Small painless lump

Q: I am an Indian working in Sudan. I have a small swelling on my back right side - a black spot, with a very small painless lump since last 20 years. But since last 5 years, whenever I am in tension, pain and swelling come up and it can be felt by hand. Thanking NDTV for this great service.

A:You probably have a benign mass. These masses come under several different microscopic appearances, and have names such as fibroma, neurofibroma, lipoma, and others.
They should be seen by a doctor. Some of them (not all) need removal, because they can get infected or twisted, or may enlarge. Your doctor can tell. If the mass worries you, this is another reason to get it removed.