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.
Hi Jill, good to hear your doing so well. I am still doing pretty good as well so dont be fooled by the medical science bit. Im just looking ahead. I will read your profile later but hope you continue to keep really well and good luck.
Today Linda has taken off with the two kids to the pictures so Sally and myself will spend a bit of time together. We plan to do a bit of shopping ourselves as we are cooking some sort of thanksgiving meal tomorrow night.. I have taken all my tablets and feel amazingly good again.
Another really good day today. After a good nights sleep, we awoke to plan todays dinner with the rest of my sisters and mum. Yesterday myself and Sally went shopping to get chicken and ham, and it wasn't until today we got out the ham tended up o boil it we realised it was in fact a leg of lamb, ooops, another quick trip to the shops. I was planning on cooking the meal but actually felt really tired so poor Linda got the job and a fantastic job she done. Katie and Julie also cooked some puds and myself and Katie made some shortbread. The meal was fantastic and all who came enjoyed. As Sally lives in America it could be the last time I see all my family together so it was really nice to achieve it on this visit. This morning Justin took me to get a hair cut and I said to the barber" just cut out the grey bits". As a result I came home with hardly any hair. A restful day tomorrow I promise as I am planning to work next week. Tonight Sally and Emily are staying with us and we take them to mums tomorrow. It will be hard saying goodbye but hopefully we have created some lovely memories for them. I have certainly had a great time and feel very satisfied.
It all sounds great Bob most of my family dont even speak to each other and as for the rest of my family getting them to visit well you think they had been asked to pay for flights to Australia so me and my Hubby do all the running around seeing people, Your meal sounds lovely and i am glad your doing well Bob keep it up your a star.
Hi Bob, I follow your thread and occasionally post a comment when I am amazed by you ! Your strength of character is astounding and your family must be incredibly proud of you. As I have said before your fighting spirit reminds me of my dads (who has been made to have a duvet day today by mum !). Christmas soon, and wishing you a wonderful one with your family.
Each day in your house seems full of life and fun Bob, long may that continue, it seems you have a wonderful supportive family who surround you with love, but we only get back what we give so you must give a lot of it too!
Hope christmas is a good time full of special surprises in the Linda and Bob household as i'm sure it will be.
Take care Bob and may you have many more such get togethers as you have described here!
Its been a great week and its good that I have managed to feel real good for the most of it.. The meal last night went real well and it was good to get all my sisters and my mum together. Tom and Katie also came across and helped with the food. After a good sleep last night we awoke early to take sally back to my mums and bid a fond farewell. That was really difficult and I cannot put in to words how it feels to give someone special a hug and not knowing if I will survive long enough to ever see them and hug them again. I had so much in my mind I wanted to say but when it came to it, the words would not come out.. I said to Sally last night if I keep well enough then we will visit next year, If I do not make it then Linda and Kate will go. I still have plenty of fight in me though so im optimistic as I can be that we will visit next year.
Paulene, good luck with your scan results on the 8th December. I will be thinking of you, keep as positive as you can girl and you will be fine im sure.
Elaine, Hope all is well with you, I fancy a duvet day but not yet, im planning to work this week
Helen , hope all is well with caz
Jackie, most of our days are filled with fun although we have our fair amount of stress too. We have had a great time this week and now also plan to gear up for Xmas. \if you would have asked me about Xmas this time, last year, I would never thought I would make it to Xmas 09. I have a real supportive family who will me on all the time, offering support whenever they can. Katie bless her is a true star and Linda is my love and soul mate without whom I would find this journey so much harder.
Hi Bob, I have been so inspired and uplifted by your story. I was diagnosed Aug 09 with bowel cancer and after surgery am now having chemo. When ever I feel down I always go to your site as I know that you and your family have faced so many challenges and still remain positive. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas from me and my family for 2009 here in New Zealand. Brenda
Thanks Brenda, and a merry Christmas from us in the UK as well. I am privileged that you are uplifted by my story and if it helps just one person then it is so worth while. It really helps me to offload on here and also when cancer does finally take my life, this will be printed off for especially my daughter Kate to show her how much I am fighting not to leave her.
I had a pretty good nights sleep and awoke feeling quite refreshed and started the day taking the dog for quite a longish walk which was a feat in itself as it was dark and raining, not nice. Kate awoke with a bit of a temperature so she stayed at home with Linda whilst I went to work. I managed a full day but was beginning to wither at about four o'clock but I stuck it out until gone five. Now home and full up from a lovely tea, time to relax and tend my facebook farm.
