Lump on abdomen, feel dismissed

Hi,

I went to the doctor about a month ago about this hard lump i can feel on my upper right abdomen. I can’t feel a large part of my ribs on the right side because there is something covering it. I know there is something there as on my left side there is nothing there and I can feel all my ribs. The upper right abdomen also just feels really uncomfortable and it just feels like there is something there, and I also sometimes get tingling and pain there.

However, the frustrating this is, is that it isn’t visible to other people like when I stand up or even when I lay down, I can only see it from my angle. And the doctor felt it and said she could not feel anything and that I was likely just imagining it. This is really frustrating as no I am not, I have never imagined any other health condition before and am pretty sure I am of sound mind…I also don’t enjoy going to the doctors whatsoever and try to avoid it where possible so it takes a lot for me to even go so that clearly shows I am obviously not just making it up and I’m not imagining it. I just feel really dismissed and I can genuinely feel with my literal hands a mass there. She also said that it can’t be tingling as the liver doesn’t have nerve endings…well ok, but it is lol.

So yeah it just worries me as I don’t want to annoy them by going back if they’re just thinking i’m crazy or something, but at the same time I really can physically feel something there and it’s my life at the end of the day…not really something to take risks on if I feel it could be cancer. I would just appreciate some advice on what to do. 

Thank you.

  • Hello smjemsx, 

    As you feel you have been dismissed and not taken seriously, you are well within your rights to ask for a second opinion and no one will be annoyed or think you are crazy. You are entitled to seek a second opinion and to emphasise when you see the doctor that you can definitely feel something there and ask to be examined. So it would be a good idea to try and talk to another doctor just for peace of mind. You can find out more about getting a second opinion on this page.  

    I hope you get another appointment soon and that you get some clarity very soon. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator