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ī“  »  Kidney Cancer UK News  »  Umesh Patel: An Elegant Coincidence

Umesh Patel: An Elegant Coincidence

by | Feb 4, 2025 | Kidney Cancer UK News, Personal Stories - Blogs | 0 comments

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A blog for Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2025 by Umesh Patel

Iā€™m Umesh, and this is my cancer journey
Umesh Patel 4 2025Hi, my name is Umesh and I’m 47 years old. I want to start by giving you a little context into who I am, and a little about my family. I have the most amazing wife, Ellen, and two children, Eva and Ellis. I have been affected by cancer before. My Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer during lockdown. She celebrated her 77th birthday in Willow Wood Hospice, Tameside, and died shortly after on the 1st of October, 2022. Since then I have wanted to volunteer at the hospice but they don’t allow this until at least 18 months after your loved one has passed. On what would have been her 79th birthday this year, I decided I would pick up the forms to volunteer, fill them in andĀ drop them off on the 2nd anniversary of her passing.

My first symptomĀ 

As with a lot of people, my first symptom was blood in my urine. It was just before I went to bed. I was obviously concerned but didn’t say anything to my wife, as she was asleep. In the morning I passed what I considered to be completely normal urine. No sign of blood or any kind of discolouration. I did tell Ellen and went to work as normal. At work, I passed blood again and this time it felt as though I had passed something. At this point in my mind, this was a kidney stone and I was one of the rarest people on earth that suffered no pain. Everyone that I spoke to who has suffered from kidney stones told me how painful it was and how they were doubled over. I made an appointment to see my GP and was given an appointment for later in the day. Throughout that day, I was alternating between passing urine that resembled Ribena (apologies if this has now put some of you off that drink) and “normal” urine.Ā 

Umesh Patel and EllenAt the doctors, I was asked to provide a urine sample and wondered what would come out. This was borne out of concern that it would look, and therefore be, completely normal, and no further investigation would take place. Once again, Ribena. The doctor suggested that I go straight to A & E, which is what I did. The doctor was kind enough to ring through so that I wouldn’t have to wait as long to be seen.Ā 

My symptoms worsenedĀ 

I was seen fairly quickly after arriving, triaged, and asked to wait for the doctor. A few hours later, I saw a brilliant doctor who really understood my situation. Blood and urine tests confirmed I was still passing blood, and my kidney function was slightly down. When I asked about scans, the doctor agreed they were needed and managed to arrange one for the next day at a different hospital. Feeling reassured, I went home. However, before Ellen arrived to pick me up, the doctor called to say the scan had been cancelled with no indication of when it might happen.Ā 

At home, my symptoms got worse – my urine looked like Robinson’s Summer Fruits (apologies again) or Ribena, with no sign of normal colour. I was more concerned by then, so I decided not to go to work the next day and instead rang the CT department myself. They had no record of my scan, which prompted me to return to A&E. I explained my worsening symptoms, was triaged again, and had more blood and urine tests. Thankfully, the same doctor was on duty and reassured me that my haemoglobin and kidney function were normal. He confirmed I was on the

priority list for a scan. I made it clear I wouldnā€™t leave until the CT department verified this, which they eventually did. Strangely, the bleeding stopped completely the next day, apart from one brief instance a week later, which I chose to monitor while waiting for my scan date.Ā 

On 9th October, I received an appointment for a cystoscopy on 15th October. If you ever need one, Iā€™d advise against shouting ā€œMy toes have gone!ā€ during the procedure – it’s not helpful! Thankfully, the results were normal, and there were no signs of bladder cancer, which was a big relief. The specialist and I both suspected a random kidney stone.Ā 

My scan appointment followed on 17th October and went smoothly, apart from having to hold an uncomfortably full bladder. I was told the results could take 3-5 weeks. My thinking was that no news within a week likely meant nothing serious, which turned out to be correct. I didnā€™t hear anything until 14th November.

