DD has lump/bump/mass in breast

[love2all]

So my dd is 11 and is just starting to get little bumps of breasts- she has just started budding!! She has a bump in one of them (she won't let me touch) and that breast is noticable bigger than the other.
Is this normal development of breast tissue?? Do I need to be concerned?

Thanks all- witha STRONG history of breast cancer I have been a bit worried since she told me..
Oh- she did say it did not hurt and has been there since she began developing- maybe 8ish months.

TIA

[Justmee]

It is normal for one breast to be bigger than the other, but I have no idea about the lump. I would probably err on the side of cautian and have it checked, especially with a family history. Breast cancer is extreamemly rare in younger kids, but it does happen

[SleepyMamaBear]

i'd wait it out for a bit and then have it checked if its still here.
i developed EARLY but remember having breast buds and they didnt develop at the same rate, one was bigger than the other and while they weregoing from bud to breast stage they were LUMPY.
keep an eye on it but try not to stress out too much

[panamama]

i'm not sure how you meant "witha STRONG history of breast cancer I have been a bit worried since she told me", but if by history you mean family history, i'd absolutely suggest talking to a doctor about this at minimum, and maybe taking her in. i don't know that i'd want to subject an 11-yo who is just starting to develop to a breast exam or mammogram, but if there's a strong family history i just might. my family does have a strong history, and my docs have always told me that i'd have to start earlier than most women b/c of that.

hugs to you, and i certainly hope it's nothing.

[Cloth4Colin]

I had/have calcium deposits in my breasts that were discovered when I was a young girl...it really freaked my mom out. We had it checked and that's what we were told it was...I've since just had really rather lumpy breasts, and the right one is still larger, but it's never been a big deal. I did have an OB tell me once that avoiding caffine would help...

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I remember lumpy breasts also rock hard extremely painfull breasts when they first started developing. : If she wont even let you check I doubt she would be comfy with a Dr. checking.

For me I would have been mortified. Maybe call your gyn. and see what they say?

[lesley&grace]

I have gotten painless lumps in my breasts from over-dosing on caffeine, as a pp mentioned.

This might be a great opportunity for your daughter to decided if she is going to stay with her regular doctor or move on to a doctor of her choosing. When I started to develop, my mom realized that I was no longer altogether comfortable with seeing our gp, who to me seemed to be a very old man. Granted this "old man" had been my dr since I was born, but I was not comfortable discussing my newly acquired period with him, let alone want him to examine me. So mom asked around to friends and discovered a great female gp who was accepting new patients, so we went to see her and I have a great relationship with her still. It felt really great knowing that I was taking control over my own health care. And I felt much more comfortable with her examining me since I had chosen her (the decision to become her patient was mine). Just something to think about.

I do hope that this turns out to be easily explained. Good luck!

[mama2mygirl]

I'd have it checked, just in case.

[egwtme]

normal

It sounds like your daughter is experiencing is completely normal. What you have described does sound very much like a breast bud, which is common particularly in girls at this stage. Often a small firm mass is found right under the areolar (darker-colored) tissue on the chest. It can be on only one side rather than under both buds.

Be aware that if she is worrying about it and frequently feeling it to see if it is still there or feels differet to her, that checking can cause it to feel sore or tender due to the frequent manipulation.

A breast bud accompanied by a small underlying bump or mass generally does not suggest that there are any hormonal problems or that this is related to breast cancer (even with a family history of breast cancer).

If you are worried at all, there is no harm at all in taking her to the pediatrician to discuss this and allow the Dr. to check the mass. This visit will also allow her pediatrician to check on her body overall and note any additional signs of puvberty that may be apparent.

Reassurance is appropriate along with just observation over time. If the area seems to be infected, is getting larger, or discharge is noted from that nipple, then a Dr. visit is a must.

[love2all]

Originally Posted by egwtme

It sounds like your daughter is experiencing is completely normal. What you have described does sound very much like a breast bud, which is common particularly in girls at this stage. Often a small firm mass is found right under the areolar (darker-colored) tissue on the chest. It can be on only one side rather than under both buds.

Be aware that if she is worrying about it and frequently feeling it to see if it is still there or feels differet to her, that checking can cause it to feel sore or tender due to the frequent manipulation.

A breast bud accompanied by a small underlying bump or mass generally does not suggest that there are any hormonal problems or that this is related to breast cancer (even with a family history of breast cancer).

If you are worried at all, there is no harm at all in taking her to the pediatrician to discuss this and allow the Dr. to check the mass. This visit will also allow her pediatrician to check on her body overall and note any additional signs of puvberty that may be apparent.

Reassurance is appropriate along with just observation over time. If the area seems to be infected, is getting larger, or discharge is noted from that nipple, then a Dr. visit is a must.

Thanks this is what I have found out with research.- about the breast bud and normal development. i know cancer is rare in young kids so that wasn't top on my mind but my mom is presently in her 2nd bout of breast cancer- last one was 10 years ago- so i am a bit edgy .
I have decided to wait and see what happens-I am going to start that young girls group that my friends and I have been thinking about doing to teach the girls about what is going on with the body!!! No time like the present!!!

[ikesmom]

I had this but I was probably 18 or 19. Doctor said it was a swollen lymph gland. Told me to come back in 2 weeks and they would try to take a sample. He hurt his back and was out of the office for 2 weeks so a whole month passed. It was gone by then.

There were various times I would feel hard lumps and I just watched to make sure they went away. Underwire bras didn't help. A soft stretchy or even loose bra worked. A few doctors would comment on how hard my breast tissue was. One woman kept refering me 4 a mamogram because my mother had a lump removed and her sister died of breast cancer so I was scared when she seemed concerned.

My breast were Extremely sore during pregnancy and they said it was just firm breast tissue changing. I had to leave the caffine alone.

[terrordactyl]

its perfectly normal i had them when i was just growing breasts and my mom was worried and took me to the doctor they told me it was normal i actually still have them and am 18 its a normal part of breast growth. but if you are that worried go have them checked it can't hurt

[BelgianSheepDog]

I remember having this when I was 12...scared the crap out of me because that same year my mom had a sketchy mammogram and I convinced myself we were both dying. We're both still here, though.

[vancouverlori]

Lumpy breast tissue (particularly fibrocystic breasts) can be a sign of low progesterone that is not balancing out high estrogen levels. While this is fairly normal as girls reach menarche (when they get the first period), they should start ovulating within about 6 months, and then have adequate progesterone from then on. But with a strong family history of breast cancer, keep an eye on your daughter and educate yourself and her about the importance of adequate progesterone to protect you from the cancer-risk-increasing effects of excess estrogen. Take a close look at the symptoms of estrogen-dominance and see if they fit the women in your family who've had breast cancer.

What your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer is a great resource for learning more about this and about real and healthy ways to reduce your risks.

-Lori

[VisionQuest]

I had a lump in one of my breasts when I was about 13-14, and it turned out just to be an infection.