Experience with lipoma?

22 years ago

yesterday I noticed a strange lump on DS's back (the 5 y/o). It seemed large for to not have noticed it before this. It's a little bigger around than a quarter and raised about 3/4" from his back. It's hard but loose, it moves a little when pushed, not like it's stuck to a bone. There is no bruise associated with it, DS says it hurts just a little when touched, but hasn't complained about it. It was a fluke that I was looking at his back closely.

So not wasting any time, I called the doc today (our first visit with the new pediatrician since the move). His diagnosis is a lipoma, benign fatty deposit. But he said it should still be removed and referred me to a sugeon (mom gasps). Now I'm waiting to hear on the time/date for the surgeon apt. to confirm this and the need for sugeory. But the ped. says it will probably have to be removed to confirm that's what it is and that it is benign.

I'm sure it'll be nothing. Still, surgeory on my little guy! Ugh! My FIL had one of these a few years ago, the doc says they are very rare in children. So can I blame my FIL for this? Just kidding.

I'm rambling cuz I'm a little nervous. DS doesn't seem to care. He really doesn't understand that it has to be cut out. I know that'll freak him out.

ANy knowledge or experience to share would do a mom good right now (as long as it's good news, don't tell me scary stories right now, ok).

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Adella Bedella
22 years ago
I had one. I noticed it in college. I went to 2 different doctors to make sure that they gave me the same diagnosis of what it was because I had never heard of them before. It was recommended that I have it removed if it started growing because at the time I found it, it was considered cosmetic surgery. I lived with mine for 3 or 4 years and then it started growing because it was directly under my bra on my back and was experiencing a lot of friction from the bra. The doctor that I had remove it was a specialist in oncology and cosmetic surgery.

I had my lipoma removed at the hospital and went home an hour or two later. I was a little sore,but not real bad after the first 24-48 hours. The hospital did a biopsy on the lipoma and it came back negative. I was told that 99% of them are benign. They don't know what causes them.

My doctor told me there were two choices for cutting them out- liposuction or making an incision and scooping it out. I chose the latter. I would encourage having it removed right away just for piece of mind. The only reason I had put my surgery off was because I was in college and was having a hard time scheduling around my classes. By the time I had it removed, it went from being cosmetic surgery to necessary surgery. Anyway, my case turned out good. I had the surgery in '95 and it hasn't grown back. I have about a 3" scar, but that doesn't bother me.
aileen
22 years ago
Think of it as removing a great big fat splinter. You wouldn't think of that as being "surgery" would you? It would be just sliting the skin and lifting the lipoma out. They may do it under a local instead of a general anesthesia.

