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.
Yesterday was not a brilliant day, but I had a much better nights sleep. I resorted to taking Co-codamol before bedtime and it must have helped. My tummy has calmed down a bit also. I rang my oncologist at the Royal Marsden yesterday and we spoke for a while. Unless the discomfort gets any worse we will wait until my scan next week. Today we are going to see Citizens advice bureau. We are beginning to sort out financial issues but need to be sure we have not missed anything. One thing we have learned is that you have to fight for eveything as I am sure others have already found out. We have also filled out another form for the council, well actually it was more like a book. When I say "we" I actually mean Linda who has tirelessly read all the appropriate paperwork and filled in the forms. I was due to go in to work today, but as I have had such a rough few days I need to re-evaluate things. I will talk things through with my doctor today. Kate goes back to school tomorrow and the house will seem very quiet when Linda is also back at work later this week. I hope everyone enjoyed the Easter break as much as they could
I had a terrible night last night. In fact thought I was on my way out and nearly called Ambulance. All of a sudden I went cold, grey, sick and near to collapse all in the space of 10 minutes. In hindsite we think it was taking tablets without lining tummy with food first. Difficult when you have no appertite. Today I rested in bed for half of the day and as a result have felt much better this afternoon. Kate had two noisy friends round tonight which was great for her but not so good for us.
I went to doctors and she has advised me not to go to work for the moment. I have accepted I cannot work at the moment. two half days at work and it took me a week to get over it. If my time is limited I want to feel as good as I can at home to spent quality time with my family.
I found the exact same probs with the meds and eating, one seems to want to outweigh the other all the time so I have found that snack type things are best like some soft cheese or dip or milk based things with those long life toasted breads help with a small snack and take the pills.
second cycle 4th week of sutent, Although my colour still not great I dont feel as bad as I did earlier in the week. I have managed to pick at food which I find easier than trying to eat a big meal. We have spent some time today discussing holidays and probably Poland will be the first long weekend break.
today has been ok, after a restfull morning we did some shopping before mum and Julie came over. After a light lunch we sat and talked for a while before myself and mum put lawnsand on the rear garden to try and green it up. If it kills all the moss like it says on the box then my lawn will be bare. Linda has gone out with her girlie friends tonight which im sure will do her the world of good. They have been very supportive and we are very thankfull for that.
Today ive felt too tired to do much so I have spent most of the day relaxing and trying to get one of my old computers up and running (without much success). I am hoping tomorrow my get up and go will come back as I do not want to waste a weekend by lying around. I want to go and see the house that tTom and Katie are buying and also take our Kate to her art class in the morning. here's hoping.
Feel a bit strange today, can't really explain it, i just do. Im sure it has something to do with the fact that I have my first scan next week. To think my future however long or short depends on the results next week. I still remain positive and upbeat and with lady luck on my side I look foreward to a long and happy future with my family and friends.
Take care everyone and I hope you all have a good weekend.
Just getting ready to go to London for my scan. I am now off the Sutent for another two weeks. Normally it takes a week to get the side affects out of my system and then I feel better the next week.We are trying to decide weather to train it or drive it. WISH ME LUCK !!
