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.
Like most people who read your thread, despite having never met you, I feel as if you are part of my family. You have therefore been constantly in my thoughts over the past week, and I have shed more than a tear or two over the situation you find yourself in.
There are two things I am certain of. Firstly, this horrid disease only seems to affect the good people in this world, and you are truly one of the best.
Secondly, whatever decision you make, it will be the right choice for you. Whatever path you decide to follow, I wish you all the strength in the world to continue your fight.
Whatever the outcome, the one thing that Kate will never lose is the knowledge that her dad is a truly special person, one in a zillion. Cancer will never be able to take that away from her.
Here’s to many days of creating more happy special memories to come, with or without a Limo (although I think somebody of your calibre should travel in nothing less Sir Bob)!
Hi Bob - Words cannot express how gutted I am for you....I am glad you have taken yourself out of here for time for thought. We all dread hearing what you have so eloquently explained, and I dont think any of us would like to have to make such a decsion. As a mum of two (13 and 16) - I know it must be so tough for you and linda and kate - you sound like a top dad to me!
My next scan is March - the return of full anxiety......but reading your site really helps to remove some of the fear of this horrible disease. Thankyou.
Bob im sorry but have i missed something, I hope your ok, and i hope you come back soon even though i understand you need a break from this site sometimes, I am thinking of you Bob hope your ok,
I will be OK thanks Paulene and just needed to take a backward step to review my options which, unfortunately are very limited. I appreciate all your concerns and as Linda said, we are all one big family on here with huge empathy for each other.
Last night Justin and myself went down the local pub and had a couple of bevvies, it was really good to get out for a bit. we walked down and it was bitterly cold and my ears were freezing, all I could think abouty on the way down was how cold my head would be with no hair, on the way back because of the drink I was passed caring and even called in the chippy and got a bag of chips. Today I dug a drainaway out in the garden and also did a job round my mums, after Justin dropped me off there this morning. We had a bit of a chat and my mum being mum will not accept totally what is happening to me and I can understand that. Im not totally sure that I do. I am well and truly out of my worst period of Sutent and am feeling much better. My tummy has settled down nicely and I am eating well. My weight is going up and down like a yo yo but generally has remained good.
I'm late, had a rehearsal, but just popped in for a quick look before getting off to bed, needed to warm up as reh was in a church.......need I say more?!
Bob, just wanted to give you another (((((((((((((hug)))))))))))) for you, Linda and Kate too, with my love. Whatever you decide, I admire your spirit and always have, always will too.
A fair day today. After dropping kats off at school, Linda came back and picked me up and we spent part of the day in Ely. We went for a meal where Katie works which was really nice and then went for a walk by the river. On the way home we called in a store and got a new V pillow, as my old one was pretty grubby. Kate has been talking to most of her friends about our situation and seems to be coping well all things considered. Myself and Linda have been discussing options on wether to continue treatment or not but we need more infomation which hopfully will all be in place by next Tuesday. In my own mind, I have a choice in place but need further info before being certain. I feel really tired again tonight and have slept for a good part of the evening.
Another fair day today. After a reasonable nights sleep witha very nice lay in I awoke more or less as Kate was going to school and spent the morning doing another couple of odd jobs around the house. Linda is now with Kate at her therapy session whilst I have just had a visit from Julie. We have been looking at Orient express trips as she would like to treat myself and linda. We have one in mind, which is quite soon, she did look at one later in the year but I said to her, better not book for too far ahead, luckily we could both laugh about it. I am now waiting for my two favourite girlies to get home then I will take Mollie for a walk. Its nice being off the Sutent and feeling actually pretty normal for a change and if things go badly next tuesday I will take comfort ftom the fact of stopping all treatment will make me feel better short term, but at a price of course.
Oh! Bob - a trip on the Orient Express?? How romantic.......... Make sure you're well wrapped up for your walk - it's none too warm outside............Have a lovely evening with your girls.....Love and ((((((((hugs)))))))))) to you all Dot xxxxxx
Way to go Bob Orient Express! We're going to book a cruise, onc says go for it so we are! First holiday abroad in 3years coming up! Lets light up the world Bob so everyone knows we can do it in style!
