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.
Hope they agree to the 2 day week, you sure deserve it, and with better weather on its way (I hope) you can relax on the lawn, is monday not a bank holiday, or do you have to work them, hope not as it makes a 2 day week on the cards anyway. Take care.
Wish that you could have taken a few weeks off to take it easy, although I do understand that it is not your best option, wish it could have been though.
Hope you manage to get those reduced working hours, you deserve this. If not maybe you could do with the posse from Macmillan to kick their asses lo!
Enjoy the long weekend as best as you can love.
Biggest of (((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) for dear little Kate.
And some massive ((((((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))) for you and Linda.
Monday is a BANK HOLIDAY Bob surely you get that off paid? If not then shame on your company! I'm glad you are at least thinking it's time to slow down a little, but I also understand your need to work. I was lucky to be in a position to give up work and just watch the pennies a lot more carefully, we had already paid off our mortgage and are coping fairly well as John has taken ill health retirement since I became ill due to needing knee replacements, which they won't do saying he's too young? never mind the pain he's in they still won't do them yet!
At least though we have had time together during the past 3years for which I am so grateful. Maybe it's not the retirement plan we had in mind, but we are comprimising what we do and where we go, but we are doing it together which is all that matters.
I hope your works management will see that you are an important asset to their workplace and let you adjust your hours according to your health and I hope you are now fully aware of your rights as an employee!
Fingers and everything else is crossed for your upcoming scansxxx
Well, work are still being a bugger. In principle they are saying they agree with me working two days a week and taking the third sick until my entitlement runs out, but the flip side is they want me to do longer days. I cannot quite get my head around it. His reason for suggesting I did two days was to be better for me but then to say work a longer day is surely not beneficial. To my mind they are using blackmail attempts to make me agree to two days per week on a permanent basis. He even said he is prepared to let me work my two days normal hours if I permanently reduce and give up my right to the third day. Needless to say I am taking advice, It does not sound like they are thinking about my health issues, more like cutting costs. I have done two days this week and now do not plan to go back in till next Wednesday.
I see the weather is gearing up for the bank holiday weekend. pouring with rain here by the sound of it. Well today I have managed to eat a small lunch and a ready meal for tea. My appetite has definitely gone down south. All food taste so different and I have had it a bit before but never as bad as this. Linda keeps telling me the importance of drinking fluids but that has also been a problem. I have lost a stone in weight over the last few weeks so am really forcing myself to eat at least something. Also managing a coffee as I write this so hopefully a better sign.
Thank you all once again for your good luck and good wishes messages.
Mary is right, Sir Bob, they are being.....well, if I say what I feel I will get struck off site........let me get to 'em!!!!!!!!!!!! They need to learn some thoughtfulness, empathy and understanding, if need be, by me going in and table-thumping on your behalf!
Seriously, I hope you feel better soon, do keep up the nutrition.....love and hugs to you and the family
it sounds as though it's heading towards name and shame time. They are effectively bullying you, knowing that you're under par. Is there no higher industry authority/ombudsman you could call on? I'm sure it's the last thing you need right now, but it could be a good channel for concentrating your anger on.
I'm off to Canada to stay with my daughter for 3 weeks. Strange, to say the least, to be doing it on my own but I've got it all organised and am feeling pretty pleased with myself, so far.
Do you know what Bob? I'm never usually lost for words, but when it comes down to your boss I am. He has got to be the most heartless person I've ever heard of. I would gladly take a ban, calling him what I thought, but only if i could do it both on here and to his face, otherwise what's the point. Flippant, but true. I'm so sorry you're bring treated like this.
I know it's hard to be up against buggers like this, but I think he's totally underestimated Bob, the fighter. Good luck to you matey, you've beat well better than this "man" ....
Listen to your good wife, she knows best! Hope the appetite improves more, and you feel a little better, over next few days.
Thanks all once again. well today, rather than go to work, we had a nice day out. After taking Kate to school we went to look around the grounds of a national trust property. Once arriving it was clear I was going to need a chair as I was leaning against everything rather than standing up. We enquired about a wheelchair and the lady persuaded me to use an electric buggy. It was like being given a new lease of life, we never covered so much ground. It made me realise how useful these buggy's are. We had a great couple of hours exploring areas we had never found before. Before leaving we had a spot of lunch and I managed a chicken and leek pie and mash and a few sips of drink. Then it was time to come home which was not without adventure.Cars and lorries kept flashing us on the A14 and we could not see what was wrong. However, the second time we stopped I realised our rear tyre was flat. Strange that the car drove normally and we did not notice. We were nearly home and then rang motorbility who are coming out tomorrow to fix the wheel. Then we went to Kates teachers consultation. She said Kate is doing extremely well under difficult personal circumstances. she is on course for a level 5 in her sats which we are well pleased with. We are very proud of her. We then went to pick up kate from her friends house where we had left her to go to the consultation and ended up staying for tea. I wasn't hungry but did eat a small amount. I felt really cold so are hosts wrapped me up in a quilt, bless them. All in all, a very nice day. No work until Wednesday at the earliest so a good rest ahead.
LOL, I had to read that post twice, because on my first read, I truly thought you had taken the electric buggy on the A14 hahaha, thought you had lost the plot for a minute Sir Bob !!
Well done to Kate, she is a little star xxxx
Pleased you have manged to eat a little more today and have had a nice day ( plus accepted the buggy, ! ) your energy will come back soon, once your appetite returns matey,
Hope you all have a good bank holiday weekend , typical B/H weather forecast - some rain
As for work, I would gladly bop your boss one on the nose,just give me the word lol
