No nonsense guide to lumps and bumps

Spotted something amiss? Don't panic yet, writes Rachel Smith.

Discovering a lump or bump that wasn't there before can send the calmest woman into a flat spin. That said, most are harmless or treatable. "There's an old adage in medicine that more is missed by not looking than by not knowing," says gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Gino Pecoraro. "The best thing to do if you notice a new lump or bump is take a deep breath, monitor it and make your first port of call your GP." So, what are you worried about?

A lump in your breast

You're worried it's: Breast cancer

The expert says: That's unlikely. "It's probably a harmless, fluid-filled cyst, which occur as a woman ages," says Pecoraro. 'Fibroadenomas, which are benign, fibrous growths, are also common."

How to treat it? 'If your doctor's concerned about a lump, you may need an ultrasound or mammogram. The next step is an ultrasound biopsy where a needle is inserted to collect cells around the lump, or the lump may need to be cut out and put it under a microscope."

Don't ignore: Anything that feels out of place. 'Breast cancer doesn't always mean pain — a lump can just feel hard, irregular or craggy," says Pecoraro. 'Anyone with a lump should check it out."

One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lives. Call BreastScreen Australia on 13 20 50 to find a screening centre in your area — women aged 40 and over are eligible for a free mammogram every two years.

GALLERY: Embarrassing women's health problems solved

Bumps around your backside

You're worried it's: Rectal cancer

The expert says: 'It could be warts, especially if you've had anal intercourse," says Pecoraro. 'They can also be haemorrhoids/piles — single veins which live inside your back passage, but can be pushed out if you've had problems with constipation or an increase in pressure due to pregnancy."

How to treat it? Warts can be treated in a variety of ways (see ‘A lump in your vulva'). 'If it's haemorrhoids, these can be very tender. Your GP can inject them or put little rubber bands around them until they drop off. Extreme cases may require surgery."

Don't ignore: Bleeding or pain when you go to the toilet. 'It's hard to check out your own backside so you're better off going to your GP, who may send you to a colorectal surgeon."

Piles affect 50 per cent of people at some point in their lives, but you can lessen your chances by drinking more water and eating more roughage — fibre-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables and wholegrains — to avoid constipation.

Bumps in your groin

You're worried it's: An STD

The expert says: 'It could be a skin tag — they're very common in this area, and although they're harmless, they can be unsightly," says Pecoraro. 'It could also be an ingrown hair — waxing and shaving can be a common source of infection in this area."

How to treat it? Your GP can freeze skin-tags off with liquid nitrogen — or remove larger ones under a local aesthetic. To avoid ingrown hairs, exfoliate before shaving, shave in the direction of hair growth and finish with a dab of aloe or tea-tree oil to the area. Infected ingrown hairs (folliculitis) may need antibiotics. Permanent laser hair removal is another option if this is an ongoing problem for you.

Don't ignore: Sore, swollen lymph nodes — they can be a first sign of herpes, which affects one in eight Australians. 'It could also be a bubo, or infected lymph node, linked to STDs such as lymphogranuloma (LVG)," says Pecoraro. If you have LVG, you'll need a three-week course of antibiotics to get rid of it.

Multiple skin tags can be linked to insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for diabetes, so if you have lots, go to your GP and get checked out.

For the full story, see the June issue of Good Health. Subscribe to Good Health and receive 12 issues of Good Health & 6 FREE issues of The Australian Women's Weekly — that's 18 issues for just $69.95!