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.
we got up nice and early and after our bacon sarnie all the rest of the family members turned up and we headed down to Cambridge. We got parked really easy and then made our way across to the race for life site. we basked in the sun until the rest of kates friends came and at that point I felt truly humbled. A couple of her friends had included my name on their running placards and one had even drew a picture of me. eventually the warming up exercises began and everyone was swaying and jumping to the music. At one point when a teary tune came on Linda and Julie were sobbing in their hankies. The race then began and I was pushed in my wheelchair from pillar to post to get the best views possible and I was so, so proud to see my girls running for me.
Once all finished we came home and had a celebration bar b q and the weather was beautifull.. We spent the afternoon and most of the evening in the garden and it was brilliant. Then we had a preview of the proffesional wedding photos played back on the tv and they were beautiful. we were all nearly in tears watching them.
All in all a lovely day spent in lovely company. Well done Linda and Kate on your achievements and also well done to everyone else competing in the "Race for life".
Bob, please give your girls an extra 'well done' from me too....
Caz and I did the race for life in Crystal Palace, it was very hot and dusty, but we got round, walking with the occasional jog, in 52 minutes....the jogs were mostly to get past strollers, and also at the end back into the stadium to the finishing line. Caz did very well and is already thinking about a 10k one! not bad, considering its only about 3 years since she couldn't walk at all.
Linda has just removed my staples as they were becoming painfull and reacting a bit. Blimey it made my eyes water a bit, but feels a lot better already. Hopefully that will help me sleep a bit better tonight.
Yes I had a brilliant nights sleep that went well in to today so I must have been totally done in. After Linda remove the staples I went to bed and slept like never before. I dont even remember Kate saying goodbye to go to school. After waking up properly a while ago, Linda was just popping to the supermarket so I went along for the ride. I have only taken one dose of tramadol today which is a big improvement. As linda removed the staples fluid was oozing through the staple holes and this must have removed some of the pressure. I am still taking antibiotics to clear any infection that may be lurking. I sat out in the sun for a bit this afternoon but we have just clouded over and a storm looks likely. Its certainly muggy enough for a storm and it would clear the air.
