BOB JK My diary of kidney cancer (to be continued)

FormerMember
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.
  • Linda, you too are a star! Give little Kate a special hug from me, know how miserable a brace can be.....had one for 2 years, they even did them in those far off days, but they weren't attached to the teeth like they are now. I refused to open my mouth for ages, and eating was just awful, smiling even worse! For a chatty monster that I was,  was tough! 

    Give Bob a gentle hug from me too, poor chap, for someone so determined to admit to feeling that bad, wow, he must feel dreadful! And you......well, have you checked your back recently for the angel wings? 

    Seriously, am glad you have a good Mac nurse that has a good rapport with you all......many hugs to all with my love, don't forget your special place!

    Moomy

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to moomy

    Dear Linda,

    I am sending you all so much strength and so many (((((((((((hugs))))))))), bless you love it must be so difficult for you.

    I am pleased that you have a Macmillan nurse that you can all relate to, especially Bob, but remember love she/he is there for you too.

    Give my love to dear little Kate she is such a brave little girl, brace I never had one nor did my daughter, but do understand how sometimes they don't like having them.

    Bob is in my prayers love, hoping that he feels a little better tomorrow,

    My love and thoughts are with you all

    Maryxxxxxxx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    HI Linda

    Ahh great about the mac nurse   we had  a brill mac nurse was there for all the family and d nurses too  Might take kate a little time to get used the brace but she will get there .

    hope the sickness settles down for Bob 

    Love to you all love and hugs xx

    take care love janice xxx

     

     

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Hi all. As you can see its early in the morning and im not sleeping too good.  I think the driver has started to settle my Tummy a bit though so thats good.  The only downside is I keep getting tangled up in the tubes. I have come downstairs to try and give Linda a chance to sleep.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Hi Bob and Linda, hope its a better day for you all, poor kate my grandaughter has just had one not sure about the pink wire she chose but they do look better than they did in my day, there are 3 in her class so she dosnt feel alone with it. But the end will be good with lovely straight teeth, I really do hope and pray that this nightmare for bob soon goes away. Take care XX

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Dear Sir Bob,

    Hope you are feeling a little brighter today and Lady Linda, that you got some sleep.  Never had a brace Katie, but am positive it will be worth it eh?! Am going to be internet-free for a couple of weeks but sending you and yours much love and ((hugs)).  Feel better soon Bob.

    Leah

    xxx

  • Sir Bob, I hope you did get a decent sleep in the end.......much love to you all with hugs too

    Moomy

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to moomy

    Hi all,  I did get some sleep in the finish so have not felt too bad today. Today I have also restarted the steroids.  The district nurses have been in to try and syphon some blood out me but could not so are sending another person in tomorrow to see if they can fare better. In the two and a half  years of treatment my veins are all but collapsed and its becoming more difficult to extract my red amber. I have managed to eat a small amount as well so that is also good. I have been dressed and downstairs all day so that makes you feel better as well. Today Kate did her maths challenge and from what little she told me, she did ok.. Time nearly to see if I can manage a spot of tea, I will give it my best shot.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Hi Bob

    Very good to see you back on the web, and to hear that you are feeling a little better. Fingers crossed for tomorrow, hope you don't end up too battered and bruised.

    A maths challenge? Urgh! Poor Kate - hope she did well.

    Take care of yourself and I hope the drugs make you feel more normal soon.

    xx

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember in reply to FormerMember

    Thanks Maui

    Its really good to feel well enough to be back on the www.  I am feeling better every day, thanks to my great team around me. The District nurse has just been to sort out my syringe driver which was sticking and she has also taken my bloods. They will be back later to deliver my Clexane  injection. Linda and the rest of my family have been absolute bricks in affording me the best possible care, I feel very humbled and honoured. I can Eat a small amount now and my bowel habits  seem to be settling down a bit. I can see a grass cutting coming on in celebration soon. I also have my netpad back from repair which is great. Im used to using it and struggled a lot on the other computers in the house. I have been signed off work for another week . I hope you all have a good weekend, around this area the weather is apparently going to be better. Tomorrow Linda is taking kate and a friend to watch ballet in London (swan lake). Im Quite happy to sit than one out.

    Bob  x