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 I went to the hairdressers to get my hair cut and as I looked in the mirror at my hair under the spot light I thought " Bugger, that looks silver", but put it down to the artificial light and thought no more about it. This morning I stood talkiing to Linda outside before going to work and I noticed she was staring at my head. ""Whats wrong ? I asked. "Nothing" she said "but your hair lookes grey in this light". All of a sudden not only the roots of my hair but all of it has turned grey and it is especially noticable in daylight. At last my eyebrows blend in with my hair and no longer stand out. I have had a good day at work and was very busy for my stint today. I also had a really good nights sleep last night and feel much better for it. I finished work this afternoon and met Linda and David for a coffee before getting home and falling asleep for a bit. next week I had a hospital appointment but cancelled that myself as it is on my birthday. Im sure how many of those I have left and dont want to spend , what could be , the last one of them in a London hospital. Next week is week four of my sixth cycle of Sutent and all in all I feel good
I awoke rather early this morning and so decided to get up and after my first cup of tea I am trying to run up an old computer so kate will have one to use. Linda said im like the mad proffessor and she is right. Time to get Kate up for school now so block your ears.
I didnt have much luck with the old computer, that has now been relegated to the garage, never mind you cant win them all. Today we have had visits from my sister Julie, mum, Lindas mum, Matt and Justin. talking of which we were in Cambridge when Justin and Matt turned up so they let themselves into the house and justin found a cat trapped in our kitchen. We have an old cat flap that apparently will let a moggy in but wont let it out (i wonder how many more moggies are hiding around the house). I have fixed the cat flap with sealant so next time it tries to barge its way in, it will be in for a nasty shock (and a flat nose). We have spent much of today talking about painting the lounge but we cannot decide on a colour so I think I might just surprise Linda and paint it whilst she is at work. (am I being brave or stupid). I have recently been spending time getting used to facebook and its amazing how many people from the past pop up. I used to run a St John Ambulance division and cadets who I taught years ago have been in touch and it has been lovely to hear from them. The old girl has gone out with her friends tonight for a well deserved break from me and I dont know what time she will roll in so its me and Kate tonight. We had a lovely time cuddling on the settee before she went to bed. Now its just me and mollie and she is half asleep so she is not good company. I did manage to cut the front lawn again today and also continue in my quest to have the tidiest and most organised garage in our area. This week we have also booked a break in Scotland which we are both looking foreward to during the October half term. We are staying at Edinborough i a rather posh hotel for 4 days and travelling down by train.
At last I seem to be sleeping through the night so hopefully the new arrangement of pills is working. Yesterday seemed to signal the start of another reaction from the Sutent. I am used to a swelling around my eyes, but this time my eyes seem very sore and my tear duct will not stop weeping. Hopefully now that ive had a good nights sleep it will settle down. I awoke this morning to find I had a dead leg and I thought this is a bit worrying but then realised the dog was laying across it. Today we are off out and I am determined we will not return home until we have sourced a new settee and colour scheme for the lounge. Kate has recieved an email from the Race for life organisers to say that she was one of the top money raisers in this area this year. They asked her to email them back her story of why she took part, which she has done and they might want to interview her. Kate sent as lovely email back and it goes without saying that Linda and I are very proud of her. As I near the end of week three of my sixth cycle my hair colour seems to change daily along with my scin colour. I seem to bounce between a light grey to a superbright orange. Im not sure which one I prefer.
I hope eveyone is making the most of the sunny weather and that you all have a good weekend
Well the old girls gone out and left me again. This time its a work social evening. Linda starts back at work on Monday so it will be good for her to see her work collegues tonight. Take care my dear and a big from me as I love you so much.
Well today Ive managed to make another start on the decorating. We went out this morning to look at new sofas and we ended up buying one so its given me a reason to hurry up with the decorating. Ive been filling and sanding today and hopfully paint will start going on the wall tomorrow. My poorly eye is still a bit sore but not as bad as it was before. My feet are really beginning to blister and redden but still copeable. Tomorrow I pick up my new glasses which will be a godsend. Ive gone for varifocal which apparently can take a bit of getting used too so if I dont post for a few days, it will be because I have walked somewhere I shoulntn have and have ended up in casualty. I certainly cant be any worse than I am at present. Talking of presents its my birthday on Wednesday and I wonder what prezzies I will get. I never get exited about birthdays but this ones a bit diffirent for obvious reasons and Im really looking foreward to it.
Had a really good day on the decorating front. all filled and prepared ready for decorating tomorrow. Linda is at work so I am left in charge to take Kate to school. Feel knackered so off to bed now.
So pleased to hear about Kates fund raising hope the little angel gets the bigest reward possible, know you will keep us informed. Hope Lindas 1st day went well at work. My birthdat today hope yours is as good on wednesday. All the best people seem to have been born in Sept. Take care.
from me as I love you so much.
