Lipomas are a commonly found growth beneath the surface of the skin that can be a cause of concern for many patients. From the fear of cancer when the lipoma is first discovered and misunderstood as a tumor, to the relief you feel after learning your tumor is just a harmless deposit of fatty cells, lipomas can really put you through the wringer.
It’s understandable that someone would confuse their lipoma for a tumor, and most of that comes from not understanding the difference between the two. They may look the same when under your skin, but a lipoma can be easily diagnosed if you know what to look for.
Being able to spot the difference between a lipoma and a tumor is a skill that dermatologists are trained in. If you have a lump under your skin that you are concerned about, schedule an appointment with Dr. Hudgens and get it checked out right away.
Lipomas are groups of fat cells that sit just below the skin. They are always noncancerous, and they don’t lead to cancer either. You’ll find them mostly on your upper body including the torso, neck, and armpits, but they can spring up anywhere. It’s also not uncommon for you to have more than one at a time. Lipomas are the most common form of non-cancerous growth.
The key to determining if your growth is a lipoma or something more serious is how the growth acts and feels. Lipomas are usually small and will not grow very much, if at all, over time. They are almost always painless and will feel soft and movable to the touch. This is in stark contrast to tumors, which can grow quite rapidly and almost always feel solid to the touch.
Because they never lead to cancer and are generally painless, most people do not opt to have their lipomas removed. However, as time goes on, lipomas could get more annoying and you may just want to get rid of it.
If this is the case, the Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center is ready to remove this harmless annoyance from you in only a minor procedure. Once we remove the lipoma, we will test it to make sure it is a lipoma and not an early form of cancer.
Self-diagnosing any problem you have is always a risky endeavor, so it’s always a good idea to have any new lump in your body checked out by one of our doctors. However, in the meantime, you can check your lump and see if it has any of the telltale signs of being a worrisome tumor, or a harmless lipoma.
In any case, the experts at the Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center are ready to take your appointment and give you some of the best news of all: peace of mind.
