New, unsightly or suspicious lumps and bumps? Should you get them checked?
Our skin interacts with our environment, providing a barrier and protection at the same time. Our skin can also signal when something may not be quite right. Sometimes lumps and bumps appear, either within the skin or just beneath it. Here we talk about what to do about a 'new or suspicious' lump.
When should you worry about suspicious lumps and bumps?
A skin lump or bump may appear either slowly or grow reasonably quickly. It can be painless or tender. It may also be unusual in that it is a different colour or texture to your skin. While most lumps and bumps are benign, for example, cysts, lipomas or neurofibromas, some are more serious, including skin cancers, for example, melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).
Why suspicious lumps and bumps matter
You should always get new lumps and bumps checked by your general practitioner, nurse practitioner, surgeon, skin specialist or dermatologist, especially it they have some of the characteristics above. As with any medical issue, the sooner you get on to an issue the better the outcome.
Is my lump a melanoma?
More than 7,000 melanomas are diagnosed in New Zealand every year. According to Melanoma New Zealand our melanoma incidence rate is the highest in the world. In New Zealand we are especially vulnerable to skin cancer with our high rates of UV radiation. Anyone can develop skin cancer though it is most common in people with the fairest skin types. Main risk factor for skin cancer – regular unprotected sun exposure.
We recommend regular skin checks and mole surveillance by a professional provider. This regular surveillance provides comparisons year on year. Melanomas are not only moles or spots that change in appearance or grow. A melanoma may also present as a firm, red or nodule-shaped lump or bump.
ABCDE – a rule for spotting melanoma
While the ‘ABCDE’ rule (asymmetry, border, colour, diameter, evolving) is a guideline for spotting unusual spots or moles on your skin, you can also use this rule for any suspicious lumps and bumps, especially ‘evolving’ or growing, even if this is slowly.
Early detection of any lumps and bumps will often mean less invasive treatments are necessary. Get in touch with our specialists, send us a photo if possible, if you have discovered a new lump or bump or if you have an existing lump or bump that has changed or is growing. We can diagnose the cause and recommend a treatment option, which may include removal or simply leaving it.
While not every lump or bump is cancerous, you may want it removed because it is unsightly, annoying or symptomatic causing pain or discomfort. Sometimes, lumps and bumps become infected. They may need to be drained and treated with antibiotics first, with a plan in place for removal (usually under local anaesthetic). Lumps and bumps may catch on your clothing or get irritated because you constantly knock them. Your lump or bump may be somewhere that causes you embarrassment, for example, on your face, forehead or nose.
If you have a suspicious, unsightly or annoying lump or bump, have it checked by our team of experienced specialists and surgeons. An ultrasound scan may be needed to confirm diagnosis. Treatment for lumps and bumps starts at $1,200.
Refs:
The Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org.nz/
Melanoma New Zealand https://melanoma.org.nz/
