Question: My father has Multiple Myeloma. He was diagnosed just over a year ago (7/16) He had multiple lesions upon diagnosis. After Radiation And Chemo, he was told on April 2017 that he was in remission. Fast Forward to three weeks ago, and he went for a scan of a "knot" he was feeling in his armpit area. This turned out to be a tumor that was on his ribcage, front and back. And was the approximate size of a watermelon, according to the MD. This was also said to be Multiple Myeloma.
Here is my issue/question for you. Number one, in February 2017, he went into a local walk in clinic for shortness of breath. He had a cold at the time and could not catch his breath. Upon an X-Ray being done by the tech at the walk-in, he was advised that it appeared he had a "spot" on his lungs, and that he needed to go to the emergency room immediately because of his history of cancer. He was admitted to our local hospital's ER, and a CAT scan was done. The doctor at the hospital (not sure if it was the regular ER MD or a specialist) gave the diagnosis of the "spot" on his scan, as scar tissue. She assured him that it was not a tumor. They also determined that he was likely so short of breath because of the onset of mild COPD. Which was understandable because he is a former smoker. So everyone is very relieved that the "spot" turned out to be nothing of worry. Now lets fast forward to last week, when the radiologists talked with him while prepping for his radiation. This Doctor informed him that the tumor on his ribcage is very large, but was glad that he responded to the first round of chemo and radiation so well. She also told him, that she was reviewing his scans from his visit to the ER in February, that this tumor was the size of a strawberry during this can. This statement sent our entire family into shock. The radiologist had reviewed this scan, the same one the previous Doctor passed off as scar tissue, and easily determined it was a cancerous tumor, the same one that is the size of a watermelon now. Isn't there a problem with this? How can this happen? If this was found in February and not 3 weeks ago, it would be MUCH easier to treat. Correct?
The biggest problem of this entire situation I have not even disccussed. Upon hearing the new tumor on his ribcage is the size of a watermelon. I wondered how his primary Oncologist could tell him that he was in remission in April 2017. In fact, it is totally impossible that he was in remission at the time. The February scan, which is now proven to show the strawberry sized tumor, meant that he had a very sizable tumor (at least strawberry sized) in April. But yet his primary oncologist is telling him hes in remission. Maybe I am not understanding something. Maybe I have the wrong definition of remission. I don't know. But the story is not adding up in my head. I am hoping for some clarity. And I really hope someone takes the time to fully read and understand this situation. I do want to state that we live in a relatively small town (20k residents), and we obviously dont have the best health care in the nation. But there are still expectations of what any Doctor should do. Any response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.