ROJoson PEP Talk: Patient Story: Armpit Mass in a Female - How to Manage

ROJoson PEP Talk: Patient Story: Armpit Mass in a Female - How to Manage

1. April 12, 2025 1400H - 1500H Via Zoom Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on how to manage an armpit mass in females. *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach

2. April 12, 2025 1400H - 1500H Via Zoom Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on how to manage an armpit mass in females. *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach Welcome all! MUTE yourself but always show your video picture. Sign in your name, FB account, or email address in the Chat Box! Include names of companions attending. Use the Chat Box to ask questions and make comments while the PEP TALK is on. There will be group pictures at start and end of PEP TALK – show your face in video.

3. t Reminder after the PEP Talk: Take the Online Learning cum Evaluation Test Exercise (OLETE) for mastery of learning and have a perfect score to get a Certificate. Link is in Chat Box.

4. Reminder: 25 OLETE Certificates = 1 Voucher for ROJoson Medical Consultation either Face-to-Face or Telemedical.

5. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on how to manage an armpit mass in females. *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach ROJOSON’S REQUEST: FEEDBACK TO THIS PEP TALK! Pls. type in your feedback in the chat box during the open forum and before we adjourn! Thank you!

6. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on how to manage an armpit mass in females. *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach LET’S NOW HAVE A GROUP PICTURE TAKING BEFORE WE START PEP TALK PROPER IN 2 MINUTES! Pls. turn on your video! Show your face!

7. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on how to manage an armpit mass in females. *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach ROJoson PEP Talk I have a Patient Empowerment Program in which I like to empower the lay people or patients to take control in the management of their health.

8. I started the PEP Talk on May 15, 2021 during the COVID19 Pandemic. There are 3 courses in the PEP Talk. I completed the Core Course on October 9, 2021.

9. From October 23, 2021 onwards, I have been tackling Health Disorder and Health Issue Courses. May 18, 2024 marks the start of YEAR 4 of ROJoson PEP Talk. How long the PEP Talk will last will depend on our enthusiasm , discipline and perseverance .

10. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on how to manage an armpit mass in females. *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach My PEP TALK today is entitled: Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach

11. Contents Patient Story – TLT : To tell, learn, and teach Patient Story: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage What is an armpit mass? How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? How to treat an armpit mass in a female? Disclaimer: ROJoson PEP Talk contains ROJoson’s Thoughts, Perceptions, Opinions and Recommendations (TPORs) culled from experiences of ROJoson and writings of other health professionals . Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

12. The Patient Story Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

13. The Patient Story A 30-year-old Filipina consulted me in February 2025 for a right armpit mass noted in December 2024. She previously consulted a primary care physician for the same concern and was advised to have an ultrasound of the breasts. When she consulted me for the first time, she brought with her the ultrasound report ordered by her primary care physician. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

14. The Patient Story When I examined her (her right armpit initially, then her breasts and then the left armpit), I had the following findings: 2-cm firm solid non-tender mass in the right armpit, superficial, just below the skin where the armpit hair roots are located, with no redness on the skin. No dominant mass on the breasts No dominant mass on the left armpit My primary clinical diagnosis before looking at the ultrasound she brought with her was a mass related to her armpit hair roots, most likely inflammatory. I don’t think it was an armpit lymph node as it was superficial and not deep (lymph nodes are deeper in location). Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

15. The Patient Story Then I took a look at the ultrasound report and was surprised with what I saw. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

16. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage BIRADS 4A: Low suspicion for breast cancer. Outrightly, I disagreed with the diagnosis of the radiologist (suspicion for breast cancer).

17. The Patient Story I asked the patient to have a repeat ultrasound of the breast in another institution. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

18. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Repeat ultrasound showed BIRADS 2: Benign Finding. For me, good enough but it should be BIRADS 1: Negative Finding on the breasts

19. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage The real finding(s): subcutaneous masses in the armpits with inflammation on the right armpit mass. Nothing to do with the breast. I WAS CORRECT WITH MY DIAGNOSIS.

20. The Patient Story What did I do thereafter? I advised the patient accordingly after the repeat ultrasound. The CORRECT DIAGNOSIS. Not to be afraid of the suspicion of breast cancer. Watchful waiting in treatment. Wash armpits frequently with soap and water. Always keep clean and dry. Follow-up / check-up with me. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage On March 30, 2025, about a month after, I saw her again and armpit mass had decreased 50% in size.

