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.
I dont know where tonight has gone. After a shakey start to last night I actually slept ok and awoke in good time. The bought the old girl a cup of tea in bed before walking the dog and then feeding the dog and two cats. Linda went off to work first, Then off to work I went arriving there at about 09.30. The first thing I did was to take an electric saw to a desk in my office to make it wsmaller much to everyones supprise, "thats better" I proudly announced as half the desk fell on the floor in bits ande I pushed the little bit that was left against the wall. Then I did some proper work until I left at nearly one oclock. I then called round my mums to see her and my twin sis Julie who was also there. I had a bite to eat and polished off a giant tube os sweets Julie had bought one of the kids for xmas, sorry kids. I definately cannot eat chocolate any more but can still make a right pig of myself on candy and jellies. By then it was time to get to the school. I arrived in the nick of time to pick up Kate and home we came. I gave the dog an early tea and then took her for a walk, as I crossed the road with her to walk to the grassy fields I realised that instead of holding my usual placcy bag to pick up doggy poo, I was carrying a bright chrome dog dish, I wonder what people thought. So home I came again to dump dish and get bag. I managed to cook some tea and stay awake long enough to eat with Linda and Kate before falling into a deep, deep slumber. I have only just awoke to the sound of Linda gassing on the phone to an old mate of mine. I am ready for another deep slumber now so I guess its time to shut those tired old eyes again, nite nite all.
After going to bed feeling tired I ended up back downstairs as I felt unsettled. Did manage to catnap on settee and have awoken, I am feeling sufficiently resfreshed enough to go into work for a bit. Tonight we have the works xmas dinner at a hotel nice and near to us which has worked out really good. I cant believe I have only one week left of the 8th cycle of my Sutent, where does the time go. Time used to fly by when I was at work full time, which you would expect. Since "semi-retiring" from work it seems to go even quicker which I do not like at all. I suppose the stark choice is to bum around at home, doing nothing and then time would drag or go to work as I am and actually enjoy the experience but pay for it by having to sleep more. Only time will tell if I have made the right choice. As I am a get up and go type of person and never been one to lay around or take uneccessary time off work, I think I have made the only choice.
Funny you mentioned chocolate Bob, is it that you dont like it anymore or it dosent like you? i dont like it any more it taste grainy as apposed to smooooth, i to like soft jelly sweets. I tell you though what really does give me indigestion is fresh cream, i get a soapy taste bask in my mouth, funny eh. Im exausted once again reading what you have been up to, good on ya !!!! and id loved to have been a fly on the wall when you chopped your desk up, i bet you felt a whole lot better though pent up frustration and all. take care and have a good day, live Fay X
Its more I dont like chocolate anymore, which is a real bummer as I used to love it. Well ive been to work this morning and now going to have a kip as we are out again tonight to the firms xmas dinner, Bloody hell, more food, still someones got to do it!
Hi Bob,i to have just returned from a works night out,maybe i was out a bit later than you, Hope you had a good time and mayb managed a xmas bevy or two,i know i have,lol xx
An exellent night was had last night as we enjoyed an exellent three course lunch washed down by beer and wine. We got home anour 12.30, so not as late as you shez. Then, as last night Kate was staying over at a friends house we had to be up reasonably early. We picked up Kate and her friend Gaby and procceded to bloody "build a bear" in Cambridge.It cant get any worse than that. Now Kates friend is staying the night round here and the two of them are on speed and just wont sit and be quiet. They drove us mad all through x factor and are still awake and running mad. I have found I do struggle with my patience and noise and, funny enough, smell seem to have a detrimental affect on me. The disco last night was almost umbearably noisy and did slightly spoil it for me but I still really enjoyed the evening. Someone smelling of smoke, who would not normally bother me, causes me great offence, usually it wouldn;t have bothered me. Not supprisingly I have slept all afternoon and feel pretty knackered tonight. Tommy and Kate came over tonight along with Lindas brother. Kate has a rather bad cold and if she gives it to me I will never speak to her again,(only jesting Kate) Last tablet of week three cycle number eight tomorrow.
Gosh what a emotional night tonight, what with Strickly and then X factor, im really glad Alexandra won though thats a beautiful song for her debut single. Glad to hear you had a good night last night Bob, im sure it will have done you and Linda the world of good. XX
Today we have had a really nice "low key" day. As nice as it is to receive visitors and to go visiting we had today all to ourselves which without wishing to sound selfish was bloody lovely. Linda and Kate had a jim jam day and didn't get dressed until this afternoon. Now Linda Has taken Kate swimming and left me at home to cook the tea. After not feeling brilliant yesterday I have felt really good today and I am sure it has done us all the world of good to have a days resting and pottering about. Saying that Linda managed to do a load of washing and I dried it. Linda also sorted the spare bedroom out ready for xmas visitors whilst I tidied kates bedroom and playroom and I did a spot of dusting and hoovering. Thinking about it we havn't really rested that much today but because we did it so leasurely it does seem like it. Spag bog is on the menu tonight as we all like it and its nice and easy for me to cook. Mollie is sitting patiently by my side waiting for her walk. One more week to go at work before xmas. I know I am only doing a few hours a week but the energy it takes from me is equivalent to a weeks work and more. I hope you all have had a good weekend
