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.
This could be a challenge, the forum has been out of action for the weekend and my memory span lasts about an hour. Saturday, Kate went to stay at her big brothers house which gave myself and Linda time on our own for a change."i bet you did some exiting things" I hear you ask, we spent the whole day shopping for clothes ready for our holiday then the rest of the day sorting out our old clothes and thinning them out. We actually got loads done and would not have managed half of it if Kate would have been here. We also had lunch out which was nice. On Sunday kate came back with Tom and Katie and we relaxed and did little else as by then I was done in. Not much planned for today, A tip and clothes bank run in the morning and then a quick visit to work. I am now on week four of third cycle of Sutent and most of the side effects have been predictable. Has anyone else had little bumps come up on scalp ? I seem to get what are little spots that are tender and sore to the touch within my hair.
I have very little hair anyway - I call it a forehead - lol - but no i haven't had that one - just a rash on my feet which went away using the Aqueous cream. Have you tried that?
We haven't spoken for a bit, but I have been following your diary. Just wanted to say that I am so pleased that things are going ok despite the bumps on your head - Perhaps something is trying to escape??!!!
Thanks Andy and Heather . Andy, mine is fast becoming a forehead and yes I will look into the cream you suggest. By the way Linda needs no encouragement from you to get me new togs, she has been trying to chuck out some of my old shirts for ages and I also cannot see what is wrong with my "fruity colourful waistcoat" (lol) Heather I think anything capable of escaping from my head left a long while ago and all that is left is an excuse for a brain.
Feeling a lot better again today which is unusual on week four which is really good. My eye lashes and body hair is now nearly all grey but my head hair is still brown, can you imagine what I look like. I had a really good nights sleep and have been down to Kate's school this morning to talk about mobile classrooms (my life is full of excitement). Now waiting for my twin sister Julie and Mum to visit.
I am on the last week of cycle 2 week 4 nd once again my beard is changing colour to white! but the rest of my hair is still brown - lol -
My sister says I should grow a full beard in white just for a laugh - I'm not! but the oncologist wants to see it so I will take a pic next week to show him - he is interested in side effects of the Sutent but the drug company (Pfizer) are only interested if the colour change is the other way around presumably so they could use it and market it as a hair colour restorant - lol - and make even more money from it.
Oh and by the way - fruity coloured waistcoats - A BIG NO NO!
I am glad you are feeling alot better today and long may it continue, my pain in the back is lessening a bit each day so it looks as if the radiotherapy I had is actually starting to work now. The flights are booked for the hols just need to book the hotel and we are all set. We are going on the 2th May so need to get it sorted soon.
Andy, you have let me down. I was relying on your support for the fruity waistcoat. If I could figure out how to get a photo on this site I would model it for all to see (help). Also Andy if you start growing your beard now by Christmas the work will be rolling in (lol) Again today I feel pretty good and my theory of feeling rough on week four is this time wrong, Never mind. I popped into work today to take back my company car as I get my own new one tomorrow. I am quite exited and cant wait to get behind the wheel. I have also been to a funeral today. A chap who I know through work took his own life about three weeks ago which is very sad. He was only thirtyish and for reasons unknown to me just couldnt face this world anymore.
it doesn't matter how much you like them or the one you have they are still a no no!
I am sorry to hear about your friend, sometimes people just don't like the place they are in and need to change it, thats a drastic way to go about it but perhaps he could think of nothing else to make that change happen. The way peoples minds wor under pressure are never fully understandable, even by the people whose mind it is. You will never be able to understand so don't try, just remember the person as they would want to be and leave it there!
I have been in the hospital again for the last few days, fell off the bed and needed help with the pain it caused, am ok again now and pain meds inreased to help.
Glad to hear you are getting your new toy, you shoould have it by now so happy playing - lol -
OK Andy Ive got the message, no more fruity waistcoats (lol) Well yesterday I collected the new motor and it is fab. Apart from the fact you sit higher so I haven't got to bend and contort to get in and out , it is also an automatic. It also has an intelligent key system which recognises a fob you carry and so does not need ignition key. It also has a built in sat nav, bluetooth, huge sun roof and also a clever little camera under the rear number plate so we can see what we are going to hit before we reverse into it (lol) We had a bit of a drive around yesterday but I felt a bit rough today so Linda is using it to pick up Kate and friend from school. Its Kates birthday on Monday so she is getting a tad exited. We have bought her a snazzy karaoke gizmo which puts your picture on the telly whilst crooning into the mike. Myself and Julie plan to do a duet on Monday(perhaps ill post it on U tube) 2 more days of Sutent then two weeks off. Ive had stomach pains today but they seem to be improving with the pain killers. This cycle has been a lot better than the last which is good news. I'm sure some of it is down to the extra medication I am taking but some also due to the fact that some of the side effects are becoming the norm and therefore not a concern.
just don't take it personally about the waistcoats - lol - go with the majority vote!
Sounds like you gt every toy in the world on the car, good on yer, its great playinmg with a new car isn't it?
I finished my 2nd Sutent round on thursday and have CT Scan booked for next wednesday, I always feel nervous about this, I don't know about you but I feel like I am almost living my life between some form of scan or other!
Anyway the results will be in before I go away to Portugal so it'll be either celebrate or commiserate for the hols - lol - no real side effects this time round except for the usual skin splits on my fingers so not too bad I thought.
Have a great weekend and happy birthday to Kate for monday,
Just taken my last Sutent on the last week of my third cycle. spent most of the night between bedroom and bathroom. The last couple of days I seem worse in the morning, but after a couple of extra pills I feel better later in the day. Yesterday I bought a new gas barbie as I nearly self combusted myself trying to light the old charcoal one last week. One thing Ive found is my patience is nowhere near as good as it was before (not that it was ever very good). All my joints ache as well duing the night and need targetting with pills in the morning to bring under control.
Good luck Andy with your scan, it WILL be good news
