What kind of doctor should I see for a lump on my back?

You should see your GP if you develop any growth or swelling on your body. They can examine it and confirm what it is and what's causing it. If your GP is uncertain, they may recommend that you have an ultrasound scan or a biopsy. Surgery may be needed to remove certain types of lump.


What doctor treats back lumps?

You should visit your primary care physician.

What does a lump on my back mean?

Most commonly a painful lump on the back occurs when there is an underlying skin condition like a cysts, skin abscess, boil, or a pimple on the back. More serious causes of painful back bumps include lipoma and dermatofibroma. Read on for more information on causes and treatment options.


When should I be concerned about a lump on my back?

your lump is painful, red or hot. your lump is hard and does not move. your lump lasts more than 2 weeks. a lump grows back after it's been removed.

What kind of doctor looks at lumps under skin?

Dermatologists are specially trained to know which lump or bump needs to be biopsied, which need to be treated or removed, and which can be left alone.


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What does a cancerous lump feel like?

A tumor may feel more like a rock than a grape. A cancerous lump is usually hard, not soft or squishy. And it often has angular, irregular, asymmetrical edges, as opposed to being smooth, Dr.

Where do I go to get lumps checked out?

After you have marked the lump's location, call your primary care physician or gynecologist to schedule an appointment. Your physician will examine your breasts and the lump in question. She may schedule imaging to get a better look at the breast tissue, and if necessary, a biopsy.

How can you tell a cancerous lump?

In most cases, doctors need to do a biopsy to diagnose cancer. A biopsy is a procedure in which the doctor removes a sample of tissue. A pathologist looks at the tissue under a microscope and runs other tests to see if the tissue is cancer.


What is the fatty lump on my back?

A lipoma is a fatty tumor located just below the skin. It isn't cancer and is usually harmless. A lipoma is a slow-growing, fatty lump that's most often situated between your skin and the underlying muscle layer. A lipoma, which feels doughy and usually isn't tender, moves readily with slight finger pressure.

How do you tell if a lump is a cyst?

A doctor may use an ultrasound to examine a cyst or tumor located deep within the body. Ultrasound imaging can often show whether a lump is hollow, fluid-filled, or a collection of cells. In some cases, a doctor may request a biopsy, which involves removing the lump or cells from it.

Do lipomas hurt when pressed?

Lipomas usually feel like firm bumps (nodules) under the skin. The growths cause burning or aching that can be severe, particularly if they are pressing on a nearby nerve. In some people, the pain comes and goes, while in others it is continuous.


Can a doctor tell if a lump is cancerous?

If the lump has solid components, due to tissue rather than liquid or air, it could be either benign or malignant. However, the only way to confirm whether a cyst or tumor is cancerous is to have it biopsied by your doctor. This involves surgically removing some or all of the lump.

Is a cancerous lump hard or soft?

Bumps that are cancerous are typically large, hard, painless to the touch and appear spontaneously. The mass will grow in size steadily over the weeks and months. Cancerous lumps that can be felt from the outside of your body can appear in the breast, testicle, or neck, but also in the arms and legs.

Can a doctor tell if a lump is lipoma?

Rarely, doctors can't tell for certain whether the lump is a lipoma or not. Lipomas can be confused with malignant (cancerous) tumours, called liposarcomas. Your doctor may feel it is best to remove it or take a biopsy so that they can be certain it is a lipoma. They will also make a referral to a specialist.


What does a lipoma look like on your back?

A lipoma is a round or oval-shaped lump of tissue that grows just beneath the skin. It's made of fat, moves easily when you touch it and doesn't usually cause pain. Lipomas can appear anywhere on the body, but they're most common on the back, trunk (torso), arms, shoulders and neck.

What does a lipoma lump feel like?

A person with a lipoma will typically feel a soft, oval-shaped lump just beneath the skin. Lipomas are usually painless unless they affect joints, organs, nerves, or blood vessels. In most cases, they do not cause other symptoms.

What happens if a lipoma is not removed?

Causes discomfort

Unfortunately, they can still affect nearby tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. A lipoma may cause discomfort or pain if it has blood vessels running through it or if it presses on a nearby nerve; it may also interfere with muscle growth if it's unusually deep.


What does a malignant lump look like?

A breast lump that's painless, hard, irregularly shaped and different from surrounding breast tissue might be breast cancer. Skin covering the lump may look red, dimpled or pitted like the skin of an orange. Your breast size and shape may change, or you may notice discharge from the nipple.

What does a non cancerous lump feel like?

Lumps that are benign (not cancer) may be tender and feel smooth and mobile. A cancerous lump is more likely to feel hard, but some non-cancerous lumps can feel hard, too.

Do tumors hurt to touch?

They can feel firm or soft. Benign masses are more likely to be painful to the touch, such as with an abscess. Benign tumors also tend to grow more slowly, and many are smaller than 5 cm (2 inches) at their longest point. Sarcomas (cancerous growths) more often are painless.


How long should I wait to get a lump checked out?

When should I get a lump checked? 'If you're worried about a lump, or it's been there for more than 2 weeks, speak to a doctor to get it checked out as soon as possible,' says Dr Saloojee.

How soon after finding a lump Should I see a doctor?

The lump doesn't go away after four to six weeks. You notice skin changes on your breast, such as redness, crusting, dimpling or puckering. You have discharge, possibly bloody, from your nipple. Your nipple is turned inward and isn't normally positioned that way.

Do cancerous lumps move?

Cancers tend to feel much harder than benign cysts and fibroadenomas. Both benign and malignant masses can be rounded and mobile. Only when cancers are quite advanced are they fixed to skin or the underlying chest wall, and not moveable.


Why do I get cysts on my back?

The cause of spinal cysts is unknown, but they may result from degeneration and instability of the spine in areas subjected to repetitive motion, particularly the joints in the lumbar region. Patients with spinal cysts may have other degenerative conditions of the spine, such as arthritis and disk disease.

What does a cyst lump feel like?

Cysts can feel either soft or hard. When close to the surface of the breast, cysts can feel like a large blister, smooth on the outside, but fluid-filled on the inside. When they are deep in breast tissue, cysts will feel like hard lumps because they are covered with tissue.