Donā€™t be afraid to push back

I think itā€™s important, and I can’t stress this enough: Iā€™m really glad I pushed for scans and that my symptoms were investigated fully. If I hadnā€™t gone back to the hospital the following day, and considering my symptoms disappeared shortly afterwards, I might not have found out about this until it was too late. Another important point to note is that current hospital protocols donā€™t always allow doctors to provide the care they might want to. This seemed to be the case for the doctors at Tameside.Ā 

Liz.Ā 

Liz is a urology specialist nurse. She left me a lovely message that said that they would like me to have another scan. Somewhat panicked, I rang her back and asked if they had found something, but she just said that they needed a really good picture so they were doing another scan. A few phone calls later and I was booked in for another scan on the 19th of November 2024. Before that scan had taken place, I received another appointment for the 25th of November to see an urologist.Ā 

I attended my CT appointment where I was told that it would be with contrast. I hadn’t twigged what this meant at this point, even though Ellen and I had binge watched Grey’s Anatomy. After 5 failed attempts to secure a vein, my scan was complete.Ā 

Nothing prepares you for those 3 words.. ā€˜You have cancerā€™

I had got ready for work just like any other day, fully expecting to be told everything was clear and he told ā€œit was a random kidney stone, please continue to enjoy your lifeā€.Ā 

Nothing, and I mean nothing prepares you for that moment you are told you have cancer. Most people that know me will tell you that I am usually the calm one in the room that rationalises everything. I was told that they had found something on my right kidney and needed treatment. As soon as Dr Bromage said that there was a high chance of a cure, I asked if it was cancer and he said yes.

I wasn’t able to utter much more at that point other than, “I need to ring my wife.” The tears flowed and Liz helped me to a room to try and help me calm down. I rang Ellen and could only tell her that I had cancer andĀ could she come to hospital. Liz was amazing. She made me a cup of tea and sat with me. She took me for a walk around the hospital whilst we waited for Ellen.Ā 

Once Ellen arrived, we went back in to speak to Dr Bromage, the urologist surgeon, and he explained that I had a 6 cm tumor on my right kidney. He said that there would be very little point in performing a biopsy and that I needed to decide whether I wanted to preserve some kidney function by opting for a partial nephrectomy or remove the kidney entirely. Ellen and I both agreed that we just wanted it gone.Ā 

A bit of luck

I never really believed in luck but clearly I had been delivered a large dose. Dr Bromage had an opening for surgery two weeks later. I had to get another scan to make sure the cancer hadn’t spread and if I could get that and get my pre op appointment, then my surgery would take place two weeks later. Liz took it upon herself to walk to the CT department and I had my second scan that afternoon. Dr Bromage’s secretary rang and said that the opening for surgery was actually only a week later on the 3rd of December. My pre op appointment took place two days later and I had a successful radical nephrectomy.Ā 

Everything becomes real

I have never questioned my own mortality before. But from the moment I was told I had cancer, to lying on the gurney at The Christie, I was sure that I was going to die. I cried every time I tucked my kids into bed as I thought it would soon be coming to an end. I worried about the pain it would cause to my amazing family when I was gone. The emotional anguish that I felt was huge and had it not been for Ellen, I don’t know what I would have done. She has been my absolute rock throughout all of this.Ā 

RecoveryĀ 

I am now 6 weeks post-op. It has been a slow process and along the way, I have had to remind myself that I may not fit the recovery timeline. I have been frustrated by pain, by having to take painkillers, and by the lack of sleep (I have found this the most debilitating) but I am here. I have come out of the other side of a cancer diagnosis. My post-op appointment is on the 20th of January and I will learn whether I need immunotherapy but that to me is the worst-case scenario and I am prepared for this. Along the way, the Kidney Cancer UK Facebook group has been nothing short of a miracle. The community of people are there to support, answer questions or just listen; they are amazing. I have signed up for the free counselling sessions and I am going to visit the Maggies Centre in Oldham.Ā 

I titled this blog, ‘An Elegant Coincidence’ and I want to leave you with an explanation. My First symptom began on the 1st of October, the 2nd anniversary of my Mum passing. I found comfort from that and hopefully, some of you will too.

Umesh

To find out more about Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2025 and read more blogs go here.

<a href="https://www.kcuk.org.uk/author/mp/" target="_self">Malcolm Packer</a>

Malcolm Packer

Malcolm is Chief Executive Officer at Kidney Cancer UK and Kidney Cancer Scotland and has worked with the charity in various capacities for over 15 years.