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.
Good morning marion. Like you I have no other way of contacting Micky. I will send him private message, the same as I am sure you have already done and I hope and pray that he is ok.
Hi Bob I've been following how you're doing after we briefly exchanged messages - it's sometimes hard to keep up with it all/everyone isn't it. I love your attitude and humour - whatever colour you are on the outside, I suspect you'll always be the colour of a good man on the inside, your step-son has probably seen that. What a lovely distraction the wedding is, you sound so much less frightened than your first posting and I'm glad you've got such wonderful support. Your monitoring through your chemo cycles sounds good too - but make sure you contact them between times too if you feel you need to, shouting loudly is the only way through with resources as stretched as they are. I am so sorry to hear about Micky, I've seen his messages and his plight, what a brave man. I'm not particularly religious, but I have found myself praying a lot in the past year and I'll pray for Micky too. Me and my daughter are going to do the Race for Life in June and I'm wondering if I can add your name to my t-shirt (it'll have to be Bob squared, as my brother in law was also Bob!)as one of the many we will be 'walking' for (not up to running yet!). Wishing you and your family all the best. Fi x
Hi Fiona. Thanks for your message. Lovely to hear from you and I would be honoured to have my name on your tee shirt . My 8year old daughter along with her friend are also doing the race for life so it is going to be very emotional for her. I hope you are keeping well and will speak to you soon. Take care
Hi everyone on this foggy Monday morning. Well yesterday was a funny day. I went to get my hair cut and for the first time took a long hard look at myself in the mirror. I must say I was,not particularly impressed with what I saw. I thought I was looking at shrek!! My colour was awfull, my face was swollen.my thoat and feet were sore,but what a small price to be given the chance of a prolonged life. Sutent is begining to show its side effects a lot more now but it is still managable and not all days are as bad. Todays main job is to chase my histology from my main operation as I had this over 6 weeks ago and still have not heard back. I hope to walk to the local shop a bit later to keep my exercise up to date. Today feels strange as my wife Linda has started back at work , she is a district nurse. Her bosses have been very good in allowing her to be flexiable in her work pattern so that she can take me to appointments as necessary. My sister and my mum are visiting today so I will not be on my own for long. My daughter kate has been reading a book bu Marge Heegaard "Children can learn to cope with loss and change" It is a very good book. It has spaces in it for children to express their feelings and you as adults can monitor how they are doing.Kates going off to school now so I will catch up with you soon. By the way has anyone heard from micky?
Morning Bob Thank you (tagging seems to take two requests, so have seconded).
You must be so proud of your little girl, what a little star. Should we call you cameleon? Could be interesting with your choice of shirt and tie for the wedding.
Hope you're feeling well today. Some people have talked about Vit B esp B6 for sore feet and hands, not sure if anyone's discussed this kind of thing to ease symptoms. It's going to be a cold one today, and minus tonight brrrr. I'm staying indoors that's certain. Keep warm. Fi x
Hi just a short update tonight. I finally got my histology result tonight and they do seem happy with it. It is hoped any "hotspots" showing up are scarring or imflamation from the operation.after my sister and mum left after visiting, myself and linda picked up kate from school and then I collapsed on settee while linda got tea. Allas abolutely no appetite tonight. I feel sick and just not hungry. I seem to be feeling better in the mornings and early afternoons at the moment. Anyway hi to everybody and I hope you had a good or fair day.
Here we are, middle of week three on my first cycle of Sutent and I must say generally I dont feel too bad. Apart from my camelion(thanks fiona) looks and generally off my food in the evenings I am pretty pleased with the way things are going. Yesterday was a busy day as when I woke up,my step son was round ours and was going in to cambridge. I went with him for the ride and visited some work aquantances at an electrical wholesalers I use. After this I persuaded matt to take me to my office and I spent a couple of hours sorting out a few small problems as well as catching up with my work collegues. Then we called in at the local little chief to persue my favorite hobby of eating before returning knackered home. needless to say I was too tired to complete my diary last night . Talking of nights I had a funny experience the other night,I came too during my nighttime slumber to see a bright light in the distance and I thought, my god this is it. I was convinced I was on my stairway to heaven then I realised one of my stepsons had gone outside for a ciggy and set of our security lights. I slept really well last night and apart from the fact my stomach feels like it has a brick in it I feel ok.
Hi Bob I bet Linda was cross with you - out to play as soon as she goes back to work! Sounds all good morale boosting stuff though. Did laugh at your bright light story. Just crossed my mind that if you don't think you're getting enough nutrition, you could ask your doc for build-up drinks to supplement your food- I had Ensure milk shakes which really boosted my energy and they contain all the vits and mins you need. I wonder if Kate is doing paintings of you at school - must be fun for colouring in! What colour are you today? Glad the sutent isn't being too difficult, you're fit and strong sooo in your favour. Have a lovely weekend (mine always start on Thursday otherwise the week's too long) Fi x
Judging by the weight im putting on (building up my reserves as I like to call it) I dont think I need any suppliments just yet,but thanks anyway. Linda was not supprised by my outing as she knows what I am like. Today I am probably best described as a weak custard colour, if that makes sense. I feel ok although my blood pressure has shot up so I have asked the district nurses to give me a call in case I need to up blood pressure tablets. take care and hope your day is going ok
