Ok, I'm a little freaked out this morning

[OC]

Just before I hopped into the shower I did a big stretch. While stretching I looked down at my chest and there's a golf-ball sized lump. It doesn't protrude when I'm standing normally, which is probably why I didn't notice it before. It's very firm to the touch, but not painful.

Time to see the doc, methinks. "Lump" is a four-letter word, you know? :(

-OC

[oblongmelon]

if it's mid chest at the bottom of the sternum-tis nothing to worry over..I'll fill you in later this evening on IM

[ironchef]

care to fill us all in? sounds... interesting?

i had a friend with a similar thing a long time ago, but we were youngins then, like early teens. don't remember what came of it, but he's still a friend, so i reckon the melon's right on this :)

[whitak24]

hope everything's ok oc. lumps can be bad...but hopefully this is the kind that doesn't matter :)

[pagemap]

Definately get that checked out. I am thinking that if it just appeared overnight its probably not cancerous. Cancer does not grow that quickly.

[BigJon]

i would just get it checked just for safety

[theorangeone]

Definitely get it checked out!
Hopefully it'll be nothing, but it can never hurt to see the doctor.

Did you know that men can get breast cancer too? Every year, about 1,500 men will be diagnosed with the disease.

[chrissy]

First, listen to Obby (she is the bestest)

Second, get it checked out.

Orange, my Papa J had breast cancer. When I fill a chart out at the dr's office, they always give me a second look and say are you sure? LOL

[Jenny]

Originally posted by theorangeone
Did you know that men can get breast cancer too? Every year, about 1,500 men will be diagnosed with the disease.

My husband had either 1 or 2 great (or even great great) uncles die of that. This was years and years ago, of course, but it's scary. His mom had it and had a mastectomy, so Scott has to be VERY careful.

Good luck, oc. Let us know what the doc. (& Obby) says.

[Hiro]

I know what it is if Oblong is correct, however just to be on the safe side I am with everyone else in stating that you should see a Doctor.

You'll be fine though man. ;)

[aglio412]

Originally posted by overclocked
Just before I hopped into the shower I did a big stretch. While stretching I looked down at my chest and there's a golf-ball sized lump. It doesn't protrude when I'm standing normally, which is probably why I didn't notice it before. It's very firm to the touch, but not painful.

Time to see the doc, methinks. "Lump" is a four-letter word, you know? :(

-OC

if it makes you feel any better, i've had a few small lumps, not golf ball size...but some were close, ended up being calcium deposits that went away after a while.

but DEFINITELY go to the doc and get checked.

i hope everything is ok :(

[brainsmile]

Originally posted by aglio412


if it makes you feel any better, i've had a few small lumps, not golf ball size...but some were close, ended up being calcium deposits that went away after a while.

that was my first thought

[oblongmelon]

like I said earlier...if it is located at the bottom of the sternum, the chance that it is a slight protrusion of the xiphoid process is pretty good. On occaison, displacement of the ribcage's normal stature (ie: while stretching)will sometimes cause the xiphoid to project itself forward-causing the appearance of a hard (or solid) mass towards the center of the chest somewhere along or between the nipple line. Sometimes the entire rib seating will remain in a displaced state while the chest ligatures contract slowly back to their original placement. This is a common thing among "older type" (SORRY OC) males, while the xiphoid is more cartilagenous w in it's younger states,older males see it in a more ossified state-thus causing everyday functions to make it seem as though it is protruding through the chest wall.If you've lost weight recently, or had alot of breathing difficulties in which you are doing alot of diaphram contracting, or if you are doing wierd backwards type bending stretching movements-it will seem to be more noticable for some reason.Don't forget-as you get older your skin gets thinner,thus causing you to notice alot of things that have been there all along.. My advice to you is..it can't hurt to have it looked at if it really bothers you-but keep note of it's placement,color,size etc, and whether or not it's tender to the touch etc so you can inform your physcian about it if you see him..

[Ladogaboy]

Yes, oblong is probably right, but it still might be a good idea to check it out.

Also, but I've only seen this on very skinny guys, the ribs do have a tendency to bend out in strange ways. After all, they are connected to the sternum by cartilage.

