Routine blood test gave doctors opportunity to treat my kidney cancer
An aviation management consultant from Surrey has received successful surgery to remove a tumour, after a routine blood test led to a diagnosis of kidney cancer.
Chris Bosworth, 58, displayed no obvious symptoms before his cancer diagnosis, meaning the tumour was unlikely to have been identified without a routine annual blood test at his GP surgery.
He says: “I’d get a little bit of back ache when mowing the lawn or washing up, but I just put that down to age. I felt fine. I’m so thankful that the cancer was identified and dealt with quickly. I was very lucky to avoid the need for treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
“I hope that sharing my story helps to raise awareness of kidney cancer and prompts other people to consider having their own health checked. Early diagnosis is so important and can be lifesaving.”
Cancer diagnosis
After a routine annual blood test showed suspected problems with his liver function in 2024, Chris was referred for an ultrasound to investigate further.
Chris says: “I was relieved to be told that my liver was ‘fine for a man of my age’. However, the technician then asked if I’d ever had problems with my kidneys. I hadn’t, but it quickly became obvious that he knew there was a problem now.
“I received a phone call the next day to arrange an appointment with a specialist kidney consultant the following week. The speed at which everything was moving told me it was bad news and I resigned myself to the fact it might be cancer.
“The appointment came and my consultant showed me a 7cm tumour growing in my right kidney, which was visible from my scan. It needed to be removed urgently. It was completely surreal being told that. It felt like it was happening around me and I was just watching, even though I was the one in the chair getting that news.
“The hardest part was sharing my diagnosis with my family. My dad died of cancer when I was 18. He was just 42. Telling my mum and sister about my illness was very difficult. My wife was with me at my diagnosis, but we also had to explain everything to our two sons.”
Kidney cancer treatment
At the beginning of 2025, Chris underwent surgery to remove his cancerous kidney.
He says: “I hadn’t spent a night in hospital since I was born, so it was a brand-new experience for me. The surgery took longer than planned because I had a reaction to the anaesthetic and it proved more difficult than expected to remove my kidney. It was especially tough on my wife, who spent six hours waiting for the surgery to be complete.
“Thankfully, it was a success, and I was discharged after two days. I took about four months off work, living a quieter life while I recovered. Today everything is pretty much as it was pre-diagnosis. The only difference is that I am living with one kidney. However, my kidney function is stable, and it doesn’t hold me back.
“In fact, coming out of the other side of my diagnosis and treatment has given me a new lease of life. You do look at it as a second chance. It has created more energy and urgency for me to do things in life that I have been meaning to for some time.
“This experience has made me much more aware of my own health. I now have blood tests twice a year to check how I am.”
Raising awareness
Following recovery from surgery, Chris shared his health status with connections on LinkedIn and Facebook, letting people know why he had been quieter in recent months.
He says: “I only wanted to update people so I wouldn’t have to answer the same questions for everyone. However, I was taken aback by the response. People left comments about how they now felt able to share their own personal experiences, while others told me it had prompted them to get their health checked. It was very humbling.
“I realised that being open about my story had helped raise awareness and supported others to feel comfortable in talking about what they have been through. It made me feel that I could do something more to help. That’s why I have decided to become more involved with Kidney Research UK.”
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