Stabbing pain at upper right rib cage: Every minute is panic to me

Hi. This is just me and my experiences. But in my 68 years doctors (many) have always been very honest with me. When it was likely good news they shared that. When I had liver cancer or that I needed a new liver before the cancer spread they shared that too. Before I retired I was a manager in at the legal department of a major asset manager and then a private investment bank. In these litigious times it is always safer for doctors to tell it like it is rather than sugar coat to avoid possible law suits. If both of those doctors , independently, shared they thought you would be ok I think that is more likely than not. Hang in there. Best of luck. (---:

@craigcraig
Thanks for your reply,
This March I have a lot of things going on. I just want to come back to normal life after I got back results from MRI and Colonoscopy.
I understand most people having the same thinking ( What's happen if MRI gave bad news or I have colon cancer ? ) that questions all around on my head.
This time is just very hard time for me.

Vicky, your liver lesions are very small and very common. 13mm liver lesions would be suspicious. You are receiving especially diligent care.
Even if the MRI gives unlikely worst bad news, you'll still be returning to normal life. Cancer care has advanced in recent years. You'd just receive treatment.
While it may be impossible to calm your nerves until you get those results, it doesn't advantage you to torture yourself. It can't change the outcome.
You might call the radiology lab to try and get in earlier on a cancellation.
Wishing you luck, but thinking you won't need it.

@gently
Thanks for your reply,
I'm trying calm myself by keep hoping that is not Malignant from MRI result. I don't want any bad news and all people around me said that would be a benign. Because of all my liver test function now is normal. I'm keep hoping.
I called the MRI center to put me on the list to waiting for soon availale already.
This time is very hard to me.

Good morning from Canada
I am not a doctor not a nurse. I have no formal medical training. But I have been living with liver disease for almost my entire life. I was diagnosed with primary biliary chelangas 15 years ago. Had a liver transplant 5 years ago. I get tested regularly every year for different types of cancers post liver transplant because of the medications that I take and if you had cancer there would be a marker and trust me they would have tested you for it and then they would do biopsies. Liver lesions are quite normal. I have one. My donor had it and it came with it but it's non-cancerous and they just monitor it every year. I wish you good luck in your journey and the best of Health 💓

Vicky, sometimes people trying to calm you produce more anxiety as you try to tell them, " I'm in danger."
Ten years ago I had colorectal cancer. I was to wait a months before the colonoscopy. Instead, I traveled the state and then the country getting an earlier diagnosis and then the treatment I'd decided would be best. After some months and many discouraging encounters with physicians, I was stuck for two months a beautiful California town next to a glorious stretch of beach. After the first two painless radiation treatments, the tumor collapsed and the tumor pain was gone. I ran on the beach every day and though I was in La Jolla, San Diego is nearby and has the best dance venue of anyplace in the world. I danced.
For the first and only time in my life I worried only about myself. I met fascinating people many of them also in cancer treatment. I fit seamlessly back into normal life after an amazing interlude.
It's good that you are getting timely care with diligent doctors, even though it's more scary than ignoring any possibility no matter how slight.
I hope you get in earlier for the MRI and pray that you have nothing to worry about.

@gently
Thanks for your comment.
I'm trying relax and get anything worry out oft my mind now. Everyone understand that waiting time is a panic and horrible time and depending people can take or handle it.
Thanks for sharing your story.

@footballmum
Thanks for your comment and sharing the story.

I'm 37 years old, female. I went to ER at Feb 27 2026 cause stabbing pain at upper right ( rib cage). Every test done came out normal ( Ultrasound, blood test including liver function and urine test ). but CT scan showed : Indeterminate 4.3cm x 3,9cm hypodense lesion in the lateral segment of the left hepatic lobe.

I scheduled for MRI, but my GI run for the blood test that make sure more I don't have cancer

Hepatities A B C - negative
CEA < 2 normal range
BUT

CA 19-9 ( Cancer Antigen ): 34 U/mL REFERENCE RANGE : 34U/mL Borderline

AFP ( ALPHA FETOPROTEIN, TUMOR MARKER ): 7.8 ng/mL REFERENCE RANGE < 6.1 ng/mL Abnormal

I'm so so worry about that two test. I do a lot of research that test is not 100% that I have cancer . The research showed me if the Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) liver lesion that would be AFP > 400 ng/mL
but mine is just 7.8 ng/mL so why the result marked Abnormal.
I have portal meaning I saw the result before my doctor call me that take more than 3 days to get review and call
I'm so panic now , please help me understand before my doctor call me . I just want to hope that I don't have cancer

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @vickysampson1989 . Waiting is brutal when you are concerned about getting bad news on the other end.

You sound worried due to the borderline/abnormal results. I think this is natural to be concerned and to have some fear of cancer, as we as humans have seen so many people struggle with cancer. You also deserve some solid answers and perspective on your results from a medical professional. Lingering question marks where cancer is involved are painful and concerning.

I had the personal experience of having abnormal colonoscopy results a couple years back. Of course, my colonoscopy was on a Friday, so I got the radiologic results and pathology results three days before I got to speak to my doctor. The results sounded alarming and like I might well have cancer, but were really written in language for fellow radiologists and pathologists.

My husband, who is a really smart tech guy, could not totally understand the bottom line of my results either. We thought they might be saying I had neuroendocrine cancer or a marker for it. But we just weren't sure.

It was pretty tortuous waiting for the doctor over the weekend, but I knew that input from anyone else might mean they'd know my results and medical history less well and thus be less qualified to give me the best information.

The bottom line for me was that I did have neuroendocrine cancer, but it was low risk. Many, many tests later, the doctors determined that I no longer had any cancer left in my body.

I'd like to introduce you to @tomrennie, who may have some thoughts for you as you wait with high concern about your liver test results.

Have you gotten to share any of this with a friend or family member, vickysampson1989? If so, what did they say?