Emergency room for lump on back?

[dsawan]

I know with vivid hospitals  are taking precautions and doing phone or virtual meetings. I have a lump on my back and not feeling pain but don't want to let it go. Especially if cancerous. I tried calling the doctor and the simply don't respond or don't transfer me to a live doctor. I called this morning and they simply made a note in their system. Is it better to go to emergency room to be seen for this. I have waited more than a month. It seems they giving me the runaround. Any ideas?

[Nancy5]

I would get it checked out.  If you don’t want to go to an ER go to an emergency center.  It’s probably nothing but if it’s been there a month I would get it checked

[countrygirl12]

I know with vivid hospitals  are taking precautions and doing phone or virtual meetings. I have a lump on my back and not feeling pain but don't want to let it go. Especially if cancerous. I tried calling the doctor and the simply don't respond or don't transfer me to a live doctor. I called this morning and they simply made a note in their system. Is it better to go to emergency room to be seen for this. I have waited more than a month. It seems they giving me the runaround. Any ideas?

It is not an "emergency room" thing.  You are not dying.  Make an appointment with your doctor and GO SEE a doctor.  They can't tell you anything just by you calling them. They will have to look at it and then decide if they are going to do any type of scan.  If I had insurance and was concerned I would go to the doctor.  If I did not have insurance I guess I would ignore it and pray it was nothing bad.

[countrygirl12]

I would get it checked out.  If you don’t want to go to an ER go to an emergency center.  It’s probably nothing but if it’s been there a month I would get it checked

See I don't get that.  Why would you go to the emergency room for a "lump" that has been there for a month and not hurting or causing a life or death situation.  I think most people do not grasp what EMERGENCY is.  I remember at a young age learning about the difference in an emergency and not an emergency.  You have pictures and descriptions under it.  You circle the ones that is an emergency.  Chocking and can't breath - Emergency.  Fell and scraped my knee but it hurts - NOT an Emergency.

I remember a couple years ago a woman called an ambulance because she stubbed her toe and she thought it was broke.   So that takes an ambulance out of service for someone who may actually need the ambulance...because her flippin toe might be broke.

[dreamyxo]

Go to urgent care.

[Nancy5]

I would get it checked out.  If you don’t want to go to an ER go to an emergency center.  It’s probably nothing but if it’s been there a month I would get it checked

See I don't get that.  Why would you go to the emergency room for a "lump" that has been there for a month and not hurting or causing a life or death situation.  I think most people do not grasp what EMERGENCY is.  I remember at a young age learning about the difference in an emergency and not an emergency.  You have pictures and descriptions under it.  You circle the ones that is an emergency.  Chocking and can't breath - Emergency.  Fell and scraped my knee but it hurts - NOT an Emergency.

I remember a couple years ago a woman called an ambulance because she stubbed her toe and she thought it was broke.   So that takes an ambulance out of service for someone who may actually need the ambulance...because her flippin toe might be broke.

I agree with you to a point.  I know someone who goes to thevER for stupid things like a sore throat.  That’s NOT where you go.  If it’s growing and/or hurts he might need a scan which cannot be done at a doctors office.  Maybe I read it wrong did he say he called the office and they didn’t respond?  Not sure if that was true, but if it causes no pain and is the same size I would go to the doctor first, if it’s growing or painful you might need a scan but either way I would not wait a month.

[countrygirl12]

I would get it checked out.  If you don’t want to go to an ER go to an emergency center.  It’s probably nothing but if it’s been there a month I would get it checked

See I don't get that.  Why would you go to the emergency room for a "lump" that has been there for a month and not hurting or causing a life or death situation.  I think most people do not grasp what EMERGENCY is.  I remember at a young age learning about the difference in an emergency and not an emergency.  You have pictures and descriptions under it.  You circle the ones that is an emergency.  Chocking and can't breath - Emergency.  Fell and scraped my knee but it hurts - NOT an Emergency.

