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.
Not a good day again today. After a restless night I booked a visit to the doctors, Linda took me and the doc gave me a real good check over. She has started me on antibiotics to get any possible infection controlled. I felt really rough in the morning and by the afternoon had come, Linda was talking about me visiting a hospice to get sorted out. As much as I was weary and tired I did not want to go in to any hospice at this stage. I managed to talk Linda out of it. My doctor took bloods and after talking to Proff Gore in London, he was happy as long as bloods were ok. My doc was to ring back if anything to worry about so I guess no news is good news. I have spent the whole day in bed and am surviving on energy drinks plus the odd bit of solid food. Poor old Linda has climbed the stairs countless times today, she will sleep well tonight, I hope I do. Kate has finished her Sats and school for the week. hopefully ill have more energy over the weekend. Thanks for all your messages.
Hi Bob and thanks for posting. It must be a good sign that you were able to post. Hopefully you will feel better tomorrow and have a bit more energy. You are a real inspiration to so many people, as is your family. We could all learn a lesson from you about the importance of enjoying the simple everyday things in life.
You may not have any idea how unbelievably inspiring your spirit and determination is to others. There is no one in the world that could argue against the statement that cancer and especially cancer like yours is the most soul destroying gruelling brutal path a human being can be dragged down. Unless you have come across it cancer to most people is only the tip of the iceberg to the ones who have lived it. You are surviving every day with a grace that is truly admirable. I have two step sons to be 9 and 10 (I also love like my own wholeheartedly) and to hear about little Kate and how every look and fear she has must crush you inside, it is overwhelming. We all want like any parent to take away the pain and not to be part of the cause, she is so lucky to have you in her life and that no doubt you will savour every second and make each single moment ever lasting.
My two boys Reuben and Isaac have found smiles with a new distraction http://www.moshimonsters.com/adopt it is a safe kids networking site that keeps them occupied chatting to their friends. I love hearing them giggle and smile and would do anything to encourage it. We have a worry box but I like your feelings book/journal idea I may try that, boys are not so great at expressing their feelings I wish they were!
By the way just to share ideas she may be too mature for it but the boys still like meeting me in their dreams, so when they go to bed we all plan a place to meet and have fun in our dreams, like maybe a fantasy island full of chocolate, pirates and doctor who, just a touch of imagination needed. Anyway I thought I would share it so maybe Kate could know she would always see you when she closes her eyes no matter what the future brings.
You are a wonderful man with a wonderful wife and lovely children i am so glad they are appreciate it and you do too.
My heart goes out to you and the suffering you are going through at the moment.
I just wanted to tell you that my husband, David, is in a nearby hospice for respite care at the moment. The week there was booked when he last left the hospice seven weeks ago and, besides giving me a break from his care, he is able to have his pain relief adjusted plus all the pampering possible from full time nurses and resident pain consultants. So, if you feel reticent about spending a few days in such a place, I can recommend a hospice wholeheartedly. Volunteers even come around with the drinks trolley at meal times!
I hope this will serve to help you feel more inclined to investigate such a place.
