lump under sternum

[jaypr9]

I recently felt what feels like a lump under my sternum, it feels like its connected to my sternum and only way i even relized he was there was because i was feeling around my stomach area one day.

It really doesnt bother me but lately ive been noticing it more and more. I dunno if its all in my head just because i found it. Im just wondering if I should go see a doctor, ive read of the xiphoid process and im not sure if thats what it is.

Ive also just had x-rays done on my chest and ekg also for heart examinations which all came back normal, this was about 2months ago, so im thinking if there was something there it wouldve shown up on there, wouldnt it have? Anyone else just suddenly notice something like this, or have any clues on what it may be?

[nejones57]

Hi, I have the same thing, feels like an inch long and it hurts when you press on it.  My doctor did the same and took X-Rays and nothing showed up.  I am going for a CT Scan on Tuesday, although it may be nothing I would rather spend the money to find out it is nothing rather than to ignore it and it actually be something serious.  So I recommend you go ahead and get it checked.  Better to be proactive and find it is nothing.

[gchetcuti]

Wow -It's like I'm reading my own story.  I have the same thing as well.  Mine sits on the right side only and seems to be getting bigger.  It didn't bother me until about two weeks ago...although it's been there for at least 4 months.  

It's getting to be that the only comfortable way to be is standing with my back perfectly straight.  Feels like this thing is digging into my insides.  From what I can tell - that's not a really good thing :(

I had x-rays and they all came back normal (about 4 weeks ago). I have an appointment on Tuesday with an orthopedist...is this who I should be seeing?

[howintex0001]

Deja vu....I'm having the same symptoms...end of sternum is tender, seems like a knot or bigger than I remember, feels like it's digging in some times, best relief comes from sitting upright with back ramrod straight....sometimes ibuprofen helps...

Last visit to family doc, had ekg which was good, and he felt around and wasn't alarmed.

...feels pretty uncomfortable and weird though

[qwerty568]

Same thing here. Mine is off to the right a little bit, and doesn't hurt but I notice it when I jog. I went o to the doctor, and he told me that it's not a lump on my xiphoid process. It IS my xiphoid process. He said it's off to one side because people aren't necessarily perfectly symmetrical.That doesn't explain why it's uncomfortable. I may insist on x-rays but he assured me that it wqas nothing to worry about

[glori5]

Well, me too.

I have noticed this lump for nearly 4 years with it becoming tender/irritated at various intervals. I also was noticing that there seemed to be a blockage in my esophagus about the same place to the point where it was difficult to swallow something wellchewed, or small, or even drinking water. When it would get like that, swallowing something really chunky would ease the discomfort. I finally went to the doctor, and he examined the lump, declared it to be the xiphoid process, but ordered a CTscan because of the esophagal discomfort. They did the kind that involves somesort of dye. Well, it came back totally clear, and I was left to wonder if it was all in my head, or how I could prove that it wasn't all in my head. I'm so glad to find this site.

Since I found out it is made up of cartilage, I've decided to try and take supplements that are supposedly able to address the problem. We'll see if it works or not. Maybe it will help my knees too.

Do any of the rest of you have other cartilege or joint struggles as well?

[Istoffe]

I have this lump just below my sternum--it's boney and has a hard mass that goes with it about the size of a chestnut. I felt it was there early August 2008 and I'm still stressed about it right now. I even have at least three lymph nodes swollen--one at the back of my ear and one on each where the sideburns are. the lymph nodes came after a very bad cough that took me two weeks to recover from. I am having some back pain (bearable though)--and that's the worst thing I can say I have as of. I was looking for hints as regards my condition and the nearest possible case is Benign Limpoma or Hodgkins Lymphoma... I hope it's the first one. I don't want to die yet.

