Trying to decide whether to have your lump surgically removed? While the majority of lumps are harmless, occasionally they can be a sign of a serious underlying issue.

Knowing when to remove a lump is important when it comes to protecting your health. The only real way to determine whether your lump should be removed, is by having it assessed by a professional.

Below, you will discover the characteristics of some of the most common types of lumps and whether they typically need to be removed. You will also learn more about the symptoms that should be investigated further.

What characteristics do harmless lumps have?

Although some lumps can be cancerous, the truth is, most are completely harmless. The question is, how do you know the difference?

When it comes to harmless lumps, they do tend to have a few characteristics in common. They are usually soft to touch and remain mobile when touched. That is, they move around when you touch them, rather than stay in the same position. They are also typically located in the fat layer of the skin.

Common conditions which can lead to the development of harmless lumps include cysts, tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and enlarged lymph nodes. There is usually an explanation for the lump such as a trauma, and they will get better over time.

The characteristics of harmful lumps

With more harmful lumps, they too have a few characteristics you should look out for.

To be assessed, a lump may measure more than 5cm or be growing rapidly. It could also be located deep under the skin, or it may be recurrent. These symptoms can point to a lump that needs to be investigated in case it could represent a soft tissue tumour. In these cases, you may require a further assessment from a specialist soft tissue cancer expert.

While finding a lump can be alarming, most will not turn out to be worrisome. With that being said, even benign lumps can cause potential health issues, so it is best to book a consultation to talk through your options.

You can book an appointment with Mr Myles Smith at the One-Stop Lump Clinic with or without a GP letter. Visit https://surgicaloncology.co.uk/one-stop-cancer-clinic/ and use the form here to provide information about the lump and any symptoms you are experiencing. From there we can arrange an Ultrasound or MRI in either the Chelsea Outpatient Centre or the Chiswick Medical Centre.