Your son will pick up clues from you. If you act worried, he will worry. So please think of this as nothing to get upset or excited about and he will do the same.
Related Discussions
Swollen Hand
Q
Comments (78)
Just got back from the hand specialist. It was definately a Lipoma. He told me that he got out all of the tumor and capsule so it should not recure in that particular spot. The bandage and stitches are gone. I must say that he did really nice work. The incision was made along the lifeline, so the scar won't be very noticeable. The most likely cause was the repeated striking of my left palm against the shovel along with my weight. Folks who are overweight yet still exert themselves (i.e. middle aged rose gardeners) are more likely to develop these things. I've gained most of the weight back from last year's weight watchers diet. So there it is. As for my hand the only covering is a series of surgical strips. These should come off in a couple of days. At that time I start the hand exercises. Full strength should return in 3-4 weeks. Then I can use it in the garden. Other than loosing weight there really isn't much more I can do to prevent this from happening to other parts of my body. The health benefits of gardening far outweigh the risk of getting more lipomas. BTW, the hands, feet, knees, and back are the most likely spots to develop fatty tumors. Needless to say I start another diet TODAY. Better break out those weight watchers books.
...See More
How's Obama care working out for you?
Q
Comments (110)
so I will be paying THROUGH THE NOSE for poor coverage. I assume you are speaking as someone who already went to the ACA website, filled out the application and can see what coverage and at what premium is available to you? --------------------------------- Prior to ACA, I had to pay for my mammogram because I never met my deductible. Today, I had my "wellness" mammogram and it was so nice to not have to pay anything out of pocket. BTW, my premium is half what it used to be. Anyway, something interesting happened. I've been getting yearly mammograms since I was 30. My breasts are riddled with lipomas so as a precaution I get screened every year plus an automatic sonogram. My poor boobs have been poked, biopsied and aspirated many times so I've felt that the addition of the sonogram every year is just overkill. We know what they are, we know what they feel like and what they look like. They are completely different than other types of tumors. So I get the mammo and the technician starts complaining about how Obama isn't going to let me get a sonogram unless something shows up on the mammogram. She actually said "Obama" and didn't say a word about the insurance company. I said not getting an unnecessary test made sense to me and she just looked at me like I had three heads.
...See More
aspirating a lump
Q
Comments (9)
The antibiotics are for the potential infection from the aspiration itself - not the lump. I'm sure that the lump is not infected - it's something else. But vets don't find out every type of bacteria they're dealing with - they give "broad spectrum" antibiotics first and those usually work. I've never had a wound become infected and I usually give tetracycline (an old-fashioned antibiotic). I have 16 dogs and they do get in fights so I rarely take a dog to the vet for a wound. People who fight dogs for sport don't use vets. They take care of their own wounds - even though the average person is offended by that - it's true. Good evidence of the felony of dog fighting is having antibiotics on hand. Don't you think that vets lose sight of the common mans' ability to handle medical conditions? It's the difference between how livestock and pet dogs are handled. It's the culture of pet ownership. For example, aren't cattle castrated without anesthetic? Is that because they have less nerve endings than dogs or because we wouldn't want to do that to our sweet little puppy dogs? How often would a vet tell a patient to "take some antibiotics, keep the wound clean and it will heal?" No, they'll spend your $200 and suture it up. After having many dogs, I've learned that wounds heal - just need to prevent infection. I think that vets are somehow taught to be so safety-conscious that we laypeople have to educate ourselves on basic health care. I use vets a lot though - but I also can avoid them too. I live near Mexico and antibiotics and prednisone are otc there - what does that tell you about American medicine? I'm a different type of dog owner than most people on this forum - I know that. One of my dogs dislodged his entire top canine tooth (one of them) and it was just hanging there by a piece of flesh. I brought her home, gave her a muscle relaxant and severed the flesh - . No way I'm going to spend money on that small procedure. hope i haven't alienated too many, vicky
...See More
Mast Cell Tumors in dogs
Q
Comments (11)
Thanks for the good thoughts, they are much appreciated. Sending good thoughts your way that Tasha's lump is just a lipoma. And since you've had a lot of experience with lumps, I bet that's all it is because you'd likely be able to tell if it was something worrisome. Same here re. the pet cancer situation. BB is number 8, and the third dog with cancer we've had. And 4 of the kitties had it. BB is 11 and he was also just diagnosed with hypothyroid, which accounts for his tremendous weight gain over the past year. And his weight gain makes it more dangerous to undergo anesthesia, but the tumor has to come out. So scary and difficult. Sometimes I envy people who don't have pets. It is just too darn hard and painful when they are ill or just getting old and frail.
...See More
Kara_PA
22 years ago
My husband has something that sounds very similar. Our doctor called it a cyst, but basically the same description, and says it should be removed b/c it could erupt & cause infection. He's getting it done next week, in the dr's office, with a local. I'll let you know then how it went, and I'm sure your son will be fine.

In the meantime, pin anything you can on in-laws!
Sallyab
22 years ago
Stephanie,
A few years ago, we found a lump on the back of my son's knee. The dr. referred to it as a bakers cyst, and also we got an ultrasound of it, to make sure it was not a tumor. We were told to watch it, to see if it grew or caused pain, but it dissapeared after about 6 months on its own. Before you schedule the surgery, make sure it is completely necessary, and I wish your son good health.
Stephanie_in_TN
Original Author
22 years ago
Thank you all. In fact, it does seem a little smaller this week that when I first noticed it. We will see the surgeon (for consultation) Thursday. I will ask about a million questions, including regarding ultrasound on it. Hopefully, this will do the same as Sallab's son and go away without surgery.

Experience with lipoma?

Comments (5)

Adella Bedella

aileen

Related Discussions

Kara_PA

Sallyab

Stephanie_in_TN
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Experience with lipoma?

Comments (5)

Adella Bedella

aileen

Related Discussions

Kara_PA

Sallyab

Stephanie_in_TNOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Stephanie_in_TN
Original Author