BOB JK My diary of kidney cancer (to be continued)
FormerMember
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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.
Hi Bob, Glad to hear your sounding fine and it seems like you are recovering well after your op. Will it mean after your next op your kidneys will be cancer free? that will be wonderful if so. Ive had a letter to see a surgeon on the 27th about removing my kidney, i think they will decide after they have seen my scan which i have on the 5th June, i think the main concern is the size (7in) and the tumour goes into a artery, but well see im sure they wont if there is a danger, will keep you posted. Ive not posted much latley as ive been so tired but i have checked to see how your doing. Keep up the good work Bob and take care Love Fay. X
Thanks all for your comments and good wishes, as at this moment still not a lot further foreward. Ive been told that I will not need a consultation before going in for the op so when I get the call to go in, it will be in for the operation.. I should be getting call from professor Gore tonight but not expecting a date. I have already told them today that I dont want the op before the wedding but will they listen!!
lorraine, they can do so much to control pain these days there is no excuse to be in pain during death. I know some people do suffer badly but I do not think its the norm and hope that is the case for most people.
I have managed to walk Mollie but not much else today, but only because ive been hanging around for phone calls.
Ive had a good day today, started off by going back to the Dentist today to get my tooth fixed in yet again, I wish the tooth fairy paid adults, I could have earnt a fortune from that one tooth alone. Then I went in to work for most of the day and got a fair bit done, which included a site visit. Since ive been home we have had the local paper round who is doing an artical on our family and our journey with Cancer. Apparently it is going to be a four page spread and include a few picture which have been taken tonight. It is being published in June to co-inside with the run up to the "Race for life".
Verbally been told that op will be, not next week but following Friday which although it seems a fair wait suits us quite well. It means the wedding will be done and dusted and so will Kates Birthday. I have been off the Sutent for so long know I cannot imagine two more weeks will make much difference. It gives me a chance of a bit of normality and a good run at work before another forced break.
The surgeon has just rung me as im typing this and reassured me that we are dealing with this correctly. My op will be at the same hospital as last time but he has pledged things will be better and is also going to give me his, and the anethatist mobile number so any problems he will sort. At least we will be going in forearmed and forewarned. this time.
I have had a good day today. It started with walking Mollie and then a trip to the dentist. Yet again ive had my tooth cemented in, in the hope that it will stay in for the wedding pictures. I wish the tooth fairy would pay out to Adults, I could have made a fortune on that tooth. Then I went in to work and had quite a full on day which included a site visit.
Once home we have had the local press round who are doing a feature on us. Apparently it will be a four page spread telling the story of our Cancer journey. The photographer took lots of pictures and the reporter was very interested and understanding. I hope it will make interesting reading for some poor soul. It has been timed to coinside with the "race for life" talking of which Kate has just passed the £1000.00 barrier.
Hi Bob Glad things are going to plan and the op has fitted your schedule. Allan had a catscan middle of last week and we will get the results at clinic on Friday. He doesn't want to know anything good or bad! I am praying for better news but if it's bad at least it'll be better know what we're dealing with. Take Care and regards to wife and daughter too. Andrea x
Hi Bob, Glad to hear all is going well fo you and that your next op fits in with your plans, hope all goes well on your sons special day. Congraulations on on the good work your Katy has done you must be very proud. Been to Christies today and my blood count is 7.3 so no wonder i felt so ill so im in on Sunday for 3 more pints, maybe id be better if i was dracula LOL, im also going on a iron injection which i will do myself. Ill keep you posted as how it goes next week with the surgeon. Love to all Fay. XX
Thanks Helen and Fay and I hope your "top up" helps you feel better Fay.
After a good nights sleep Im now sitting with one of the women in my Life ( well Mollie the dog) and contemplating the day. My plan is to hit work hard today and in the next two weeks before im in again for my second kidney operation. Now I have a date for the operation I can take my life back off hold and live it. Tommys wedding day is drawing ever nearer and im sure it will be a great day for all concerned. Last nights interview and photoshoot went really well although was much longer than we expected. It will soon be time to wake up Kate from her slumber ready for school, She has her first shot at guides last night and really enjoyed it.
