Colette Morrison

In 1995 following several years of episodic attacks of severe abdominal pain and vomiting, I was surgically diagnosed with small bowel carcinoid tumors. I had a bowel resection at that time and was diagnosed by pathology that also showed positive lymph nodes in 3 out of 10 nodes. A second bowel obstruction six months later required another surgical reduction.

I developed the carcinoid syndrome two years later with flushing and diarrhea and the appearance of suspicious findings in my liver. Over the next five years I had to be treated on a daily basis for abdominal infection caused by a left over penrose drain tubing that was left in my abdomen. This required over fourteen different outpatient and surgical procedures over that five year period as well as multiple antibiotic therapies.

I was started on sandostatin injections in 1997, three years after my initial diagnosis. I was also started on BCG orally once a month. This is a form of chemotherapy that boosts the immune system to help reduce tumor growth. I had a porta catheter inserted in my chest during one of my surgeries as my hand veins became impossible to use for intravenous therapies.

The tumor growth in my liver has been slow and only increased in size over the past year or so. My syndrome has increased considerably with flushing, diarrhea,. heart palpitations and wheezing. Fatigue has been my biggest complaint. I am a physiotherapist and had to go on long term disability in 1999 because I was unable to work on a consistent basis. Presently I take sandostatin LAR 60 every 21 days, as well as the BCG once monthly. I take oral hydromorph for abdominal pain twice daily and rescue shots of sandostatin when necessary.

I went to London, Ontario five months ago and met with doctors there. They sent their recommendations for me to have chemoembolization and I am following up on their recommendations with a specialist in Halifax, Nova Scotia who will do the first Lipiodol assay in early January.

November 2007 by Colette Morrison
Nova Scotia
Midgut Tumour

July 27, 2009

Since November 2007, I have undergone a lipiodol embolization in Halifax in February 2008 which was then followed by a bland embolization in September 2008 for tumour reduction in the liver.

During the summer of 2008, I developed an increase in heart palpitations and was admitted to hospital for atrial fibrillation control and infection under the right lung. I was started on beta blockers for control of the heart palpitations.

Following the embolization in September 2008, there was no change in the tumour growth in the liver. On a repeat CT scan in March 2009, however, it was decided to investigate further whether to do a liver resection or radio frequency ablation because of an increase in my symptoms of carcinoid syndrome. At this time, I have actively accessed palliative care physicians to address my pain issues and fatique.

At this time, my local oncologist and I do not feel it would be in my best interests to have a liver resection. We will continue to monitor the liver tumour growth as well as the syndrome. I have started on the fentanyl patch for pain relief. It appears to be working better than the hydro morph. I am scheduled for a follow up MRI in August 2009 and a recheck with my oncologist in September.

November 2007 by Colette Morrison
Nova Scotia
Midgut Tumour