Hi, my boyfriend has a lump on his chest which has been there for over a week now. It is about 3.5 cm long and is slightly discoloured. It is also very painful when it is touched. i am very worried for him as he wont go see a doctor and because he just seems to think it willl dissapear and it isnt getting any better it is getting worse. any idea what it could possibly be? thanks.
Hello and welcome to Chat Doctor, A painful lump on the chest which shows discoloration can be due to a number of causes. It can be due to hematoma, nevus, melanoma, etc. Pain in the lump can be due to nerve involvement. Is the lump red-purple in color? This is suggestive of hematoma. Is the lump brown-black in color? In that case nevus or melanoma can be suspected. You need to consult your doctor for clinical examination and relevant investigations. A fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the first line of investigation. This is an office procedure in which cells are sampled with a needle. The cells are sampled, stained and examined under the microscope. This test will tell about the origin of the lump and its character. The further management will be decided by the result of this investigation. Thanks and take care. Chat Doctor.