BOB JK My diary of kidney cancer (to be continued)
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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.
Marginally warmer. I had a terrible night last night. My feet felt as though they were going to self combust. I think this is one of the sutent side effects taking place. Another is that I am beginning to look like a banana ( in colour). I also felt sick but this seems to have settled down. We are just dropping kate of at her friends .hope everyone is ok and catch up with u later
hiya bob soz not rplied but a lot going on mum saw consultant monday it had spread to liver and stomach lining slightly! they offered chmo but got to get rid of jaundice they attempted to insert a stent but they couldn't do this so they tried to put in a drain this also failed we don't know why we've been hospital today but can't find anything out! so annoying they have started her on warfrin-injection in her stomach so we are thinking has she got a clot in bile duct. great news about phone call you were waiting for so pleased for you. you have a very caring and supportive family bob look after each other. exciting news about the wedding bet you are well proud
hi Lorna , nice to hear from you. I can understand your frustations. I hope things settle down for you soon . How is your mum feeling in herself,can she eat ok. I've found the best way to deal with loss of appertite is to eat what you can ,when you can no matter what time of day. The only trouble is I'm turning into a right porker. Good luck to the both of you and you take care of yourself.
Its Saturday morning, we have just opened the curtains and Buxton is sunny. Breakfast is served at nine and then we pack to go and pick up kate who has been staying with her friends. Lastnight we went to a Mexican restaurant ,which I am sure I will regret later today. My blood pressure appears to have settled and my feet although red are not blistered. My chest had a red rash this morning . Have any other sutent users had this affect? Rather than a banana I now resemble a rhubarb and custard sweet. I have been on sutent nearly two weeks now. When we pick up kate we are staying there for a spot of lunch( yes more food) before our eppic journey home. It has been good to get away for a couple of days but it will be equally nice to get home and catch up with the family. I'm sure we will be talking weddings( over more food). I must sign off but will talk again later . Have a good weekend.
Hi Bob, hope your wee break does u good. Being a scottish lass, i have no idea where Buxton is,but dont u think the best thing about hotels, is getting up and having breakfast made for u , (mmm fry up,mmm,strong hot coffee with toast),i presume your in a hotel, i want to go back and check other page but will loose thread if i do that.. ( just had a senior moment, dont be telling me Buxton is near scotland or am goona feel like a real prat, ha ha x ) We have not seen any rash on ant,s chest but he did have skin discolour and some times looks yellow, then can look very white, his bloods have been fine tho and no anemia, or low HB, infact the meds have not affected blood count. You wont have had that done yet. How often have you to see the Dr/oncology team during course ? Today anthony has sore feet,the padding on his soles are sore , which makes it akward when walking. he is is good spirits tho and we have just been out for coffee/lunch with my aunt. Totally cheered me up. have not been getting out lately,just the tonic today !! take care ros x
Its funny you should mention about going white as I have now changed colour again to pale white. I see the dr after i have had my first four week cycle, and then have a scan after the second four weeks cycle, so ten weeks after starting drug. So ten weeks after starting i get my Tarrot cards read !!!
Its good to hear you had a nice afternoon out, its amazing how a bit of sun and gettting out of the home enviroment can lift your spirits.
Well we have arrived home from our few days away and i am exhausted, but happy to have had a change of scenery. It also gave LInda and me a chance to have a bit of time on our own to relax and talk.
I am thinking of changing my name to rainbow as I seem to be working my way through the colours, today I am pale white.
Now we have arrived back home the house is full of talk of the 'Wedding', and everyone is very excited about this, it has lifted spirits. Tom and Katie went out today and purchased a very dazzling engagement ring. Tom has also asked me to be his best man, which is a great honour coming from a young man with lots of young friends. I of course accepted (with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat), as although he is my step-son I really consider him to be my son, as I might add I do all the three boys.
All in all not a bad day, starting to go off my food, which considering I love food is a bit annoying. Feet still red, but no worse.
Wonder what colour I will be tomorrow? Watch this space to find out.
Great you had such a fab time. How lovely to be asked to be best man. Keith,my hubby and i are off to elgin for a wedding at end of march. The bride is from america so there are two weddings,one here for the grooms side and one in ontario,lucky them. Its my hubbys 2nd cousin, his dad is organising for us to spend 2 nights at the hotel where the reception will be , as he feels we could benifit from a wee break ourselves. This all pends on anthonys results mid march. This year is the 1st year we have not made plans for hols etc and normally u take it for granted,however we are looking forward to going if possible. cheers, goodnight ros x
Diary update I am definately beginning to feel side effects of sutent now. Apart from the fact that my colour has now changing between red,white and all colours in between I am beginning to itch all over. I am assuming the itching is a side effect as I do not remember reading about this. I can only manage two feeds a day. I feel sick some of the time and my stomach just feels full all of the time. After brecky we made our way down to a local wedding fair for Tom and Kate to peruse. after collecting various leaflets and trying wedding cake and dipping our fingers into numerous chocolate fountains we returned home.I havnt really felt up to much this afternoon. Linda,s brother and wife sue popped round for a couple of hours in the late afternoon after which I decided I would cook tea. after cooking sphagetti bolognase for 7 I was knackered and then rested for a bit untill I had further visitors in the evening. My mate Darren had a brain aneurism some years ago and was lucky to survive. I take inspiration from Darren because after his treatment they said he would never lead a normal life again and would never work. He has proved them wrong on both counts. He is happily married to his wife of two years ,Joni and he works full time at one of Cambridges colleges as a maintenance person. I helped Darren a lot through his early recovery and I know that he will be there for me if neeeded. Anyway I really need to turn in so hopefully will catch up again tomorrow. my best wishes to everyone.
i know you speak to micky 333 he is in bad way and have had several desperate messages from him this morning between 5anm and 6am tifhs morning.. read his thread and you will see what i mean. his priv mssges have been desperate as well. lastt one just said in pain help me
