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.
Yesterday at work went really well although I only did my usual four hours. Once home I worked like a trouper cutting grass and weeding before we had Lindas brother and his wife for tea. Yesterday morning I was feeding the dod and I thought she never barks , so I made her say please for her tea and the shock was so great , my glasses, which were perched on top of my head, fell, and plopped straight into Mollies water. Kates day at school went really well by the sounds of it. Linda also went to her workplace yesterday and has begun to wortk out a planned return to work. Luckily both of our companies have been pretty good and hopefully will continue to do so. Today Im off too work shortly for another half day. Day 4 6th cycle of Sutent and I still have not upped my other drugs which is good
Again yesterday I went to work but for some reason felt a bit out of it. I just didnt feel right. I dont know why, I just didnt. I felt really tense and I also had a bach ache and a bit of a head ache. I was really glad to get home and just chill out. I am hopeing that was just a temporary blip and I will feel better when I go in next week. Perhaps I need to up my other drugs and see if that helps. Since I awoke this morning I feel not bad but the back pain is there somewhere so I wii probably have to take painkillers. The problem is they play havoc with my stomach and so I avoid for as long as possible. Today will be a bit of a relaxing day, no decorating or other work (take note Linda), In fact I might even take the old girl out to lunch!!
Well today was indeed a day of rest and I certainly feel better for it. I have had to increase my pain killers to combat back pain but at last it is beginning to feel better. I did indeed take the old girl out to lunch and then we did some retail therapy before returning home. This afternoon I have rested and hope tomorrow I will be able to tackle a few more of my outstanding jobs. Linda is out tonight on a girlie evening so no doubt she will be home at some late hour (possibly the worse for wear with drink), only jesting. oops I cant help feeling im going to be in trouble again, never mind.
Not a bad day today. Tom and Kate came over and whilst Tom helpeed me repair Kates playhouse roof Kate cooked a meal which was really sweet of her. Also Justin helped out with the washing and ironing. Linda and I popped into cambridge to get a few bits. I am struggling a bit to totally eradicate the back pain but it is a lot better than it was. My tummy was verry jippy also this morning but seems to have settled a bit tonight.
Chrisie, trust me I will end up paying big time, if only it were only two tops. The back ache is a lot better thanks. Day seven on the first week of sixth cycle of Sutent and I just feel a bit strange. everywhere you go people are talking about the future and sod it, I dont know how much of a future I have and I am finding it a bit difficult. I can live with the day to day stuff but when people say" oh Kate will be at big school then" or "she will be a typical teenager" I really struggle. I would love to see Kate grow into a teenager but I know that is not likely to happen. Linda said to me someone else on this site described terminal cancer and their feelings as if time was ticking away and they wanted time tio stand still and I can fully relate to that. In fact I would love to turn back the clock and take a path avoiding the cancer altogether but thats just not possible.
