› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Pain in armpit but no lump – should I be concerned?
- This topic has 18 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 2 months ago by
Janner.
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- March 6, 2016 at 8:49 pm
Hi everyone,
So, last week I noticed some pain (no lumps) in my left armpit. My thin, stage 1A melanoma was removed 7.5 months ago about 2 weeks before I delivery a baby girl. The melanoma was on the left slide of my torso below by left breast. This past month I have had strep which I got from my two school age kids (and treated with a shot of penicillin and oral steroids in an ER) along with contracting some kind of short lived stomach bug which felt like flu about 2 weeks ago which everyone in the house got (I think it was Norovirus).
Anyway, this pain in my armpit has been there about a week. In one sense I am trying to suppress the worry because I am feeling like I am a hypochondriac where the 'what if's" are creeping into my subconcious . I did read a side affect of penicillin can be inflammation of lympth nodes and I know only a doctor can confirm. I am also exclusively breastfeeding the baby which I have been told is safe (but then again the jury is out on that too but the baby refuses the bottle so it has me between a rock and a hard place).
Next month I already have an appointment made to speak with a genetic counselor at an oncology clinic locally. We live in Hampton Roads which does not appear to have any melanoma speciality clinics nearby – and I have family in Maryland. A friend has strongly recommended I go to a specialist in melanoma such as Johns Hopkins to get evaluated.
So for those expereinced, might you be able to provide some suggestions? I'm a bit concerned due to the recent article published about how melanoma diagnosed in pregnancy or within a year of it has been found to be more aggressive then those found outside of pregnancy or a year of.
Long term – without the armpit pain being a factor, would it be too much of a stretch to go to Johns Hopkins to get a second opinion at this stage or should I wait?
I asked my dermatologist this question and she suggested I wait to find out if it metatisizes before I pick a speciality clinic since many clinics specialize in one specific kind of melanoma / clinical trials. I do not know if this is true.
Might anyone be able to recommend my next course of action concerning the armpit? (call the PCP or dermotologist or just wait and see)?
Thanks,
Ashley
- Replies
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- March 7, 2016 at 1:59 am
Hey Ashley,
Sorry for this added stress in your life. It is hard not to be a hypochondriac with this disease. I've heard in "general" melanoma in the lymph nodes does not hurt. I know that was the case with the melanoma in my armpit lymph nodes. I remember speaking with my GP after the swelling in my armpit was confirmed to be melanoma and he said one of the things that concerned him and moved him to request more test was the fact that I said it didn't hurt. Having said that, I think my own personal limit would be about two weeks before my hypochondriacism would move me to get it looked at.
I wouldn't hesitate to go to J.H. for second opinions. That's a great place. There's a doctor there by the name of Evan Lipson (sp?) that I've heard wonderful things about. I also wouldn't hesitate to go over to UVA. It's probably only about 3 hour drive for you. Dr. Slingluff is wonderful and a very respected immonutherapist. I also saw Dr. Gaughan. She is young but very bright with a great bedside manor. I never saw Dr. Grosh but I've heard wonderful things about him as well. UVA is no Hopkins, MDA, or MSK but it really does have a pretty strong melanoma department.
One benefit to going to other places even when your back isn't up against the wall is that it gets your foot in the door and down the road if your back is up against the wall it can really speed up the process of getting in and seeing doctors right away. I can't over emphasize that enough.
Good luck. Hopefully you just have an enflamed lymph node. With all the infections you've had recently that certainly seems plausible.
Brian
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- March 7, 2016 at 1:59 am
Hey Ashley,
Sorry for this added stress in your life. It is hard not to be a hypochondriac with this disease. I've heard in "general" melanoma in the lymph nodes does not hurt. I know that was the case with the melanoma in my armpit lymph nodes. I remember speaking with my GP after the swelling in my armpit was confirmed to be melanoma and he said one of the things that concerned him and moved him to request more test was the fact that I said it didn't hurt. Having said that, I think my own personal limit would be about two weeks before my hypochondriacism would move me to get it looked at.
I wouldn't hesitate to go to J.H. for second opinions. That's a great place. There's a doctor there by the name of Evan Lipson (sp?) that I've heard wonderful things about. I also wouldn't hesitate to go over to UVA. It's probably only about 3 hour drive for you. Dr. Slingluff is wonderful and a very respected immonutherapist. I also saw Dr. Gaughan. She is young but very bright with a great bedside manor. I never saw Dr. Grosh but I've heard wonderful things about him as well. UVA is no Hopkins, MDA, or MSK but it really does have a pretty strong melanoma department.
One benefit to going to other places even when your back isn't up against the wall is that it gets your foot in the door and down the road if your back is up against the wall it can really speed up the process of getting in and seeing doctors right away. I can't over emphasize that enough.
Good luck. Hopefully you just have an enflamed lymph node. With all the infections you've had recently that certainly seems plausible.
