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.
Well this is it. Day one back on Sutent after my first scan. Ive really enjoyed having no pills at all during the last week, although Linda did rollock me more not taking my bp pills. I am know aiming to further reduce tumors over the next three months so that an operation may be possible. If everything works out OK , they would salvage the best kidney, prove it still works, then remove the worst one. Wish me luck
Hi Bob and Andy, The latest news is the motorhome is in the garage being repaired will be ready tomorrow so all being well we will set off tomorrow evening. Good luck back on your sutant Bob i'll keep my fingers crossed everything works out for you. Im coming up to my 3rd week on sutant and i feel as though im coping with it better this month, ive still got the weakness in my legs but apart from that i feel fine. I go for my next scan on the 29th May so we will be away untill a couple of days before that. I hope we have some nice sunny days as everything always looks its best when the sun shines and its theraputic also, were just hoping Albert ( thats what we call the motorhome after my Dad and because it rhymes with the make which is Talbot ) dosent have any more problems. Well im off to bed now , Take care of yourselves, Fay.
starting round three eh? I have just started round two and so far nothing to report on any effects. I have been having tons of pain from the radiotherapy (and falling over in the hospital - see my thread for details) so having to deal with that instead.
Its great news for you though and, as you say, now to fight the fight against this disease and look for a way to improve your lot. All the best from me for that and keep on enjoying your time with your family.
My best wishes to you,
Hi Fay,
good news about the van - I hope that by the time this is posted you are on your way and motoring along the highways and byways.
Third cycle, third day on Sutent and feeling pretty good. So far the only side effects seem to be problems with my joints (not the roll up types). I have had to take co-codamol to combat pain which I know will give me other side effects. How's this for optimism, yesterday we went out and ordered a new car on a three year lease. It's an automatic and so will be easier on my chest. Also as its always my left hip which seems to react most to the Sutent, no clutch to worry about. Soon we are of to meet Tommy and wife to be for lunch in Cambridge. Macmillan nurse is visiting tomorrow to talk things through. Kate will also have the chance to talk to her if she wishes and to ask any questions
Well I've woke up in good time and surprised the dog by taking her for an early morning walk Today the Macmillan nurse is coming to see us and during this time she will also have a chat with Kate. I just hope she says all the right things and does not put the fear of god into Kate. We have worked really hard to prepare Kate for what ever may come and I suppose I have to trust the Mac nurse not to undo it all. My past experiences of Macmillan nurses, when my dad died, was to force you to admit you are going to die and to tell everyone else around you. I am NOT going to die yet and will keep on fighting for the right to live
I am sure that the Mac nurse won't go down that rout with Kate and that she will be experienced enough in this sort of environment to do the right thing. All I know is that the one that dfeal with is really good at her job with me and I would anticipate that they are are trained to the smae standards.
Glad to see that the tiredness you had must be going away if you can get up before the hound!! I just went to make the bed and got into it instead and had another hours sleep - I must have needed it! I have no other side effects other than sleepy but can't sleep and swollen ankles which is from lack of movement after my fall in the hoispital.
Let us know how Kate gets on won't you and look after yourself.
Just wanted to leave you a wee message to tell you that I have been reading your diary and I think that you and your family are an inspiration to all here on this site. I lost my 43 year old mum to ung cancer in 2002 and my 58 year old dad to kidney cancer in Dec 2006 and I only wish that they had some one like you to look up to through out there fight. I am finding it really hard at the moment to accept what has happened to my dad but reading your diary today has lifted my spirits. You keep up the fight and keep looking forward. You and your family are in my thoughts an prayers.
Well the macmillan nurse came today and she was ok with Kate. She wasn't pushy with Kate and just used the time for Kate to get to know and trust her. She also gave me a rollocking over my medication.(in case you missed the thread I skipped the meds last week as I was off the Sutent) Thank you Andy and Pauline for your kind messages. Pauline I am so glad my postings help you in some small way. Andy I know what you mean abiut the tiredness, It should kick in with me any time in the next week or two. Its such a bugger because you have to give in to it and rest or else you feel terrible. I hope you all had a good day
