Q and A

Question

What are the lumps in my arm-pits, are they cancer?

Hi,

I am HIV positive and am on meds. I started on the standard Truvada and efavirenz but stopped these after 4 weeks as the side effects had a big impact on my life. I spoke to my consultant after stopping them and now I’m on Truvada, ritonavir and atazanavir.

For the last 12-18 months I have had a issue with lumps the size of a pea sometimes bigger under my arm pit area, they are semi hard and if you mess with it enough it will discharge a yellow liquid and sometimes blood.

My CD4 is 77 (last test when diagnosed) it is daily that these lumps discharge at least 7/8 times a day and it is really annoying me now. My consultant has said it is nothing to worry about but I have read about late-stage HIV infection you are 100 times more likely to develop cancer than somebody without the condition in the lymph nodes.

It is under both my arm pit areas and I have had surgery before to drain them which has now make the area look a right mess the area is all red and bruised looking do I have anything to worry about? Other meds I’m on are Dapsone and Citalopram could it be the meds causing this?

Any help would be great

Kind Regards

Simon

Answer

Hi Simon,

Thank you for your question.

I am sorry to hear you have been unwell. As your last CD4 count was when you were diagnosed can I assume you have only recently started treatment in the last 2-3 months?

Everyone has lymph nodes under their arm pits. These nodes collect any infectious material and old immune cells to stop the infection from reaching your vital organs. People with severe infections of any kind often find they get lumps under their arm pits, in their groin and their neck. You body fighting your HIV infection is possibly what is causing these lumps to form.

You are right that some people with low CD4 counts are more at risk of cancer. However, the figures you gave were a bit high. About 10% of people with HIV get non-HIV-related cancers. If your doctor is not worried about it then it is possible these lumps will clear up on their own once your CD4 count has come back up again.

The medication you are on should not be the cause of these lumps. If you squeeze them until they discharge and bleed you could end up with more infection and the lumps could get bigger and worse.

Over the next 3-6 months you should see your viral load decrease to undetectable levels. Your CD4 count may take a little longer to increase. If you find that even when your CD4 count has increased you are still having these lumps then you should talk to your HIV doctor again.

For more information on starting treatment you should read the i-Base ‘Introduction to Combination Therapy’ guidebook.

For more information on ‘Avoiding and Managing Side Effects’ you should also read this i-base publication.

Best wishes

Charlie

4 comments

  1. Roy Trevelion

    Hi Grace,

    What does your doctor say about your fat gain? It’s a good idea to discuss this with them.

    Yes, the gym will benefit your health in many ways. And it can also reduce weight gain.

    Do you have access to your CD4 and viral load results? Please let us know how the HIV treatment is going, including what ARVs you’re taking.

  2. Grace

    Hie,

    I am on ARVs treatment then am developing arm pit fats,
    So is it possible to remove them with Gym?

  3. Simon Collins

    Hi Felicia, thanks for writing. From the doses, it sounds like your meds are a generic version of Atripla.

    It is good that you are on treatment. You have a strong CD4 counts and having an undetectable viral load shows everything is still working well.

    This mean the enlarged lymph node is more likely to be linked to something other than HIV. Lymph nodes expand in response to other infections and this is healthy. If it becomes larger or painful and doesn’t reduce in the next few days, please talk to your doctor about the cause.

  4. felicia

    Im 32yrs old female im hiv positive on fdc 300/200/600 mg pill.i developed a lymph under my arm and its not painful im worried should i tell my doctor about it? My cd4 is 890 viral load is lower than detectable limits.

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