Brian
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- March 7, 2016 at 3:55 pm
If your lymph node is inflamed it will definitely be sore and hurt a little. Any time I get sick, the lymph nodes in my neck get swollen and they get very sore. I think what Brian was saying is that if your lymph node is inflamed and does not hurt then it could be melanoma related based on what he has experienced. I think you’re probably dealing with your lymph nodes being inflamed from recent infections and they will stop, it just takes time. I had a viral infection a few weeks ago and all the nodes in my neck were inflamed and it hurt to just move my head side to side, took about 2 weeks for them to totally go back to normal.All the best,
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- March 7, 2016 at 3:55 pm
If your lymph node is inflamed it will definitely be sore and hurt a little. Any time I get sick, the lymph nodes in my neck get swollen and they get very sore. I think what Brian was saying is that if your lymph node is inflamed and does not hurt then it could be melanoma related based on what he has experienced. I think you’re probably dealing with your lymph nodes being inflamed from recent infections and they will stop, it just takes time. I had a viral infection a few weeks ago and all the nodes in my neck were inflamed and it hurt to just move my head side to side, took about 2 weeks for them to totally go back to normal.All the best,
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- March 8, 2016 at 1:22 am
Exactly. If you think about it, the inflamed node is doing what it should – reacting to presence of your infection. Melanoma is actually taking over the lymph node and removing its functionality. Certainly, if the melanoma node gets large enough, it may cause pain and impinge on other things. But IN GENERAL, pain is considered more related to infection and no pain with enlargement might be more related to cancer. So in generalization, pain is a good thing. Your recent history supports this. But as always, it is best to talk to your doc!
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- March 8, 2016 at 1:22 am
Exactly. If you think about it, the inflamed node is doing what it should – reacting to presence of your infection. Melanoma is actually taking over the lymph node and removing its functionality. Certainly, if the melanoma node gets large enough, it may cause pain and impinge on other things. But IN GENERAL, pain is considered more related to infection and no pain with enlargement might be more related to cancer. So in generalization, pain is a good thing. Your recent history supports this. But as always, it is best to talk to your doc!
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- March 8, 2016 at 1:22 am
Exactly. If you think about it, the inflamed node is doing what it should – reacting to presence of your infection. Melanoma is actually taking over the lymph node and removing its functionality. Certainly, if the melanoma node gets large enough, it may cause pain and impinge on other things. But IN GENERAL, pain is considered more related to infection and no pain with enlargement might be more related to cancer. So in generalization, pain is a good thing. Your recent history supports this. But as always, it is best to talk to your doc!
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- March 7, 2016 at 3:55 pm
If your lymph node is inflamed it will definitely be sore and hurt a little. Any time I get sick, the lymph nodes in my neck get swollen and they get very sore. I think what Brian was saying is that if your lymph node is inflamed and does not hurt then it could be melanoma related based on what he has experienced. I think you’re probably dealing with your lymph nodes being inflamed from recent infections and they will stop, it just takes time. I had a viral infection a few weeks ago and all the nodes in my neck were inflamed and it hurt to just move my head side to side, took about 2 weeks for them to totally go back to normal.All the best,
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- March 7, 2016 at 2:45 pm
I agree with everything Brian said… Dr. Slingluff is wonderful and for a stage 1-3 person he's VERY knowledgeable. Dr. Gaughhan was a wonderful oncologist that stood by my husband and allowed him to try every option possible. I was happy with the care Adam received from UVA.
Emily
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- March 7, 2016 at 2:45 pm
I agree with everything Brian said… Dr. Slingluff is wonderful and for a stage 1-3 person he's VERY knowledgeable. Dr. Gaughhan was a wonderful oncologist that stood by my husband and allowed him to try every option possible. I was happy with the care Adam received from UVA.
Emily
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- March 7, 2016 at 2:45 pm
I agree with everything Brian said… Dr. Slingluff is wonderful and for a stage 1-3 person he's VERY knowledgeable. Dr. Gaughhan was a wonderful oncologist that stood by my husband and allowed him to try every option possible. I was happy with the care Adam received from UVA.
Emily
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- March 7, 2016 at 1:59 am
Hey Ashley,
Sorry for this added stress in your life. It is hard not to be a hypochondriac with this disease. I've heard in "general" melanoma in the lymph nodes does not hurt. I know that was the case with the melanoma in my armpit lymph nodes. I remember speaking with my GP after the swelling in my armpit was confirmed to be melanoma and he said one of the things that concerned him and moved him to request more test was the fact that I said it didn't hurt. Having said that, I think my own personal limit would be about two weeks before my hypochondriacism would move me to get it looked at.
I wouldn't hesitate to go to J.H. for second opinions. That's a great place. There's a doctor there by the name of Evan Lipson (sp?) that I've heard wonderful things about. I also wouldn't hesitate to go over to UVA. It's probably only about 3 hour drive for you. Dr. Slingluff is wonderful and a very respected immonutherapist. I also saw Dr. Gaughan. She is young but very bright with a great bedside manor. I never saw Dr. Grosh but I've heard wonderful things about him as well. UVA is no Hopkins, MDA, or MSK but it really does have a pretty strong melanoma department.
One benefit to going to other places even when your back isn't up against the wall is that it gets your foot in the door and down the road if your back is up against the wall it can really speed up the process of getting in and seeing doctors right away. I can't over emphasize that enough.
Good luck. Hopefully you just have an enflamed lymph node. With all the infections you've had recently that certainly seems plausible.
Brian
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