What's This Lump? When Should You Get It Checked?

Finding a lump anywhere on your body can understandably cause anxiety. In many cases, lumps are harmless — fatty lumps (lipomas), cysts, swollen lymph nodes during infection, or benign breast changes — but it is always important to have them properly assessed.

Common Types of Lumps

• Lipomas — soft, mobile fatty lumps under the skin
• Sebaceous or epidermoid cysts
• Swollen lymph nodes (often from infection)
• Breast lumps — fibroadenomas, cysts, or new firm masses
• Testicular lumps — should always be checked promptly
• Hernias — particularly in the groin or abdominal wall

When You Should Seek Medical Advice

Book an assessment if a lump is:

• New, growing, or changing in shape
• Hard, fixed, or irregular
• Painful, red or warm
• Associated with weight loss, night sweats or fatigue
• In the breast, testicle, neck or armpit

How FDG Can Help

Our private GPs assess lumps in clinic and can arrange same-week ultrasound imaging with our consultant radiologist. Most lumps are reassuringly benign — but rapid clarity is the fastest route to peace of mind, or to early treatment if needed.

If the lump is in the breast, our guide to breast cancer signs and screening explains what we look for, and most soft-tissue lumps can be clarified the same week with a private ultrasound scan.