In addition, if it is the upper-chest, it could just be the clavicle (I forget the technical term).

There is also one other possibility. It could be a type of cyst. Oil getting blocked up in a pore could cause an internal infection of sorts. It wouldn't necessarily be painful, either. It wouldn't be all together dangerous, but it would need to be removed.

[hapoo]

3rd nipple?

[molecularfire]

Definately get that checked out. I am thinking that if it just appeared overnight its probably not cancerous. Cancer does not grow that quickly
Not true... in fact, it's a really bad sign if a cancer grows that quickly. Same advice: Get it checked out. It's better to have a good laugh with your doctor than a good cry with your family. :)

[OC]

Welp, I just saw the doctor and Obby was right - it is the the xiphoid process. Nothing to worry about.

I'm going to crash for an hour - today was like trying not to think about the pink elephant in the corner, and I'm mentally very tired...

Thanks for all the good wishes peeps! :)

-OC

[DoPeY5007]

glade to hear you or OK OC ;)

[hapoo]

Originally posted by DarkFury

for those of us who don't know... what is the xiphoid process?


ohh come on darkfury... we all know the xiphoid process is a record label in san fransisco! (http://xiphoidprocess.com/) :rolleyes: :)

[Blu]

Probably swallowed a golf ball. You should be more careful!

[oblongmelon]

Originally posted by DarkFury

for those of us who don't know... what is the xiphoid process?
its the very end of the sternum (or breastbone)that sits almost directly above your heart-when doing CPR, you would locate the xiphoid process in order to find the precise spot to place the heel of your hand in order to do compressions.

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by oblongmelon

its the very end of the sternum (or breastbone)that sits almost directly above your heart-when doing CPR, you would locate the xiphoid process in order to find the precise spot to place the heel of your hand in order to do compressions.

NOOOO!!!! hehe, j/k, kind of...

You use the xiphoid process to orient yourself when doing CPR, but because the xiphoid process can break off due to pressure and puncture a lung or the person's heart, you don't apply pressure directly to it. I think you are supposed to be 2-4" above the xiphoid process.

Also, xiphoid (I'm not exactly sure if it is sword or something else similar) means something like sword, and a process is any type of bony protrusion. So a xiphoid process is a swordlike protrusion off of the sternum (breast bone).

[Jenny]

Originally posted by Ladogaboy
You use the xiphoid process to orient yourself when doing CPR, but because the xiphoid process can break off due to pressure and puncture a lung or the person's heart, you don't apply pressure directly to it. I think you are supposed to be 2-4" above the xiphoid process.

Actually, I think that's what she meant. Not put your hand on it but use it to find the place. And unless it has changed since my lifeguarding days in junior high/early high school, you find the xiphoid process and put 2 fingers on it and place the heel of your other hand above those 2 fingers. Am I correct, Obby?

[oblongmelon]

please note that I did not say you DO COMPRESSIONS DIRECTLY ON THE XIPHOID..I said you use it to locate the area in which you would place your hand to do compressions. I believe my explanation was QUITE sufficient.

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by oblongmelon
please note that I did not say you DO COMPRESSIONS DIRECTLY ON THE XIPHOID..I said you use it to locate the area in which you would place your hand to do compressions. I believe my explanation was QUITE sufficient.

Hehe, yeah, it just kind of sounded like you said put your hand there (of course, no one should attempt CPR without training anyway).

Oh, yeah, and Jenny, I think you're right: 2 fingers and then put the heal of your hand above it.

[boonerdog]

I've always had a protruding XP (it's the downward pointing tip of the sternum bone located over the heart). Cancer can grow anyplace, but one remote possibility is if your heart is enlarged, as mine is. I have inflated cardiomyopathy which is causing the heart to enlarge and push the XP outward. You'd probably have figured out if you have inflated Cardio-myopathy (a very serious disease) due to its other symptoms, but it's something to be aware of.

[DarkFury]

Holy Golden Shovel award Batman! :eek:

Wow... all the way back to 2002. Someone must've been google searching for this topic.