Weird Bump on 4-Yr Old

Get him into the doctor. My youngest daughter had one under her ear. It turned out that a lymph node was fighting an infection - not severe enough to need antibiotics but we did need to do a steroid cream to help with the near by rash that was causing the swelling. He checked all the other lymph nodes and none were swelled up. I don't remember him checking that location though. I had talked to a co-worker, who is also a cancer survivor, and he suggested getting her in. If nothing else, it will calm your nerves and make you feel better. It's probably nothing. One thing I did learn - if it hurts when you press on it then it's likely not in the cancer family (cancer apparently doesn't hurt to press on it). However, it could be something minor that still needs attention. Just so you also know, two months later the lymph node has returned to normal size and can barely be felt. She's still the happy 3 1/2 year old and never missed a beat (although I'm sure I did).

There's just no way to know w/o seeing the doc. It could be any number of things, from very benign to something needing more treatment...but the former is more likely. My son has a rib that sticks out more than the others, and only on one side...and it seemed to happen suddenly. When I asked my mom about it, she said it's genetic in my family and she has it, as well as my great grandmother and some others.

Best to call the doc, as you did, and have it checked.

~L.

it could be a lipoma a small deposit of fatty tissue, if it's in the muscle layer it can be hard. My Daughter has one on her thigh it's a hard lump. A Doctor could tell you for sure, but that's probably what it is.

Could be a cyst - so I'd get in right away just to be sure!

A.,

When I was younger I would say around Kindergarten age (so about 35 years ago) I remember my mother being concerned because I too had a strange bump right in the middle of my chest. I can vividly remember her showing me where it was and I felt it myself. I also remember all my aunts and both grandmothers examining me and feeling my chest, actually I kind of liked the attention. She eventually took me to have it x-rayed and I remember that too.

Turns out it was a piece of cartledge, completely harmless. I must have either grown into it or my body absorbed it somehow because its not there now. Hopefully this will be the case with your son as well.

If he is not in pain when you touch it or gently press it (and no fever to indicate infection) and If it is hard, it would make me think of two things

A calcium deposit that settled on the rib/ sternum area ~ they can also gather in the muscle

Or, his rib is up just slightly in one spot (as I cannot see what the bump looks like, not sure if this would be it, but it is also not too likely.... but it has been known to happen as the body shifts in their development.)

Just waking up, these are the first things I would think of that could cause a hard bump... But definitely check with your doctor!

(My son had a small calcium deposit at the base of his skull as an infant. I am not sure if it is there any longer, but I do not feel it and the doctor was not alarmed when I mentioned it at his well baby.)

Don't stress~ that is the worse thing for you... Just know he is fine! :)

is he in any pain or has he fallen recently. I only ask because My 9 year old had a fall and all of the sudden it looked to me like he had a rib hanging out. it felt like a bone. it didnt move it was weird. so i took him in they did x rays. well it was the soft tissue/ muscles in between the rib that was hurt. which is nothing really but a fancy bruise and it stayed like that two weeks then went away. I just thought if i mentioned it it may trigger a menmory or something of when he fell that you may not remember. well good luck at the doctors. make sure to post what happens i am sure we will all be waiting to know. Don't worry,