I remember a couple years ago a woman called an ambulance because she stubbed her toe and she thought it was broke.   So that takes an ambulance out of service for someone who may actually need the ambulance...because her flippin toe might be broke.

I agree with you to a point.  I know someone who goes to thevER for stupid things like a sore throat.  That’s NOT where you go.  If it’s growing and/or hurts he might need a scan which cannot be done at a doctors office.  Maybe I read it wrong did he say he called the office and they didn’t respond?  Not sure if that was true, but if it causes no pain and is the same size I would go to the doctor first, if it’s growing or painful you might need a scan but either way I would not wait a month.

I don't think our ER would do anything but tell him to make an appointment with his GP.   I have family that has the freebie welfare insurance and she goes to the doctor for everything.  I hurt my foot.  Better go to the ER.  My hair hurts.  Better go to the ER.  It is ridiculous.  Some doc offices may not be seeing people right now.  As far as i know ours are.  I don't go unless I am really sick.  Can't afford it.  And right now I would need to be near death to go.  From what I understand almost everyone who goes gets a q-tip shoved up their nose.  And this is preventing a lot of people from going.

[pectacon]

Yeah urgent care definitely won't tell you anything but "go see your doctor". That's not what they're for.

Btw, there is a thing called a lipoma that is a kind of harmless tumor. I know someone who has one on his back. Just a big random lump, but it doesn't hurt and isn't cancer or anything. I hope yours is something like that.

[cadence4u]

See your doctor asap!

[dsawan]

The for responses. What's funny is my old regular doctors office said to go to emergency room since that doc isn't seeing new patients. Last time there was ten yrs ago for diabetes. Explained to her this is for something totally different and then she stated since its been ten yrs no new patients. Go to emergency room. Then she asked me who was I seeing. Told her no one. Doing my own regimen. Surprised no referral to anotha doc in network. Anyway hospital told me to call again. Hoping this is an appt to go in person and not questions on phone. I of opinion I need to be looked at physically not thru the phone or zoom

[Work2hard]

Wishing you peace, get Well 

[ghunter]

I would go to my doctor

[sfreeman8]

I know with vivid hospitals  are taking precautions and doing phone or virtual meetings. I have a lump on my back and not feeling pain but don't want to let it go. Especially if cancerous. I tried calling the doctor and the simply don't respond or don't transfer me to a live doctor. I called this morning and they simply made a note in their system. Is it better to go to emergency room to be seen for this. I have waited more than a month. It seems they giving me the runaround. Any ideas?

Is it growing? If it is, I'd get it checked as soon as you can. Most are benign cysts, but sometimes it could be something serious. I would tell my doc you want go where for a CT scan because this lump bothers you.

[judylucas]

then there is some of us who don't go to ER after a pretty bad fall and over a week later found I have a broken ankle

[sfreeman8]

I know with vivid hospitals  are taking precautions and doing phone or virtual meetings. I have a lump on my back and not feeling pain but don't want to let it go. Especially if cancerous. I tried calling the doctor and the simply don't respond or don't transfer me to a live doctor. I called this morning and they simply made a note in their system. Is it better to go to emergency room to be seen for this. I have waited more than a month. It seems they giving me the runaround. Any ideas?

It is not an "emergency room" thing.  You are not dying.  Make an appointment with your doctor and GO SEE a doctor.  They can't tell you anything just by you calling them. They will have to look at it and then decide if they are going to do any type of scan.  If I had insurance and was concerned I would go to the doctor.  If I did not have insurance I guess I would ignore it and pray it was nothing bad.

It could be a big deal. That's how i almost lost my leg and why I still can't walk very well. I had a lump right below my knee and left it go because I didn't have insurance. My doc sent me to an ortho doc and he didn't make a big deal of it...5 months later, it covered my whole knee and skin split open and bled constantly. Wound up with malignant sarcoma and wound up in the hospital 50 miles away for 3 weeks and 2 surgeries - one to destroy my knee and one to rebuild my knee, all within a week.. So lumps are a big deal.