BOB JK My diary of kidney cancer (to be continued)
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Hi, My name is Bob and I live in Cambridgeshire. I am married with an 8 yr old daughter and three older step sons. Up untill the end of last year everything was tickety boo having recently moved to a new house which we love. Work was busy but enjoyable. I am Manager of an electrical companys maintenance department and my Wife, Linda was enjoying her job as a Nurse. The three boys are buying there own house nearby and all work locally. In November I went to my Doctors with a small "cyst" on my chest. After a couple of referals and many Xrays, pet scans, bone scans and CT scans I was told the news everybody dreads. My lump on the chest was a secondary cancer of which the primary was in my left Kidney. I was fast tracked to the Royal Brompton, under the expert care of Mr Laddas who informed a long and complicated operation would need to be carried out to remove the bone tumor and surrounding bone which involved two ribs,my collar bone and chest bone. I did not have time to panic, the operation was carried out the next day over 10 hrs. After nearly two weeks in the Brompton I am recovering well from this op but I have since been told that the Cancer is in both kidneys as well as small mets in both lungs. It seems at the moment further ops are out the question and i have been put on the drug Sutent. I am one week into this and so far so good. I do not know what the future holds but I have to remain positive.
A comfortable nights sleep and in our proper bed rather than on sofa which feels good. Today I have just taken Mollie for a rainy walk and am now going into work for a short while. Hopefully lunch with Linda later and then Tomms over for the afternoon. Sounds like a good day to me.
Hi Bob go for it - give it the best shot you and the medics can. We were told that because Gary's kidney was inopereable and because of the spread it gave the sutent a huge job to do - too big. I've met people years down the line of taking sutent who look pretty good - may you be one of those people. love Ange
Another good day having taken Molls for quite a long walk this morning and then off to work for a bit. I have given up on any further info about my impending operation date untill my Oncologist returns from his overseas lecture. This should be on Monday. Not too much planned for this weekend (I hope) we are on countdown now for Tommy and Katies wedding and if they try and book me in next week I will do everything in my power to defer untill after the wedding. I have finished my speech am and hope not to embarrass Tom too much.(im sure im allowed to embarass him a teeny little bit lol). I will shortly be taking Molls on another walk before retiring for the evening.
Bob, it sounds like you are having many more good days than bad ones now, and back into bed rather than the sofa has to be good news, too! I'm pleased for you, keep it going, lets hope that the surgery can be done soon, but not too soon so you get to make your speech!
I will make my speech Helen as I will refuse to go into hospital before the wedding now, although Linda is not so sure. Im calling the shots now and they can wait for me. Although Tom and Katie would understand if I were not there I know they would be devestated and it would ruin their big day and im not going to do that.
Today we have the dreaded Tesco shop and then later we are off to meet Tom and Katie in ely for a spot of lunch. I had a fair nights sleep and having just checked my blood pressure, all is ok which is good. I feel pretty good although the dreaded toilet habbits are not good due to the antibiotics im on, probably mixed with all the other pills.
We had a nice supprise last night when we checked Kates "race for life " online page and found one individual has sponsored her £500.00which is a great boost to her total. She now has nearly £1000.00 which is great and made possible by all the great people that have sponsored her. I would love to better last years total of nearly two grand but that remains to be seen.
Wow, Bob, bless them all! Go it, Kate! Must check mine, my aim isn't nearly as high, I'm really doing it to keep Caz company on the day. She has raised quite a lot too, so far, her aim is for £1000, she's over half way there. Just hope she'll still be able to do it, and not in for more tests, think they might want a tissue sample, we need to wait till June 8th to know......
I had a brilliant nights sleep again, and in my own bed , which is great. This morning I took Mollie for a reasonable walk along with Kate and her friend who stayed the night and then the two girls and I walked to our local morrisons to buy some cake decoration bits.
Kate and her friend are now in the kitchen , making a mess, no doubt and Linda is jobbing all over the place. We plan to head into Cambridge soon to pick up a few bits an thyis afternoon my eldest sister is popping over to bring Kates birthday present as next weekend will be a bit busy with the wedding and all that.
I feel really quite good off the Sutent and am enjoying my break from it. Of course if I had to I would be back on it like a shot to give it another chance. I feel I have a grasp on this illness now and will do everything in my power to be around for as long as possible to be with my family. Ive already had a pretty good extention on the original prognosis and will be thankfull of any further time available.
Ive managed to sort my mind out a bit over the last few days on certain issues. One thing for sure, after being told the end is near and then overcoming that obstical I am not afraid of death. Of course I do not want it, but when it happens it does and I will be ready for it. also ive changed my mind about being buried. After being on the sutent for so long and feeling so, so cold I want to be cremated. At least then my end will be warm lol. Im not being morbid and the end is not near, Just issues sorting themselves out in my head.
Hopefully tommorow we will have some news regarding my further surgery, I really hope so anyway.
I know what your going through as I feel the same. Not scared of the death bit but I am worried it will be painful. Planning my funeral along with Dave who is over weight and could die any day of a heart attack lol. I'm not helping him as when I leave any food Dave will eat it for me ( he doesnt like waste).
Good luck for tomorrow and I'm sure you will be able to delay the op until after the wedding. Only 6 days to go. Hope you can post some photographs for all here to see.
Again I will be thinking of you and Linda tomorrw fingers crossed it will all work out fine for you.
I will be thinking of you tomorrow sitting in that waiting room waiting for your name to be called. Hope everything goes well for you. I think you are incredible. I wishTony was handling things as well as you.
