6yr old girl with breast lump

[missx914]

2 weeks ago I discovered my 6 yr old daughter, who has always been healthy, had a lump in her breast. It feels like hard & round like a marble & maybe about 1/2" around & located directly under her right nipple. We went to see her pediatrician & she sent us to get her bone age just in case she was going into precocious puberty. That test came back w/in normal limits. She has the bone age of 4yr 8 mo (she's always been very petite). FYI, I started @ 7yr old & I'm 4'11".  Her pediatrician's other theory was that it could be a fibroadenoma but that doesn't make sense to me since it ocurrs in women 15-35 & the majority of those women are african american. My daughter is puertorican. I understand that it is highly unlikely for this to be cancer. But I'm very concerned about this & also that her pediatrician may not have dealt with this before. She suggested that if it doesn't go away by next fri we'll put her on antibiotics & if that doesn't work she'll have to see a surgeon. Is this a reasonable course of action? Should we go along w/ her Dr. & take a wait & see approach? I've also heard that it is not good to give kids antibiotics if they don't actually have an infection, so how will that help my girl? What should we expect in the next few weeks and is there anything I should be asking or doing that could help this lump go away? Thanks for all you do on this site!

[jaimmom]

A related discussion, 6 yr. old breast lump with pain was started.

[Mrs. Stewy]

To the parents of the daughters with breast lumps.  My daughter also has a lump under one nipple.  It has been there for a few years, but it was just small at first when I noticed it at five yrs old.  Now she is turning nine yrs next week, and I just noticed is has grown.  The doctor said it could be a cyst when she was younger and not to worry, it may disolve.  Now that I discovered it growing, he ordered an ultrasound.  The results proved that it is a "lipoma", which is a benign tumour (non-cancerous).  A lipoma is made up of fat cells and can be surgically removed for cosmetic reasons if wanted.  The procedure is covered.  We are going to have it removed, because they don't go away.  It can not be lazered or injected to disolve, because it would grow back.  Lipomas usually appear in adults age 40-60.  They are more common in men and usually grow on the neck, back, or armpits.  The percentage is 1 in 1000 people get them.  She was a rare case, unexplained.  We are just happy to be able to be rid of it easily.  It will be done as a local freezing and a few stiches and back to normal quickly before puberty takes place.  It doesn't hurt to ask doctor's questions and educate yourself on the internet.  Good luck to all the families.  You are not alone.

[FloridaGurl]

I have a similar situation - my 11 year old daughter has a well-defined, painful lump just under her nipple.  Its about the size of a pea. She hasn't started developing yet, and is otherwise very healthy.  The other breast is just fine.  She had gotten hit in the chest with a ball about a month ago while playing with her friends.  It didn't even leave a bruise.  It ached a bit, as would be expected,  but has gotten worse all of a sudden.

Let me know how your daughter is.  We'll be going to the doctor as soon as I can get an appointment.

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.  Thank you.

[ozark]

maybe your pediatrician should do an ultrasound?

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear missx914:  There are many things that can cause lumps.  If you are not comfortable with the treatment plan, you might consider a second opinion.

[missx914]

Also just a quick note that there is no family history of breast cancer either.