[Istoffe]

I went to a hospital to have my lump checked by an oncologist. he said there's nothing to worry about. It's not lump. It's my xiphoid process. Swollen right then because of too much pressing and attention I've been giving it for the past 7 or 8 months. He even denied me when I insisted to undergo biopsy. I pointed out to him that I also have lymph nodes... weak immune system he said--not getting enuf sleep lately. The lump like appearance of my xiphoid process was because I lost weight due to dieting and gym. He told me to take a lot of Ascorbic Acid, Anti-stress Tabs, Amoxicillin, and a lot of water. I was so relieved... It was so wonderful knowing that all the while it was just a simple case overworrying and false alarm.

[NLMGAG]

Me too but I think it may be because one of my ribs got turned when I strained to pick up a heavy object this winter and that started it. I too have lost weight, but I think I strained myself picking up our granddaughter. I went to a chinese med site and they said to work on the gallbladder with herbs, could it be a swollen gallbladder?
I also found that it could be Chondroititis, inflammed cartilage, may go see the doctor but looks like you all didn't get any help so I may go to the chiropracter first.

[FlaveLA]

I thank so much everyone here for the explainations, even tough, I will make sure to visit a doctor very soon! But, OMG, I completely freaked out and because of that, it almost seems like a started feeling other issues, like hard to breath, pressure on my chest, etc....the mind is very powerful and it can really create things and makes you believe it like it was a fact!
Thanks everyone, it really helped me and calm me down a little bit!

[Coolz]

Hey everybody

Thanks for your posts!  I have the same walnut sized lump at the apex of my sternum.  Based on your replies I think it might have emerged from lack of sleep and having drank a bit too much beer and whiskey this past weekend (bachelor party!).   It's definitely weird tho as it is tender if I press it. I'm 31 and figure it's time to get a physical so I'll let you know what the doc says. Fingers crossed it's nothing bad!

Cools

[kimmi89]

Look up Pectus Carinatum... and Pectus Excavatum.

[eriklasvegas]

I had tears in my eyes when reading these posts,i wasnt sure if i was the only person that had this XP lump/golf ball in our mid chest.I was really thinking that i had cancer or something else that was deadly.Because of these posts I felt brave enough to get Xrays.The doc said i was fine and that believe it or not it is more common in alot people.
THANKS to all my fellow XP lumps people (WE are OK :)
erik
from las vegas

[rosssu]

Just found mine yesterday!  I had a bad cold mid June with two weeks of coughing.  Once over it I moved on, however, the cough never did seem to go away completely.  Always had the feeling like I need to cough but then I don't cough.  Anyway, here comes heartburn too, and now this.  Doc gave me meds for the heartburn, but they did nothing, had an upper GI on Monday, but not results yet.  Going to the Doc today to find out what this lump is.  Seems to radiate pain into my mid back too, although I don't always have pain from it either.  Seems to come and go on a daily, every other day basis.  Weird.  Praying that it's nothing.  Praying hard.

[keithe3815]

WOW!!! it really is funny..i have the EXACT same thing and have been telling my girlfriend that its not normal.. but maybe it is.. mine has just been a little discomforting lately though. more so when i press on it so maybe thats the problem..good to know all of you have the same thing lol  thanks

[howintex0001]

I originally posted in April 2008.

Here's my findings/comments about the sternum lump:

1.) Doctor reaffirmed that there really is nothing wrong; not very common, but not all that rare;
2.) When I gained weight, the lump and pressure around it got worse; when I lost weight, it got better -- so, yeah, I'm continuing to lose weight if it helps this annoyance;
3.) When I treat the lump as "acid reflux", the condition improves; so, I'm now taking generic prilosec on an ongoing basis; I now only even think about it 1-2 times/week;
4.) I'm guessing more than 50% of this group is or has been treated for anti-anxiety at some time (including me); it's tough when your mind keeps telling you "uh oh, that must be a problem!", the mind racing, fear of even dying, it's all truly a physical feeling --  it's just that we have ANOTHER thing to think about that is not truly explained.

God Bless -- I hope this information is useful.

