A question about lipomas

[NeQ]

I have a question regarding lipomas that I’m hoping someone could clear up for me. I have searched high and low on the forums, and although lipomas are mentioned in one thread, I have not found anything that would answer this particular question.

I did some research and know that lipomas are basically fatty benign tumors and are pretty common…and I happen to have 3 of them on my abdomen. They are located on the lower left side, right at the edge of the ribcage. They are in a line, spaced about 4 inches apart, and are all about the size of a pinto bean. I also had a doc check me out and he confirmed that they are in fact lipomas.

Now I’m not too worried because as I understand it, these things are no big deal and can be easily removed. But I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t throw up any red flags when I do finally go to MEPS for the physical. I checked out AR 40-501, and didn’t find lipomas specifically mentioned anywhere…but in 2-36 in states:

Tumors and malignant diseases

The causes for rejection for appointment, enlistment, and induction are:

a. Benign tumors (M8000) that interfere with function, prevent wearing the uniform or protective equipment, would require frequent specialized attention, or have a high malignant potential.

b. Malignant tumors (V10), exception for basal cell carcinoma, removed with no residual. In addition, the following cases should be qualified if on careful review they meet the following criteria: individuals who have a history of childhood cancer who have not received any surgical or medical cancer therapy for 5 years and are free of cancer; individuals with a history of Wilm's tumor and germ cell tumors of the testis treated surgically and/or with chemotherapy after a 2-year disease-free interval off all treatment; individuals with a history of Hodgkin's disease treated with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy and disease free off treatment for 5 years; individuals with a history of large cell lymphoma after a 2-year disease-free interval off all therapy.

So do lipomas fall under category A? Should I have them removed? And if I do remove them, would I then require some type of waiver because of the surgery required to remove them?
I really don’t see these lipomas as falling under any of the descriptions in category A…they don’t interfere with function, they would not interfere with wearing a uniform or any protective equipment that I know of…I’ve had them for years and do all kinds of physical activities and don’t even notice they are there.
I know it’s probably not even a big deal, but this thing has just been bugging me, and I would just like to get it straightened out…and if it turns out I need to remove them, I gotta get on that quick since my medical insurance expires when I turn 22.

Sorry about the long post, any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Eagle5US]

Lipomas are easy. If you have one you probably have a dozen. They do not require specialized care and you have already answered the other questions as being irrelevant. I take these out all the time.
IF you are worried about them, since you have already been checked out by your physician bring a statement from your doctor that you have been evaluated and his findings.
This should be a non-issue.

Good luck.

Eagle

[NeQ]

Eagle5US,
Thank you for your reply, I'm glad it is a non-issue. I figured as much but I just wanted to make sure. I'll just leave them be...and get back to PTing...thanks.
-NeQ

[crash]

I had three fairly good sized ones (or they felt huge to me anyway) cut out not too long ago; pretty easy. Only crappy part was two of them where on my back and deep enough they had me go to the OR, put to sleep intubated, foley'd and everything.

Who ever intubated me was a butcher, my throat hurt more than anything else. Although to be honest, I still have about the same amount of discomfort from them being cut out as I did before. They where also just below the 12 rib just on my back. What they say is true if you have one you probably have many many more, I find little ones here and there, but they don't bother me.

Nothing to worry about although I try to keep track just to make sure they don't start getting bigger. Guess I'm kinda paranoid.

[NeQ]

Crash, thanks for the reassurance
I guess I was being a bit paranoid myself as they are no big deal. I haven't found any others that I know of...just the 3 on my side. But then again they are probably just too small to reallly be noticeable.