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.
Not as intruiged as I was Wendy and thanks for your good wishes,
Yesterday was a fantastic day. After getting up and walking Mollie I was duly taken away from the crime scene for a couple of hours. When I was brought back, what a supprise. I walked in to a jazz band playing in our garden, a hog roast, more cakes and food that I have ever seen in my whole life. loads of friends and family were also waiting to sing happy birthday as soon as I walked in. It was a really nice party and Linda pulled of a blinder for managing to organise it behind my back. I suspected something was going on and was sort of prepared for a small familly bar-b-q and even cleaned my barbie for two bloody hours for the occasion, never mind a job well done. I am so so lucky to have such a good circle of family and friends. Apparently loads of different people took on parts of the supprise and I will always be so gratefull. our garden was filled with children, talking, laughter and happiness, just the tonic needed.Tommy also gave a little speech which nearly reduced me to a quivering wreck but I just about held on to my emotions. I faired well through out the day and didnt go to bed untill well after ten. Tommys wife Katie also handed out small paper discs for people to write messages on and they were lovely to read, with some beautiful messages.
My thanks again to my lovely wife Linda, Matt, Justin and Tom and Katie. plus of course little Kate. I love them all with all of my heart and they give me the strength to carry on fighting for the right to live xxxxxx
It was indeed wonderfull and I still keep wondering how Linda organised all that, without me knowing.
Today ive been in to work and again I really struggled to get through the day but at least did get a fair amount done. Im hopeing because I start my two week Sutent break tomorrow I will soon start to have a bit more energy, I feel so tired I could bawl my eyes out. Im sure as time goes on things will get easier and ill get back into the old routine again. we have got the house back to normal after the "do" and so its nice to get home from work and relax for a bit. Appertite still a bit erratic. I ate a couple of pork rolls this morning as we have enough pork to feed the whole of east anglia left over from the old hog roast. I even took a couple of rolls in for a work mate as we have so much of the stuff. Tonight we have a sweet and sour dish with , yes you have guessed it, pork which I shall endevour to eat although I do not feel at all hungry Ive just fed the dog, yes youve guessed it, pork. she has stopped wagging her tail when I feed her so even she is fed up with the stuff. Actually I love it and could eat it every day, appertite permitting. Hope every one else is ok
It sounds like a right pork life Ha Ha but if you enjoy it then go for it thats my motto, i just wish i could eat stuff like that when i am on my Tablets but my mouth gets so sore, My 2 dogs would love a bit of pork they like any sort of meat, i love my dogs, they keep me on the go, So Bob take care hope you enjoy your tea
Bob pork is bad for dogs! do an internet search on it and check it out! Mind you spice has a little bacon now and then!
Hope you feel better in the 2wk break I'm nearly through week one and it's getting a bit easier each day, more energy and even more appetite ( I love pork and apple sauce) pity I live so far from you!
Got my macmillan club tomorrow so many new faces there lately.
Thanks for that Jackie, yes we found that out this morning, poor Mollie. I didnt know that but shall not be making that mistake again.
I slept really well last night and so will try a shorter day at work and see how I go on. No Sutent this morning which will be nice. I. too hope I feel better in the two week break although it still isnt stopping me from doing too much.
Very good news about the follow up drug possibly available after the Sutent stops working. Its nice to know there are possibly other options available isnt it
Hi Bob thats great news were did you hear that from, about the follow up drug i mean is sound great. Hope you enjoy your 2 weeks off, Bob do you have a lot of trouble sleeping because i am having a nightmare at the moment i just feel i carnt go too sleep, silly really but i am tired today, any way Take Care Bob
I had a private message on here regarding the drug after Sutent. its reasuring to know there are other drugs after the Sutent. Apparently its already in use in America with promising results
I do have a lot of trouble sleeping at night and have done ever since being on the Sutent. part of it is because i get so tired and end up sleeping in the day but for me its also a side effect of the Sutent. Its ironic that the drug can make you so tired and yet keep you awake when you need the sleep the most. I have been in to work and managed a few hours but feel pretty bushed now.