[mars64]

Hi - I am glad to see all of your posts on this topic.  I've noticed my own lump just below and to the right of (or maybe part of) my xiphoid process for about 2 months.  It doesn't really seem to be connected to the sternum - more like a little lump island of its own.  It isn't painful to the touch.  I did just lose about 20 lbs -- wasn't really heavy before, but now I'm in better shape.  I thought maybe this thing was always there & I just noticed it because of the weight loss.  I have had a couple of cortisone shots in my shoulders recently and I started using a minoxidil product around the same time, so I'm wondering if those have anything to do with it.  I was, of course, freaking out about possible cancer, lymph node diseases, etc. so seeing your posts has really been helpful.  I do have  a doc appointment specifically for this issue two days from now, so I'll let you know how it goes.

[mars64]

I went to see my doctor and everything is fine.  Yes - the "lump" was my xiphoid process.  My doctor felt my chest while I was standing up and then when I was lying down.  I didn't tell her what I thought it might be so she said xiphoid process on her own.  She said that my xp is a little lower than most people's, but it was normal, and that I'm probably feeling it more now since I've lost some weight. She also checked out a few moles on my stomach and my back and said that they were fine too.  It was a very quick and painless visit.

[Birchie]

How happy am i that i took the time to search google for this problem???
I too have the golf ball sized lump,i too have all the syptoms (symptoms) above,anxiety,pain when i touch the xiphoid process like i'm am digging my thumb straight into my internal organs,back pains at the same level to my xiphoid process,an irritating little cough that i can't seem to shake off,when i swallow it feels like there is a slight blockage around the area,and i also seem to have severe hunger pains every now and then,maybe related to it? But now i have found this site,i bet that most of the 'symptoms ' will at least de-magnify if not vanish all together! In my head for the last few weeks i have been worrying about the 'worst case scenario' now it feels as though a weight has been lifted! Thanks you guys,i guess if i wasn't so stubborn and went to see the doc,then i wouldn't have been worried for this long!ha But then again,i am a bloke,and we don't do things the easy way!!! ha

[xp_er]

I also just lost a bit of weight and recently discovered the strangely named golf ball sized bump.  Thanks to everyone to came before and posted about this.  

[toxic74]

I had the same problem too.  I started worrying when I felt the lump in between my chest and abdominal area which I noticed for about 2 weeks already.  I have a son and a new born daughter, and thoughts of having a cancer or something serious suddenly hit me.  I visited the doctor yesterday and told me that she thinks it's normal, and what I'm feeling is a part of our body called "Xiphoid Process".  I went home, uncovinced, and thinking about a second opinion.  Then I found your posts, I guess it makes me feel better now.  Probably don't need that second opinion afterall.

For some fellow XPers that said you had reflux problems, could it be this appearance of the XP is related to that, as I have acid reflux problems too.

[gjozefi]

I started noticing my my XP for a few weeks. But had mid back pain every morning when I wake up from bed. I think the pain is caused by my XP because when I press down on my XP it feels sore. I read Ross's post and he has the same exact pain as I am having. So anyone here feel any better after visiting the doctor? Please share your thoughts.

[lump2009]

i just found a lump, right where the xyphoid is.Above stomach in the center and below rib cage. I have no pain but i do work out. I just want a little knowledge before i get checked out.

[tanyalasagne]

I cant thank you all enough! I too googled this due to my worry, and found your comments - its just like reading what Ive got.  I have walnut sized lump where I now know is my xiphoid, I first noticed it 12 years ago when pregnant with my daughter, its possible due to the ribs being pushed up and outward in late pregnancy. It feels cartlidg-ey and its not grown nor does it hurt of irritate me, though Im familiar with the feeling when Im pressing or poking it it an make your back mildly ache - more worry!! Periodically when Im stressed I start to worry its something serious, the rest of the time I dont think about it! I figured if its been there 12+ years it cant be something that bad! But I absolutely agree with the person who mentioned anxiety treatments, because I do beleive hyperchondria (oh I have it in spades!) is a sign of anxiety, which probably explains why I worry about it when Im stressed out, I wont worry any more, thank you all so much for helping put my mind at rest! xxxx