symptons of advanced ovarian cancer

My 45 yr old sister is currently in my care as she has stage 4 ovarian cancer with liver metasteses.  She had surgery December 26th, 2007 and was in the hospital for almost a month with complications due more to her smoking and damage to her lungs rather than the ovarian cancer.  She refuses chemo and refuses to ever go to the hospital again.  She does not have any income or insurance.  We are helping her with her drugs.  We were able to get her a prescription for morphine (20 mg liquid) and for norco to help monitor and control her pain levels.  She has to take two shots a day of blood thinner as she had a blood clot in the hospital and they are afraid she could get another one.  She is still smoking (about a pack a day) and having a couple alcohol drinks a day (which the pharmacist told me to just go ahead and let her have).  Since she will not go to a doctor, I was hoping to find out what all her current symptons might mean and the effect they have on her life.  She has a large (3" x 2") growth (looks like an egg) that protrudes down by her groin.  She also has a smaller growth by her chest cavity and I can feel a couple other growths inside by her incision.  She has tremendous pain on her right side directly underneath her brest bone which radiates accross her chest.  Her abdomin (abdomen) is distended and getting bigger every day.  The morphine is the only thing that gives her any quality of daily living.  I am not a doctor and cannot give her a prognosis but would really appreciate any information you could give me on her current condition.

Thank you,
her sister, Bonnie

[marie3B]

I am very sorry for the situation you are in. It is hard when a loved one refuses care. It is her choice, but that does not make it easier on the family. It sounds like depression is a major factor. It also sounds like depression was a factor even before the cancer. If she would agree to address the depression, maybe she'd be more willing to care for herself and try to best treat the cancer. The growths you describe sound like lymph nodes and other tumors. I am certainly not a doctor, but that seems likely. Her situation is not hopeless if she decides to try chemo. Many stage 4 ovca patients do well for a long time if properly treated. Not having income or insurance she would qualify for a medical card. The American Cancer Society has social service reps that can lead you in the right direction. I will say again, I am so sorry. I hate OVCA and what it does to families. I wish both you and your sister the best. Marie