 

      Thank you for taking the tme to reply, and I wish you all well with your treatment x x x

        • May 12, 2017 at 12:33 pm
        Ridingaroundwith27Jennifers
        Participant

        I'm so sorry to hear how you were treated.  I had a similar experience with my dermatologist and have been sure to give his name and his dismisal of my concerns to every doctor I see.  They are all surprised and then a bit upset as he completely refused to address my cancer at a point where it was obvious that I needed help.  Luckily for me my GP is great and very supportive and helped me get to the oncologist and get the care I needed.  I hope your new GP is wonderful and if not then please keep looking.  You deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.  You are there for help not more stress.

        • May 12, 2017 at 7:12 pm
        Remi
        Participant
        I live on island 9 x 5 miles so specialists are rare!
        • May 12, 2017 at 8:01 pm
        cancersnewnormal
        Participant

        Oh my gosh… I'd have wanted to punch her in the face too! You are tooootally right with "kind ones, horrible ones, smart ones, lazy ones". Happy to hear that you have other options. Only ONCE did I have a doctor (also a woman… what's with these ladies?) behave so rudely. Needless to say, she has never been seen again. I understand they are human and can have bad days… but wow… I think some of them need a reminder that they are in a chosen work field of what SHOULD be compassionate care. Hell… even radio dj's and television news folks have to set emotions and "bad days" aside when they walk into the workplace!

      • May 12, 2017 at 3:52 pm
      suekal
      Participant

      Remi:  Is there a way that I can respond to you privately?  I just created my account and would like to ask you some questions.  My situation is very similar to yours.

      Susan K

        • May 12, 2017 at 6:51 pm
        Remi
        Participant
        Of course you can email me lisagee73@outlook.com
        • May 12, 2017 at 6:58 pm
        Remi
        Participant
        If you email me I will email you back with my facebook id to chat on messenger
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