[Anonymous]

I've had this weird lump type thing sort of underneath my right ribs for about 4/5 years now, I can see it sometimes if I bend in a weird way, but it seems to have gotten bigger recently. It sort of feels like an uncomfortable pressure around that area and the area around it sort of is harder than the other side, does anyone know what this could be? It's probably about the size of a tennis ball/bit smaller.

I know I should see my GP about it an all, but the main reason I've ignored it for so long is because I'm pretty terrified of what he'll say it is/send me for some sort of scan, if I had to get a scan i'd probably have some sort of mental breakdown because I am that much of a paranoid wimp.

Is it normal? or..not? I get so ridiculously upset about it sometimes, confine myself to cancer and just accept that I'm dying, then a few weeks later realise that was stupid and ignore it again.

[Anonymous]

I had something similar to this and it's just a cyst. You can have it drained

[mel_1991]

I have one on my ribs and a few on my back. It's just a cyst and most of the time, they'll leave it unless it begins to get really painful but like Anon said you can have it drained, if it'll give you peace of mind.

[Anonymous]

(Original post by mel_1991)
I have one on my ribs and a few on my back. It's just a cyst and most of the time, they'll leave it unless it begins to get really painful but like Anon said you can have it drained, if it'll give you peace of mind.

It's not like, on my ribs or anything though it's like inside me more, like, under them as in where your organs are not as in below my ribs, wouldn't a cyst have to grow on something? it kind of feels like...soft and hard, kinda like how toned muscle feels but obviously in a weird lump shape.

[Anonymous]

Don't want to annoy people by making another thread, but how likely is it to get mouth cancer from smoking at 21? about 10 a day for 4 years or so, just that I have this tiny lump in my mouth on the inside of my jaw near my tongue, it's been there ages and I think it was there before I smoked but can't be entirely sure, it feels kind of like bone but I can move it a little.

[mel_1991]

(Original post by Anonymous)
It's not like, on my ribs or anything though it's like inside me more, like, under them as in where your organs are not as in below my ribs, wouldn't a cyst have to grow on something? it kind of feels like...soft and hard, kinda like how toned muscle feels but obviously in a weird lump shape.

Ahh, I see what you mean. Mine is more on top on the rib-bone but not attached to the bone but the texture of it seems like the same.

I'm pretty sure cysts can grow on skin/muscle so it is more than likely a cyst (the ones I have aren't attached and I've had them checked by two/three different doctors and a x ray).

I would advise you see a GP, it'll put your mind at ease in the long run.

[Sean3000]

Does it move with breathing? Might be your liver edge- this may or may not be significant, occasionally lipomas (benign collection of fatty tissue) can occur here too.

You're going to end up more worried if you dont go to your GP, who will in all likelihood, find an innocent explanation for it.

In terms of further investigations, an ultrasound (no radiation, probe with jelly) might be deemed appropriate by your GP.

[GordonP]

Haven't read the OP, but if you are worried enough to ask people on here you should be asking a real doctor.

[jimbo139]

where is it exactly - in the midline or off to one side?

[Anonymous]

(Original post by jimbo139)
where is it exactly - in the midline or off to one side?

it's sort of under my last ribs on the right, so, to the side I guess

[BananaWhale]

If it's been there that long and you've not experienced any other symptoms then im sure it wont be anything serious, especially not cancer! Just go to your GP and get it checked out
Even if it was some sort of tumor, it's not rapidly growing or anything so I'm sure they'll be able to treat it easily.
And scans are a good thing! They can diagnose things as being harmless as well as serious, because you've not described any other symptoms I'm sure it'll be something harmless.

But yeah, go and get it checked out anyway! x

[almasy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Su..._the_trunk.png
where abouts is it from that image (as far as T# or L# goes)

[Anonymous]

(Original post by almasy)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Su..._the_trunk.png
where abouts is it from that image (as far as T# or L# goes)

K that's kind of confusing but I'd say about L2/3ish It's hard to know exactly, cause I can't see it and it moves, but about there.