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.
I managed work today but bugger I feel absolutely shattered now. After a busyish day I came home at half five. I felt not bad until I sat down then that was it. After tea it was time for a kip. Whilst I was at work Kate rang me to tell me her SATS results. she was so exited and got really good grades, and that was in the week after she learned about my treatment options, or rather the lack of them. I am beginning to think its the end of work for me now. I am planning to try again on Wednesday but because im so knackered my heart really is not in it any more. Also they are so disorganised and you can see its a road to disaster and im not sure I want to be a part of it. I started the team and it was really sucessfull but now its not so good. Not worthy of what little energy I have.
Tried to edit post but could not. I should have said it was Kates mock SATS. never mind, it gives me a chance to say how proud of her I am. She is such a little star and I love her so, so much. "well done Kate" XXXX
Thinking of you all, keep up those postitive thoughts Bob don't let them slip, you are doing ok love. To hell with work, think about that later, just take care of you that is all that matter at the moment.
My love to you all, along with strength, healing vibes and so many ((((((((((hugs))))))))))
Sir Bob, please give Kate my congratulations for being a clever star! I think, like Mary, that work can wait for a bit, maybe if you really want to, go in for part of the day and less often, tiring yourself out so much must not be the best way to cope right now.....take care and time to do what YOU want to at the moment!
A fair nights sleep and although I did wake a bit early I felt rested. I came downstairs and rested a bit more then felt really cold. After a shower I warmed up a bit. After Linda had taken kate to school, we popped in to Cambridge to get a couple of bits. Once home I spent most of the afternoon asleep whilst Linda picked up Kate from schooland then took her to the dentist. I havnt really felt like eating tonight so have just snacked. Tonight I mustered up the energy to go to a rather full on govenors meeting and was really glad I made the effort. It went on for a couple of hours and gave the old grey matter a bit of exercise. Once home, a quick hug with Kate before she went to bed. After getting ready for bed myself, justin mentioned that one of his headlamps had stopped working so I threw a dressing gown and coat over my boxers and wore a pair of wellies to treck outside. I must have looked a right sight but managed to get the light working again.
I'm Jane, I only joined the site yesterday and your blog was the first thing I read. You are an absolute inspiration, and I have absolute admiration for you and I'm amazed at your bravery and what a wonderful person you are. I'm a student nurse, only just started in September, and I know in my heart I want to work making a difference to patients with cancer. If anything, you have made me more certain than ever that its what I want to do.
You've just got yourself another friend : ) Love to you and your family!
Thanks for reading my blog Jane and glad its helped you to find a direction in your future nursing career. I am only one of many on this site and we all strive for the same aims. To live our lives for as long as possible given the curcumstances. Also I personally must pay tribute to the many carers on this site who, like my dear wife, constantly watch and support us as we face these battles.
I had a pretty good nights sleep last night and feel pretty good so am planning to go to work again today. I am taking Friday off as holiday so a nice short week this week. We are really looking foreward to our Orient Express trip on Friday.
I know you will enjoy Friday, Bob, I bought a trip on the Orient Express to Bristol for my hubs on our 25th anniversary (crikey, it was that long ago!) and it was a truly wonderful day, we both felt thoroughly spoilt!
hi bob just read your diary for today glad todays a good day for you my moms not to bad at the moment she as been on the sutent tablet just 1 week now everything seems ok at the time lets hope it carrys on that way we should have gone for a check up today but a phone call from the hospital to cancel app ant rebook for next week. its realy good to read about your experiances im glad that your doin well at the moment keep up the good work.have a great day on friday .
Thanks Sue and good luck to your mom. My day hasn,t been too bad today. I slept reasonably well last night and so felt quite rested this morning. We dropped Kate off at school and then Linda took me in to work. The day went quite well although yet again an issue with my siac pay. It appears that my sick leave is calculated on a rolling year basis and I was not told that untill today or in fact told that it had run out. So the last couple of weeks i have just taken off were unpaid as will be the time I have off to have my brain fried. Im not best pleased, they could have warned me. They seem to forget we still have bills to pay. Anyway no point in dwelling on it. I have the rest of the week off. I did feel quite good today and delt with a fair bit of pressure at work. I got home at half five and then managed to sleep for a bit.
