Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/31/2005

Question
My wife has colon cancer stage IV with cancer in liver and ovaries. She also suffers from Arachnoiditis, which causes chronic pain. Arachnoiditis was contracted from several back surgeries. We also over came a spinal cord infection last year, after weeks in intravenous therapy every 12 hours. Chemo may be too difficult because of her frail condition. Doctor has said 2-6 months with no chemo and 12-24 with chemo.
My wife showed some systems of colon cancer (I now know). We went to doctor 9 weeks ago to find out why she has weight loss, bowel and balatter problems, and fatigue. She also has pain on her left side, attributed to constipation, caused by oxycontin she take for her cronic pain.  They did CT scans, xrays and ultra sounds and could find nothing wrong. They sent her to a GBYN and he found a cist. Had it ultra sound and he said it appeared normal just her time of the month. He had her give some blood just to check.
Before we got the results she was having such horrible pain, we went to emergency room. Well after two days of testing, Stage IV colon cancer.
Had most of her colon removed and a hysterectomy.
My understanding is it takes longer than 8-10 weeks to develop to this  stage
How could they miss it?
She knows there is little hope, but wants to know… how will she go? Will it be painful? She has had chronic pain for 9 years and doesn't think she can take much more.
Overwhelmed
Sorry for long post


Answer
I'm VERY sorry for her - & your - problems! I do not understand either how her condition could be missed initially! Especially after such thorough examinations! But many times it is a matter of what you are looking for. If you are just looking for some specific things you may miss other things! And with a bowel tumour the best examination remains a colonoscopy, which is not on your list of examinations made in her case. Yet if it has spread to her liver it is hard to understand how both a CT & an ultrasound could miss that! Unfortunately it may be painful and also cause other problems like belly swelling, jaundice, nausea, fatigue and anemia among others. She obviously should be a case for a pain specialist in order to avoid it as much as possible and given the diagnosis he/she should not hesitate to be generous with necessary drugs to achieve that result! Again, I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!