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.
I havent been able to sign in for months now (since things changed) but have been watching your posts from afar and sending you, Linda and little Kate all the love and biggest hugs in the world. I can't tell you how much I have hoped and prayed for you all. You are a man in a million, in the midst of what is going on, there you are giving out so much hope and inspiration to all who find themselves on here.
I sincerely hope that today is a much better day for you Bob and that you are feeling just that little bit better my pal.
Sending you loads of strength and great big hugs to you, lovely Linda and dear little Kate.
Debbie it sounds like you and I are in the same boat. Husband DX 26th june 2009 and all down hill since then. 4 rounds sutent, rad neph etc etc. Following liver failure and stent insertion no treatment now for 6 weeks. Hospital appointmen on Thursday 6th. He now has lump on his back 8inches round. Never got as far as the zometa as he needed dental work which was cancelled cos he was too ill. Will be going on Thursday from Farnham to London in a wheelchair as he has to have help to crawl upstairs now. GP has told me 6 months if we are lucky. I haven't told him. Am terrified they will tell him when we go to see the Onc.
It is so hard isn''t it? I keep trying to prepare meals to entice him and he can't face them, I try to give him good news and it is like he doesn't hear. Have been crying all day.
I am so sorry your husband is nearing the end of this god damn journey. Also Boosmum. I had similar problems that after a long break for two ops, the cancer spread to my brain. I also know that if my whole brain radiotherapy does not work then my journey will also be coming to an end. I feel privileged to have survived for so long and although I have not given up, and as long as I have anything to do with it, will not do so, I am still trying to prepare for what might be. Although I am eating a bit better, I still feel weak. We have not done too much today, we were invited to meet up with Tommy and Katie for lunch but I could not face it. Tonight I also had pain around my right lung area. This has now subsided after a couple of paracetamol. Myself and Kate did take Molls for a short walk so that was good. I am still trying to push the boundary's but I am finding it harder at the moment. I am due to go back to work on Wednesday but not looking likely at the moment. Although sunny here today it has been bitterly cold. I have just had a soak in the bath to warm up. Thanks everyone else for your support as always and the very best of luck with your journeys.
What a difference a day makes, after a really crappy couple of days I feel so much better and guess what, Im going in to work tomorrow. I slept really well, ate quite well and, sorry about the graphics, im pooing quire well, nearly normal at last. I have had to compromise a bit with work and we have agreed to my two days a week with the third being paid as sick. I will have to go in early but can finish earlier. As I am usually better in the mornings thats not a bad thing. Im being picked up at seven, which will give me a reason not to lie in bed until silly hour. I have also been ordered to take a lunch hour, which I have never done before, that will be novel. Watch this space to see how I get on !!!
Had a nice day today, popped round my mums with Linda for a while and she tried to feed us into submission, we did ok though. A lazy afternoon followed, well for me anyway. Linda picked up Kate and took her to her dance class whilst I chatted on the phone to a couple of old friends and researched a new bike for Kate. Looking at the price of them its a good job im going back to work. So definitely a lot better today and looking forward to my now 2 days a week work.
Hello Bob - I havent written on here for a while - but I always pop in to see how you are doing. I am sure you feel as if you arent doing enough - but from the outside - it amazes me just how much you are doing! - I cannot believe your work has been so thoughtless - you just dont need that on top of everything else.
What always comes over in your posts - is your enthusiasm and determination for events and day to day normalities - without the interuption of cancer (even if you require the help of a electric wheelchair!!!) - Its the things you write about enjoying with your family that really explain cancer to me - Little things mean alot dont they......It also should embaress those who scoff at nice unfunded life-extending drugs - look what you can achieve as a result. -
I dont know my future (next scan end May) - but I know that every day with my two children really matters - every day I feel Ive helped them a little bit more....taught them something else......laughed and shared a cuddle........these are all things that shine through in your writing. Keep it up! and go easy on yourself - you are doing so much more than you think you are!!!!
