Dearest Shame --

I can only repeat the urgency of sitting down with a telephone and finding a clinic to examine you. As one writer pointed out, it could be a small infection or a cyst. Now, you would not want a small infection to turn into one a big one that will make the days even harder? If it is cancer and you do not want treatment, you will then be in a position to reject it.

I had a friend whose rib hurt her for more than a year. Each time she coughed, she was in serious pain. She smokes, and she was afraid to find out what it might be. It was a cracked rib.

I do hope you will look into this.