Connect
← Return to Stabbing pain at upper right rib cage: Every minute is panic to me
Discussion
Stabbing pain at upper right rib cage: Every minute is panic to me
Liver Diseases | Last Active: Mar 19 11:38pm | Replies (23)Comment receiving replies
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
Replies to "I'm 37 years old, female. I went to ER at Feb 27 2026 cause stabbing pain..."
Connect
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?