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.
Yestderday went ok. After dropping kate off to school I went to the hospice for my "session which was quite usefull I suppose. Im not a good talker and find it difficult to "open up" at the best of times.
Myself and Linda took Kate and a couple of friends along to a bowls evening arranged by the guides. It was a nice evening although I felt a bit out of sorts and for perhaps the first time, actualy felt "different" to everybody else. I was hobbling about on a stick, really wanted to have a go at bowling and generally felt a bit sorry for myself which was a bit silly. I think I was just tired, I did pop into work and even turned my computer on but then everyone said "what are you doing" so I turned it off again. Today im taking Kate to school and staying for her sports day, Linda is back at work today. Perhaps I should enter the dads race, what do you think Moomy ?
Awwww, Bob, Dad's race? I thought they'd stopped all parents interventions, as they had stopped any of the children excelling individually! All has to be politically correct these days!
Bob, just concentrate on getting well! My love to you all
I didnt win Sue but that woulld be because I didnt take part.
It went really well and for me turned out quite an emotional affair. I was fine until one of the parents came up to me and said "this is quite emotional for me". "why is that" I rather stupidly asked". Because this time last year they asked you to do the presentations knowing that time could be limited and you have made it to this years event. Any way I got over that untill the headmaster came over and said "as a representative from the board of govenors would you do this years presentation again". Anyway the presentations went well apart from one kid who came up as part of a group and stood, unknown to me, behind me so as I stepped back I nearlly flattened him, that raised a few giggles. Tonight Kate and Linda have gone off to her brothers for tea and I have a govenors meeting. I was going to tea first but feel really tired and would not be very good company. When Linda was at work, it was suggested to her that a vaccumn pump may be suitable for my wound, anyone heard of or had this.
Bob, just did a quick google about 'vacuum pump for wound healing', it sounds interesting!
I'm so glad you didn't race! but it must have been quite emotional, doing the presentations, bless the kid, he unwittingly helped the situation, relieving any tension!
Evening Bob, My grandad had a vacuum pump for his foot, he was a diabetic and had to have a toe amputated and after, he caught an infection in his foot. He had the vacuum pump attached which worked marverlous it healed lovely. He never had any trouble with his foot after that. I hope that it all works out for you. Hope to have helped a bit. Hugs Quill x
Hi Bob, Glad to hear your doing well, that vaccumn pump sounds strange but if it works its worth a try. Ive been to see the surgeon today and he said its far to risky to take my kidney out so im feeling a bit down, were going of to Scotland for a couple of weeks on saturday so ill catch up with you when i get back. Take care love Fay. X
It seems like my wound will have to carry on healing by itself as the pump will not work on my wound. The district nurse is going to look into it and check but she thinks it is too small for the pump. Apparently you have to fill the hole with this foam and then attatch the punp and she thinks by forcing in this foam it will open the wound further still.
I had a good nights sleep anyway so feel quite rested. Today we have taken Kate to school and also met her teacher for next term. She seems really nice and is well repected by all those around her. Linda has popped to the gym before we carry on with our day. I suspect it will be in the realms of food shooping and house cleaning this morning and then hopefully pop out for a bit this afternoon. Good to hear from you all and I hope scotland is good Fay
Well our shopping trip did not end as planned. Bob popped into chemist to pick something up while i waited in the car and twelve hours later we have just come home from hospital.Â
He came out of chemist and I thought what on earth is he doing sliding along the window backwards, next thing I knew he has gone smack, face down on concrete, a faint, we now think after CT scan of brain, and knocked himself out. He has several superficial cuts and bruises to face, but thank goodness no breaks. He says the pain in his face and jaw have taken the pain away from his kidney !! His doomed glasses that kept loosing their lens have not faired so well, and are now beyond repair. I not quite sure what the poor District Nurse will make of him when she visits in morning.Â
He has, we feel, tried to do to much in past few days (no not Bob!!!!!!!!), and is now going to rest 24/7 for next week at least.Â
Bob will be posting from his bed tomorrow to give his take on the days events.Â
Well, what a day yesterday. As linda said a rather long time spent in A & E . The day started well with a shopping trip to tesco. I pottered around the store holding on to the trolly and my stick and all went well. On the way home we remembered I had a presciption to pick up so linda parked outside the chemist. With me trusty old stick in I went and collected my wares before turning round to leave. By the door I was confronted by a woman doing a survey. She didn't give me a chance to refuse and started ffiring all these questions at me. At this point I felt unwell and told her I needed to go. At this point she plonked me on her stool but kept on firing the questions at me. By now I was feeling really bad and stood up to go, I got just outside the door and down I went, smack onto my front and face. I came round to linda and another woman who had been trying to wake me up. An ambulance was called and I went to hospital. I was given a brain scan and it was clear apart from one area which they said suggested I had had a small stroke but a while ago, not then. I guess that answers the question why my right arm was playing up a few months ago and I kept getting this gripping sensation. I had obviously had a small stroke without realising it. They also scanned my abdomen and all was ok and we eventually got home some time after eleven.
So today I have spent the day in bed nursing bruises and a whopping headache.
On a plus side my wound is beginning to close up so that is really good. I must have overdone it this week and intend to rest up next week. I was going back to work next week but will put that off. My face looks like I have been in a boxing match but feels better than it did yesterday. My glasses are beyond repair but as the lense kept falling out along with the screws I'm not too fussed. Anyway, that was my day.
sue x
