Worried about right rib pain and hard mass

Hi Everyone - worried 25 year old here!! Cutting to the chase, I'm a smoker but trying so hard to stop or at least cut down. I went for an X-ray last year October 2021 because I thought I felt a hard mass under my right 10th Rib (quite literally on the side of my body where my waist is). I also had a chest infection so my doctor felt that area and said "it's just your rib... I think you're stressed". He sent me for an XRay regardless and I never heard back about it even though I asked about it but he just shrugged it off. The radiographer said lightly to me before she sent it off to him that she couldn't see anything alarming. So I literally just breathed and got on with my life. Fast forward onto now  (so almost a year on), I feel like I can feel it again on my right side and it's hurting me, probably because I keep prodding it. I feel like it's something sinister and to go along with it, my ribs feel bruised in that area right under my right breast. Now I hate saying the word but I'm scared out of my mind I have lung cancer or a tumour. Though not even a year ago, my XRay was clear.... I assume. So do you all think I'm worrying about nothing? I work in healthcare so I asked my manager to feel the area and she said she couldn't feel anything. 
it doesn't hurt I breathe or take deep breaths. My chest infection cleared up with antibiotics and I don't feel wheezy or any blood loss. I am just obsessing over that one area by my right ribs all of the time. Does anyone know what organ could be sitting right under the 10th rib? I have it on my left side too but it's nowhere near as big and it's not painful like the right one. 
i have a 2 year old daughter and my mother has lymphoma cancer. We've had 5 people in my family die of sudden heart attacks and cancers in the last 5 years so not surprisingly my health anxiety is through the roof all of the time.

what should I do? Should I go back again and mention the same issue??

thankyou!

  • Hello and thanks for posting,

    Unfortunately, this forum is not really meant for people worried about symptoms. I can appreciate your worry, and this may be due partly to your family experience.

    It isn't very likely to be cancer in someone of your young age. You have possibly strained muscles from coughing. 

    It would be a good idea for you to make an effort to stop smoking though, as this can lead to health issues later on in your life. It would also reduce the chances of you developing further chest infections. 

    You are clearly anxious about this. Maybe make an appointment to see a GP and discuss your concerns. They can assess you and advise you further. 

    Do mention your health anxiety to them. This can get out of proportion at times, and you may need some help to get this more manageable on a day to day basis.

    When we are anxious or a little depressed in mood generally, then health can become overly focused on. You could look at the NHS Every Mind Matters website, 

    www.nhs.uk/.../

    as it has some useful information about managing anxiety.

    I hope that you are able to get help soon.

    Best wishes,

    Vanda