My Son's "Breast" Hurts

Updated on July 10, 2017
M.D. asks from San Jose, CA
15 answers

Hello. I have an 11 yr old son who is a little overweight. He has been complaining that his right "breast" is sore. I have noticed that it is larger than the left side and the nipple is also larger. I am wondering if it is just growing pains or because he is overweight or if it could be something more serious. It is only sore when he presses on it and there is no discharge or anything like that. I really appreciate the help. Thank you.

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J.K.

answers from Fresno on

It could very well be nothing but could also be something so take him to the dr right away. He may need to have a mammogram in fact I would insist on it especially if his dr tries to brush it off. Ask your gynocologist before going to his dr.

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D.B.

answers from San Francisco on

My son brought the same thing to my attention about a week ago. He said his right nipple was sore and there was a small, raisin sized bump underneath. I felt the area, and sure enough it was like a little rock. I began doing online research and felt much better after reading how common this was for boys going through puberty.

Apparently, at the onset of puberty, boys bodies release a whole lot of hormones. This seems to occur between the ages of 11 and 14 years and lasts usually more than a year. This release of hormones very often causes soreness and lumps in the breast area. It usually occurs underneath the nipple of both breasts but often can appear in just one or the other. When I spoke to his doctor, he said this was very normal and no cause for alarm unless there is:

*leakage from the nipple,
*raised red tenderness and swelling,
*The lump appears to be fixed to the skin,
*The skin is cracked or has the appearance of being infected,
*The lump changes in size and appearance.

Of course you should check in with your doctor, but I just wanted to pass along my "findings" on this issue so that you won't worry yourself sick in the meantime.

Take care!
D.-

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R.S.

answers from Modesto on

my 12yo also had this issue (small lump in one breast) and off to the doctor we went. He told me the long medical name for it, but basically it's just a sign of starting puberty; hormones. He's now 14yo and still has it. The doc said it could take until he's 18 years old to go away. But I agree with the other responses, you should hear this information first hand from your son's doctor to be safe.

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W.E.

answers from Sacramento on

My son had a lump come up under his nipple last year at age 11. off to the doctors we went, 'cause of course the first thing i thought of was breast cancer. the doc said it's glandular and has to do with puberty. the lump disappeared on its own, but it sure made both my son and i aware of how important it is to stay on top of lumps, bumps, and bruises. when he takes a shower he runs his hands all over himself to check for "stuff" that might be out of the ordinary. take him to the doctor right away, cause you never know, it could be puberty, it could be something else. better safe than sorry.

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M.S.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi M. -

Sorry to hear your son is having some troubles. Boys get breasts from being overweight but also too much estrogen in their bodies. (yes males have estrogen) Some of this is caused by what we eat, how we cook, plastics, etc. I would definitely take him in because there may be something else going on that a doctor can figure out. Good luck.

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L.P.

answers from San Francisco on

First off this is just personal, not professional advice- I'm in school, but not there yet.

The good thing is that things like breast cancer, rarely produce pain. Discharge would be a cause for concern, but that doesn't seem to be an issue. The change is size could be an indicator of a hormonal inbalance. Pain could be a condition where the ribs-collar bone have inflamation of the tissue surronding them, causing tenderness in that area, its kinda like arthritis. I reccomend you see your Dr. and have it checked out. Better safe then sorry!

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G.R.

answers from Sacramento on

Take him to the dr. It probably isn't anything serious, but it could be. Just make sure.

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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Time for the doctor.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

Dear M.,
You definitely need to have your son checked by the pediatrician to be safe, but, boys actually can experience breast tenderness with the onset of puberty.
My friend's son was overweight and right around the time he started getting some hair under his armpits, his breasts became tender and his nipples inverted. It looked scary and serious, but there was nothing medically wrong. As he grew taller, he thinned out and everything went back to normal.
Have him checked just to be on the safe side.

Best wishes!

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N.M.

answers from San Francisco on

it's probably only growing pains. however, since it is site specific, i would have your doctor check it out.

N.

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H.D.

answers from San Francisco on

That would make me raise my eyebrow. I would take him to the doctor.

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Y.M.

answers from Redding on

I would have it checked out by a doctor, just to be safe.

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E.M.

answers from Bakersfield on

Hi M.-
I say better safe than sorry and have it checked out at the doctor. It may be nothing, it may be bruised, he may have a minor infection. At any rate, it is better to have it checked and be nothing than to let it go and there really be something wrong.
Hope this helps
-E.

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C.S.

answers from Williamsport on

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G.B.

answers from Boise on

Since Hormones could be playing a part here- I would make sure that you are not adding foods to his diet that deliver estrogen. That would be any foods with SOY added to them.
Soy is in most processed foods (ice cream, soy milk, weiner filler, chicken nugget breading, protien bars and shakes, ..YOU NAME it...look for it and you will be surprised) Look for: Soy isolate, soy casienate, soy protien, soy extract, ect.

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