Lumps

Lumps can appear anywhere on your body. Most lumps are harmless but it's important to see your GP if you're worried or the lump is still there after 2 weeks.

Most lumps are normal

Most people get lumps and growths on their skin at some point. They can be caused by many things.

They can:

• be soft or hard to touch
• move around
• be the size of a pea or a golf ball
• be a lump under the skin or a growth that hangs off your skin

See a GP if:

• your lump gets bigger
• your lump is painful, red or hot
• your lump is hard and doesn't move
• a lump grows back after it's been removed
• you have a lump in the breast or testicles
• you have a swelling on the side of the neck, armpit or groin that doesn't go down

What happens at your appointment

Your GP will look at your lump. They can tell you what's causing it in most cases.

If they're unsure, they might refer you to hospital for tests, such as a biopsy (where they test a very small sample of the lump) or an ultrasound scan.

Possible causes of lumps

Use these links to get an idea of what you can do about most lumps. Don't self-diagnose – see a GP if you're worried.