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.
well done ange, what a relief getting the news. what a stressfull day u both have had. well done , well done. :) u too can breathe easy for today. keep fighting the fight !! love ros x
Hi Angelo, am so pleased for you, where would we be without people like Kate etc. My partner is on similar drug for kidney cancer -sorafenib (which Kate helped us to fight for.) Has just had 6 month scans and results are good- still stable. He was diagnosed 2 1/2yrs ago as terminal and given up to a year to live. has not had kidney removed as was 4th stage when diagnosed and has mets to bone and brain but is still doing well.We got news today that drug is still working, as soon as it is not, we will not get it So I share your happy day! I hope you husband does well on Sutent, as I am sure he will. My best wishes Sandra.
Thank you everyone for your kind words. This site has helped me to keep going when I felt in the depths. Your diary, Bob, has been a particular inspiration, both positive and realistic. We know there's no cure, but at least the drug gives us a chance to extend the fight and who knows what's out there for any of us. I wish I'd never had to visit this site, but now that I have, I'm proud to have made all your acquaintance. Best wishes Ange
Hi to all. Ive had a very good day today. Myself and Linda went to retail therapy and was very succesfull. then Lindas mum, my mum and Julie came round for the afternoon and we just chatted away the day which was really nice. Tonight an old mate from stn john Ambulance called by and again we chatted for a couplem of hours. Apart from the usual tiredness ive felt really good. Kate went swimming tonight with her friend which was good for her, she seems to have settled down again after her tearfull night a couple of nights ago. On Saterday we are taking Kate and one of her friends to London for the day and we have pre-booked the London eye which should be good. We then have a bar-b-q in the evening to look foreward to if I am not too tired.
Hi All, Had a really good day today but feeling really tired now. It was my birthday today and all the family came to see me with cards and pressies. I got really emotional this morning though i just couldent stop crying i think it was all the lovely loving words everyone had written on my cards, thats the one good thing about being ill the deluge of love you receive from even people you dont expect it off, but still id much rather not be ill and get the normal affection. Well im of to bed now its 11.30pm, love , blessings and strength to you ALL, Fay.X
Did not have a very good night last night, every time I laid flat in bed I kept coughing and as before bringing up this disgusting taste, so spent the night on sofa in half sitting position. Feel much better this morning. I seem to get this towards the end of each cycle. Does anyone else ?
Hi Bob My husband David is now on his tenth or eleventh cycle of Sunitinib and, as you say, the last couple of weeks of each cycle are pretty bad although actually, his last cycle was one of the best and he only suffered for three or four days before he finished. So, if you are having a bad time at the moment, who knows, maybe your next cycle will be better. One of the best things that happened for us in recent months was when David was changed from two weeks off to three. You can possibly imagine the difference that made to our lives. He now has time to feel "normal" before he starts again. A surprising side effect on me when David is suffering, is the loneliness I feel as I cannot reach him to talk as he seems to be inside himself. I take a deep nose dive at those times although David just deals with it. He is a very, very brave man. I hope you will be feeling better soon. I always read your messages and it is interesting to compare your situation to that of David's. Maybe next month will be better for you. Jennie
