BOB JK My diary of kidney cancer (to be continued)
FormerMember
4509 replies
3 subscribers
1621938 views
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.
Just a quick look in - sorry to hear you didn't have such a good day yesterday. Hope you feeling lots better today. I will keep an eye out for your next post to see how you feel today xxxxxxxxx
I do feel better at the moment, having had a really good nights sleep. I have just showered and bathed my poorly eye and it does feel better. I have got ready for work and if I still feel this good in half an hour, I will be taking Kate to school, then to work. Its her first day back after the Easter break. Ive just taken my day one of week four Sutent on whatever cycle I am on, so come this time next week ill be off the Sutent for two weeks. During that two weeks i have scans on my body and also another brain scan. The body scans will hopefully show the Sutent still holding things back. The brain scan is only a marker scan as its too early to see if that has been successful or not. I accept if the whole brain scanning hasn't worked then my life will indeed be limited as there are no other options, but as always we hope it has done some good. The problem is kidney mets to the brain are notoriously difficult to treat. Having said that, I have overcome so many other hurdles so you never know. I feel warmer today, yesterday, all of a sudden, I went freezing cold and even once home and in bed, I just could not get warm. Here's to a better day today.
glad you are feeling a little better today. Not been on for a while and when I do get on its not for long but have managed to keep up with your buletins. All good thoughts to you and yours
Bob, sending you the warmest of (((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))) you are entitled to moan love, you have been through so much fighting this damned horrible disease, which you do with great courage and determination, I for one admire your strength so much.
Keeping everything crossed for you.
Also sending many (((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) to your girls.
Awww, Sir Bob, if you are not entitled to have an 'off' day, then who is???? Poor you, but knowing you, too, by reading your diary blog, I know that you will pick yourself up and get on with life in your own inimitable way, ie, head on! (btw, I often look at myself in the mirror and wonder who the ugly old bat is! lol!)
Bob we all have 'off' days, proves we're human and we are putting up with one hell of a lot with this cancer. It's too tough being on top of it all the time and sometimes it does become one overpowering pain when it all seems to go wrong at once. You're not alone in any of this we all wonder what the next day, week or months will bring, but we have to take check and live for now and do the best we can.
The dreaded scan yet to come, I try to think the worst and then hope secretly for the best to happen. I put up defences so by thinking the worst then I can be happy when things look promising, god knows what I'll do when the worst does come to the surface, guess like you I'll try my best to face it head on and deal with it.
I still take a hot water bottle to bed and tuck it into my back to help me sleep and can understand the 'chills' you feel on and off.
Keep smiling Bob it'll make others wonder what you've been up to ...stay strong.
Still rooting for you Bob and i hope all goes well for you next week, were of to Sidmouth in the morning but ill still keep checking on you. Needless to say i dident get to Jersey but we have rebooked for the 9th may Take care Love Fay
