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.
Hi Bob and All, Im back home, we arrived home on Monday after another very enjoyable trip. We went to Scotland first and stayed there for about 2 weeks touring round, then came down the west coast of england then onto Skegness which was lovely as we found a lovely beach we could park right next to and then on to Market Rasen, where we spent 2 days gambling on the horses, ive never been to the races before so that was another new thing ive done, mind you we spent more than we won but we enjoyed ourselves and thats the main thing. There was one thing that spoiled it though a horse fell over at a jump and had to be put down it really upset me as a lot of things do these days as i seem to be more emotional. When we were in Scotland we went to Calloden where a famous battle took place in 1746 we visited the battle ground which had blue flags on one side and red on the other denoting the Scots and the English and then we went to the museum where we went into a room with the four walls being like cinema screens where we stood in the middle, then the battle started and it got closer and closer untill we were in the middle, it was really scary but once again i felt really emotional, it just seemed so crazy fighting over land when Scotland is vast and empty. Anyway enough of me going on with myself im probobly boring you, sorry. Once again Bob you seem to be doing fine getting about and doing your jobs and i was amazed to hear about your walk, congraulations you did really well, i cant walk very far and then i need my stick but from what the Doc said its because my red blood cells are low and the oxegen isent getting round my body due to Sutent. I like the photos you have put on, you look very well. How did you do it? let me know please. I know what you mean about time passing, Jon got a reminder to tax his car and it dosent seem 5 mins ago we applyed for a disabled parking card and found out we dident have pay for our tax disc, which is a great help. Oh before i forget HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, i hope it was a good one. I know what you mean about cardboard food, its not as bad as when i had the Interlukin 2 treatment i couldent eat for 3 weeks, now its just now and again, but its strange you can look forwards to eating something and it dosent taste of anything other than cardboard not that im in the habit of eating cardboard, oh and in answer to someones question i do feel the cold more but mainly on my arms. Im at the Hos next tuesday for my usual 6 weeks checkup and to pick up my Sutent, im on my second free week at the moment so im feeling fine, there were times when i was away when i felt really poorly and i get worried is it the cancer or the Sutent but its only at time like now when the side effects are wearing off do i know its the Sutent. Well i think thats enough of me blabbing on, i hope this message finds you all feeling ok, being strong and possitive, Love to you all Fay X
Glad your travels went well, whereabouts did you go in scotland, Linda,Kate and myself are off there in October half term and as we are staying at Edinborough we are fairly central to travel out. I bet the money you gambled on a hourse you could have bought your own, never mind we are all guilty of that and at least you enjojed yourself. Did you take Jon for retail therapy before the horsey spree, I bet you did if your anything like Linda. I can relate to you when you wonder if its the Sutent or cancer making you feel poorly. I often feel like that but when you feel better on a break it answers your questions. Ive just had my "cardboard" tea and it was horrible and it has left a foul taste in my mouth. Mollie has just taken me for walkies so now im going to settle down for the evening and do nowt (sorry Linda). The old girls at work tomorrow so i i will be taking Kate to school and then putting on my pinny and doing the housework. (yeh rite) Good luck at the hospital next Tuesday (in case I forget).
This morning I have noticed a strange thing, I seem to have lost all taste of sugar. I made a cup of tea last night and after tasting thought I had left sugar out, but after another this morning realised I almost need to double up to get any taste. Also anything sweet does not taste the same at all. Also I am used to having swelling around the eyes during this part of the cycle but nothing like I got this morning. I look as if ive been done in. It waqs definately at its worst first thing this morning and it has improved a bit now. Linda has gone to work and I have just come back from taking Kate to school. I am trying to get into the decorating mode but at the moment its just not happening, never mind, theres always tomorrow!
Well tonight, as Kate has a friend staying the night ,I thought I would cook my favourite dish shepperds pie and it turned out really good. The only trouble was my taste buds have gone totally mad and to me it tasted awfull to the point I could not eat it, what a bummer. Tomorrow myself , linda and Kate are goingn to meet up with an old school friend who made contact with me on facebook. As we have nopt seen each other for over 30yrs it should be very interesting. Today I have made a token effort at some decorating. dont forget www.bobjk.com
I am so sorry, I had not realised that Andy contributed to your topic as I hadn't read it frequently. Had I realised, I would have let you know of Andy's passing at the time Carol posted on Andy's topic.
We have just had a very enjoyable evening out with a schoolfriend I had not seen for 35 years and it was like going back to precancer times which was great. we had an exellent meal and a good chat. We hope to do it again sometime. Because we ate late I suspect im in for a rough night but, hey, who cares.