21. END of TELLING The Patient Story Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

22. END of TELLING The Patient Story Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage LEARN - TEACH

23. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? How to treat an armpit mass in a female? Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

24. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Mass Other terms: bukol , lump, tumor, “dominant mass” A lesion which occupies a space in the human body where it is usually not supposed to be there; it is a 3-dimensional lesion with length x width x height. (A lesion is any unusual or abnormal change in the body tissues or organs.) A mass should be differentiated from enlargement, swelling and prominence which are not 3-dimensional. “Dominant mass” – a common medical term to connote a lump, tumor or bukol – one that stands out from the rest of the normal tissues. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

25. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Mass A mass can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). A mass can be caused by a lot of things such as inflammation; infection; blood clot; collection of fluid; hormonal changes; degenerative changes; newgrowth (either benign or malignant); etc. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

26. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

27. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

28. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

29. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

30. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

31. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

32. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

33. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass? An armpit mass can be caused by a lot of things such as inflammation; infection; blood clot; collection of fluid; hormonal changes; degenerative changes; newgrowth (either benign or malignant); etc. One needs to know how to recognize these various entities or causes of an armpit mass to be able to make a diagnosis. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

34. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass? After inspection and palpation, one can use the processes of pattern recognition and prevalence in the clinical diagnosis. Knowing the usual presentation of a particular disease or medical condition in an armpit mass in females (pattern recognition) Knowing the prevalence of a disease or medical condition in an armpit mass (how common, how rare) Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

35. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass? Examples: Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

36. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Presence of pus, redness, and tenderness –>>>> inflammatory and infectious armpit mass usually from infected armpit hair roots

37. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Deep mass in the armpit – which are usually enlarged LYMPH NODES which could be inflammatory or cancer (metastatic or primary – lymphoma)

38. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? Armpit Mass A mass located in the armpit or axilla. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

39. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? First, determine where the mass is located in terms of DEPTH in the armpit Whether superficial – most likely, not lymph nodes (more likely skin, subcutaneous mass) Whether deep – most likely, lymph nodes Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

40. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? Determine whether there are signs of inflammation: With pus, redness, tenderness (one sign is enough to suspect) >>>> inflammatory armpit mass No pus, redness, no tenderness >>> not an inflammatory mass (depending on other characteristics, may be cancer or not cancer) Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

41. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? If the mass is at the level of the skin, then skin lesion. Depending on the characteristics of the skin lesion, it may be cancer or not cancer. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

42. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? If the mass is at the level just beneath the skin, then subcutaneous armpit mass. Depending on the characteristics of the subcutaneous mass, it may be cancer or not cancer. Most the time, it is not cancer. Non-cancer subcutaneous armpit masses are usually epidermal cyst and lipoma. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Epidermal cyst with punctum Lipoma, soft solid, well-defined border

43. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? If the mass is at the level where lymph nodes are usually located, depending on the situations, the lymph nodes could be inflammatory or cancer (metastatic lymph node from the breast or primary lymph node cancer – lymphoma). Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

44. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? If enlarged lymph nodes are suspected in the armpit masses of a female, inspection and palpation of the breast are a must. If there is a mass in the breast and there are lymph nodes on the same side, most likely breast cancer with metastatic lymph nodes as the diagnosis. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

45. LEARN - TEACH How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? In case of uncertain diagnosis after the clinical examination, then diagnostic tests can be done. Options: Needle aspiration Biopsy Ultrasound of the armpit mass (may include the breasts if breast cancer is suspected). Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

46. LEARN - TEACH How to treat an armpit mass in a female? Depends on the diagnosis Options: Watchful waiting Needle aspiration Antibiotics if infectious armpit mass Drainage Excision Cancer treatment Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

47. LEARN - TEACH How to treat an armpit mass in a female? Depends on the diagnosis Options: Watchful waiting Antibiotics if infectious armpit mass Needle aspiration – EXAMPLE Drainage Excision Cancer treatment Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

48. LEARN - TEACH What is an armpit mass? How to diagnose an armpit mass in a female? How to treat an armpit mass in a female? Summary Take Away Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

49. Take Away in relation to Patient Empowerment Be always in touch with reliable medical information on armpit mass in a female. Know the ROJoson Way of Management which may differ from other physicians’ ways. Knowledge is power; it gives power. Use the 4Ks of Patient Empowerment: Kaalaman , Kakayanan , Karapatan and Kapangyarihan to gain greater control over decisions / make better decisions on management of armpit mass in females as part of your health management. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage

50. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on how to manage an armpit mass in females. *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach This ends my PEP TALK today on: Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach

51. t Reminder after the PEP Talk: Take the Online Learning cum Evaluation Test Exercise (OLETE) for mastery of learning and have a perfect score to get a Certificate. Link is in Chat Box.

52. Reminder: 25 OLETE Certificates = 1 Voucher for ROJoson Medical Consultation either Face-to-Face or Telemedical.

53. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on how to manage an armpit mass in females. *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach ROJOSON’S REQUEST: FEEDBACK TO THIS PEP TALK! Pls. type in your feedback in the chat box during the open forum and before we adjourn! Thank you!

54. Patient Story – TLT: Armpit Mass in a Female – How to Manage Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on how to manage an armpit mass in females. *TLT – Tell, Learn, Teach LET’S NOW HAVE A GROUP PICTURE TAKING BEFORE WE START Q&A AND INTERACTIONS! Pls. turn on your video! Show your face!