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.
Hmmm, must get up into the loft for our tree, think we'll get it in the neck if there isn't one ready for Caz if and when she gets discharged and gets here tomorrow.....she just loves to see one! Hope you all continue well, Bob, take care, my love and hugs
hi bob, hope your fine and well and that your christmas will be as good as possible....
i think of you as being one of the bravest people on here with all the hard stuff you have gone through.....how do you manage to be so brave bob. ?
im suppose to go in hospital for 3 to 4 weeks in quarantine starting on the 8th dec.....for the bad beam chemo.....
trouble is right now i am feeling well fine and i have also been told i am in remission.......the specialist told me that the beam chemo might make remission last longer, but then again it might not...
it nearly kills me to go in the hospital for a couple of days i allways end up trying to run off..i soooo hate hospitals and needles and all the treatments...the last 19 months have been nothing but chemo and needles and scans and more chemo and needles and chemo and being sick and terrified of everything to do with medical stuff.....the treatments scare me more then my illness....
i dont know how you do it bob....i am moaning on but compared to what others have to go through mine is nothing...
i dont think i can go in for 3 weeks on tuesday....i was in the hospice last christmas and now im suppose to go in again over christmas...but its not that bob...i wish i was brave like you ....
sorry to rant on on your thread bob...but your just so very brave and i soooo hope and wish everything will go as good as possible for you...
I wish I could make things easier for you but I know I cannot. everyone has their own way of dealing with things and no advice or text book is right for everyone. If someone at the start of my Cancer journey would have told me what was in store for me for the next two years I don't know how I would have felt but what keeps me going is the desire to live and to stay with my family for as long as possible. By nature of the fact that you are still here fighting and going through with the hospital visits and the needles shows you are a lot braver than you realise yourself. You are allowed to be scared at times and that is normal. I seem to have bypassed the scared stage and I dont really know why. I dont cry or get particularly emotional about the cancer and I dont really know why that is as well. I sat with, and watched my dad as he slipped away from Cancer and because his final moments were peaceful, I think thats helping me to hold my nerve. My overriding fear is being forgotten by Kate and even she expressed that concern to her therapist.. Good luck Mate and of course big hugs.
well its my first time on here and ive came across your blog straight away.
i have not been able to read all through the blog but you are a very inspiring and brave person.
the reason im on here is because in sept my partner was diagnosed with kidney cancer. within a week the doctors had got him in for removal. we were told it was contained and hadnt spread.he was then offered the chance to take part in a drug trial to test a drug and prevent the cancer returning. after having more ct scans, he went to hospital last week,on his own, to get the news that it had spread to his lungs and his pelvic bone.
they are not going to start treatment because of side effects but in january he will probably have the bone blasted with a needle and then packed with cement, as they put it.
i dont understand reasons for not starting treament, on his lungs it is dotted with things, i dont know what to call them, and the biggest is about 1.3cm. you mentioned mets? is that what they are.
i have gone through every emotion possible. is it terminal?they say not curable but the doc said his life span would be shortened. january seems so long away and its already proved its a rapid cancer.
i dont want to hijack your blog bob, but just wondered if you tried any alternative treatments, ive been reading about oxy e, and flaxseed oil. im terrified as i know all partners are, he is suffering with pains in his lungs and just cant believe this has happened.
all the best for you and your family and to all sufferers and survivors out there. xx
I am so sorry you find yourself in this situation but you have come to the right site to get good support. I personally have not tried alternative treatments as I prefer to put my faith with my medical team. One thing I would say is try and keep positive, If you both can think past the initial diagnosis, which is a hell of a shock, and then put your energies into being positive about the future im sure it really helps. You cannot take Cancer for granted but need to think outside the box. My motto has always been "push the boundary's and "keep positive". The things you talk about on the lungs are probably Mets, or Metastic spread and in my case that also seems to be there lowest priority. My cancer was diagnosed around the same time of year as your partners and I also had to wait until Jan, it will soon be here, my advice, make Christmas the best you can, under the circumstances and you will find the treatment will come in to place soon enough.
Hi Bob Sorry I havent posted here for a while but I still keep up with the posts.
I think I mentioned to you before re work. When I was diagnosed as terminal in March I was also suprised that my work wanted me to see the work doctor. When I refused they agreed I could send med reports from both the onc and surgeon. Around the same time there was talk of redundances. Like you I was going to work when I could but after calling my union they advised me if I was off sick they could not make me redundant. Off I went to the doctors and got a sick note. My department (I worked for the Clydesdale Bank) were given their 3 month notice but because I was off sick they could not include me. As far as I am aware you can get full pay for 6 month then half pay for the next 6 months. I decided to retire due to ill health this took 8 months to do and I eventualy got a lump sum pension.
I know you are very independant Bob but there becomes a time when you have to sit back and work out whats best for you and the family. I wish you all the best and hope this work thing sorts itself out.
I have contacted the Mac to get a nurse. Things feel like everything is going to fast for me. Dont know how to stop my sickness I have tried everything and also Im not eating much. Because of this I feel so weak and am not able to do all the things I use to. Doctor gave me food supliments which im now taking so keeping everything crossed it helps me feel better.
Anyway I hope everything works out for you with yoir work. Thinking of you and your family.
Thanks again for your replies. its been a tough couple of days and will probably only get worse before it gets better. Our head office has been making more redundancies and im sure there will be more to come as well. Our branch is being looked at very closely so will just have to wait and see. I have unofficially been advised to allow my employees access to my medical reports as I must be transparent and have nothing to hide. Our main boss is coming down from head office today so might hear a bit more. With all this going on, its not surprising that I awoke early and then could not sleep again. Good to hear from you again Graeme and i know you will of course be fine. you have done so well with your fear of hospitals and im sure will continue to do so. Good to hear from you Lorraine and glad you still pop in from time to time. My problem is I am an independent person and also work keeps my brain active. Im not sure if I would be able to "retire" and take it easy, its just not me t at the end of the day I might not have any choice in the matter. Whatever the outcome we will make the best of It.
Bob, thinking of you and hoping the news is better than you fear with work....I can see where you are coming from, being transparent about your health, still not too sure it should be needed.
Hi Bob. I really feel for you with the work situation, I know how important it is to you. Just make sure that they do everything right.
Things are much the same my end. I can't quite believe that I am fortunate enough to be getting ready for Christmas. I want to soak so much out of Christmas this year, it really is going to be a special one.
