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.
yes I get a lot of heartburn when on Sutent and sitting upright is about all you can do, some nights I used to sleep upright on a chair downstairs because if I lay in bed, I would end up keeping Linda awake.
Work has gone really well today. Its that time of month when Invoicing needs to be done and me being there to crack the whip has really helped. Linda took me into work at about ten this morning and I got a lift home with a collegue who lives near me and got home at about 5.30 so, much to Linda's annoyance, I did a long day. I have just had a nice tea and am eating quite well at the moment. That will change when the Sutent kicks in and my taste buds and appertite will be all over the place. Lindas not impressed that im doing my diary as soon as I get in , but if I do not, then I will forget it all. My memory is definately getting worse and I seem to keep loosing things. .
Time to take Mollie for a walk now so better sign off and give Linda a bit of attention.
A fair nights sleep although I awoke early and ended up downstairs again watching the tv. We have a friend round helping Justin decorate the top floor bedroom which he will be using so its all hands to the deck. Myself and Linda are making another room a playroom for Kate to use. We have a sofa bed which we need to get rid off so have dismantled ready for lugging down the stairs, all we need is for our help to arrive to do this. So far today I feel pretty good, long may it continue.
I did good today, I managed to do a few odd jobs and although I am really tired now I havn't felt too bad during the day. Justins room is all painted and looks great. My big sis Krysia popped over this afternoon and it was good to see her and Nigel and we had a good chinwag. Time for a takeaway tea and then rest and farmville, my trees need harvesting. and the animals feeding.
level 22 now! did manage to fit in some bits of washing today and visited the parents! all in all a lazy computer day though! Must do more tomorrow, real work that is not just virtual farming! my youngest son thinks Im mad when he hears how well my farm is doing! I try not to remind him that it was he who got me into computers in the first place lol.
Glad you've had a more productive day Bob. Think I'll do some baking tomorrow feel the need for a lemon sponge cake!
A brilliant nights sleep again and I feel really rested. Today the plan is to do a few odd jobs around the house and then probably go out to lunch. Kate and Linda are busy sorting through her toys she no longer plays with and hopefully they will all be on Ebay by tonight. She wants to save her money for a laptop computer and so all monies she raises is well spoken for.
Ive now had 5 days on the Sutent and still feeling ok. I did wonder as I have been on it before wether the side effects would kick in quicker.. My headaches have pretty much gone now so hopefully im well on the up. I certainly feel so much stronger and ready to fight anything.
Cakes made, did walnut/coffee and chocolate sponges. mmm waiting for them to cool. Garden trimmed under my supervision , I can't climb onto shed roof anymore to trim trees but hubby can with my pointing out the bits he's missed to trim lol.
All in all a productive morning so we're off out now for a short walk and to try out my wheelchair for the first time! doc said I need to use one a bit now to ease the arthritis in the old knees! had to come off all my arthritis tabs when cancer was diagnosed so it's come back with a vengence.
Lovely sunny day here so must make the most of it! Been thinking of trying to book a cruise, anyone been on one and did you manage to get insurance????
I guess with winter on the doorstep I yearn for warmer climates! haven't been abroad since diagnosis, had hols in uk which have been brilliant, but only now feel the real need to 'get away' somewhere warm! so miss snorkelling in a warm sea! lost all my confidence in travel last couple of years but I think the time is right now to venture that little bit further. Jackie x
We haven't spoken in a while, but i have just been catching up on your progress. I just wanted to send you some hugs because i think you are doing great, you are an inspiration to others and your positivity ooses out through your writing.
Hi Terri Really nice to hear from you and I hope you are ok, your hugs are gratefully recieved and as I feel a bit knackered from overworking well timed. We popped out to six shops looking for a desk for Kate and so I have been assembling it, then I managed to get my old desktop working for her so she is all set up to do her homework and things.
Jackie, we di a cruise last year and it was well worth the money and really good. We coulnt get insurance to cover the existing Cancer but got cover for any other unrelated medical conditions. We took the decision to take a chance as we really needed the holiday. Some companies might well give you full cover but they are few and far between and you will pay the earth for it. If you go back on my blog to middle of last year im sure I had some suggestions for insurance and the pitfalls, Good luck and get it booked girl, I would love to do another one.
