Two months ago, I was diagnosed with cancer of the right kidney. It would all need to come out in an operation known as a radical nephrectomy, a removal of the whole. Partial was discussed but as I was on the cusp, the tumour was a size that indicated preferable to take it all out, that decision was made in consultation with the wonderful, approachable and skilful surgeon, at the top of his profession, in the NHS at our local hospital. 

The procedure was swiftly carried out, “my “ surgeon met me in the area you go to just prior to going into the operating theatre, and shook my hand warmly. He inspired full confidence and I didn’t waver. Nerves are normally something I would suffer from, but on this occasion no. The anaesthetists joked with me and I was put under. By the way, I found the joking really helped, I laughed with them at probably silly things. Just say that they knew a thing or two about laughter being the best medicine, in this case for allaying fear. 

Roll on six weeks and I found myself in Malaga, Spain, on a painting holiday booked before any notion of kidney trouble was known. The sun shone most days, the group of painters were a good bunch, the hotel was great, and full of painterly subjects and artefacts and views over a range of mountains and a deep valley, and my bedroom was spacious with a comfortable bed. All this was achieved after a good, steady recovery, a careful team of doctors and nurses during my short stay in hospital, and my husband’s ministrations, many and various. It could not have gone more smoothly and I was extremely grateful to one and all. 

After five weeks, we had returned to see the consultant surgeon, and I had been declared fit to travel to Malaga, as long as I booked Travel Assistance and didn’t carry my case. Fine, all arranged. Oh, and excellent news, he’d informed me. I was literally one in a million: my tumour, most unexpectedly, had been benign, which only happens in less than 5% of cases, and the pathology report indicated an extremely rare type of tumour. Lucky, lucky me, eh! “See you in a year, just to make sure the left kidney is doing well’ said my saviour, my new idol. To whom I send a great big, enormous thank you!  For being him. 

Sally

A Moodscope member