If an undiagnosed lump is hard and immovable, if a bump in the breast or genital area lasts longer than a few weeks, or if the suspected tumor grows rapidly, do not hesitate to seek medical attention, advises Self.com.

Back pain may or may not indicate the presence of a tumor. But make a medical appointment to find out what is going on if your back pain is severe with direct manipulation or compression, the pain is not alleviated with rest, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as appetite loss, weight loss, nausea, vomiting or fever, chills and shakes. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center website states that tumors can develop in the vertebrae, nerves and other tissue throughout the spine.

Diagnostic Procedures

A doctor can diagnose a suspected tumor as benign or malignant. This requires laboratory tests following a physical exam, interview and medical history. The tests may include an ultrasound to see if the mass is solid or liquid, computer tomography, or CT scan, which uses a series of X-rays from different angles, an X-ray (though disallowed for pregnant women) and magnetic resonance imaging, which employs high-powered magnets to create detailed images of the body’s soft tissue. After a review of the laboratory tests, the doctor often orders a biopsy to remove a small sample of tissue. Microscopic examination of the tissue determines the diagnosis.

Another area of the body where tumors can occur is the heart, according to the Merck Manual. The patient may have no symptoms, minor symptoms or life-threatening symptoms. Don’t hesitate if you suspect you have a heart tumor because it may degenerate, causing pieces to break off and travel through the bloodstream, becoming emboli. They can lodge in the small arteries and impede blood flow. If one is suspected, an echocardiogram and other ultrasound procedures are recommended.