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 again Debbie and real good to hear from you again. Thanks for the insight on the whole brain radiotherapy, its helpfull to me to know what to expect. My dialemma is wether to shave off hair from the start, did hubby loose his quick and how soon or is it still happening. I want to lessen the shock for my ten year old so will probably have a real short one.
thanks to all for your loyal and valued support, the fight goes on
Well, my husband's hair loss has been minimal to date, but it's a struggle to apply the aqueous cream with hair! Yesterday I just plastered it on & let it absorb into his scalp in it's own time - which is all very well if you're not going out. He washes it a few hours later with baby shampoo. He has mentioned having a 'fuzzy head', but nothing requiring painkillers.
I think the worst bit was the travelling up to the hospital every day - usually in the rush hour at either end of the day. It made him very tired.
I do wish you all the very best as you start your treatment.
I was so nervous to read your long post and now I have a grin from ear to ear ! I know the treatment is going to be really tough but you can do it Sir Bob Cat ! yet again putting the two fingers up or you paw lol, yay, we are all willing you on every step of the way
An extra special hug for Lady Linda the great lady behind the great man,
Dear Bob - so pleased that a torch has been found to light the end of this particular tunnel. Continue to follow the light Bob.....and fight on Love and hugs to you all Dot xxxxxxxx
Well a rather reflective day today. I went to bed at a reasonable time but awoke soon aftern four and then could not sleep again. I relented and left Linda in bed and made my way downstairs with Molls in tow. I did manage a bit more sleep after going on chat and finding out everyone else was having a good night and was not wide awake. I think today I have reflected on what a journey this has so far been and I honestly was beginning to think that journey was coming to an end. That was earlier though and now we are on track to continue that journey. I also keep thinking back to just after we were told that I could have the full radiation, when we went and sat in the hospital canteen. we both felt a bit tearfull and emotional. opposite us sat a young lad, probably in his early twenty,s with his parents. He was obviously under treatment for a brain tumour and they all looked so, so sad and at that moment i felt guilty for rejoicing at our news. My mind also drifts back to young Anthony who died last year , who we met on this site though his mum Ros (antmum) and subsequently met with them in Scotland. It was a year ago this week they buried him. Its all so bloody unfair and unjust. I have to fight on, I owe it to so many and especially to my family who have been so supported.
off to see the oncologist tomorrow, fingers crossed Bobby's blood counts will be right for him to go back on Sutent after the urinary infection, if not hey-ho we will just have to wait until the blood is right.
It is so bloody unfair, unjust, horrible and the worst disease in the world but when there are inspirations like you out there to keep up all our hopes I can’t help but crack a very little smile :-)
Famous fighters of the world have nothing on you or on any of our loved ones fighting this too.
So let’s stand tall and show it what we really can do.
