Xavi gets stickered!

Yes, Xavi is already beginning to realise the perils of being a little brother! Not helped by the fact that we can't get out much at the mo as Steve is having his IV treatment at home. Thankfully we have the Roebuck support team here or I think Xavi would have disappeared under the stickers by now!

Steve is doing really really well, we are all quite amazed. He was very sick the night of his chemo but has been really chirpy ever since and pottering about. Its so lovely to see him feeling a bit better.
A big thanks to to Philip as well for making the effort to come and see us on Friday, cheered us up no end! You'll have to find more 'meetings' to come to in Toulouse!

Love from us all x

Anna is a bad blogger!

Yes, i know, no updates for ages, we are rubbish. Its been a very hectic couple of weeks, somewhat stressful and Steve hasn't been great. Its difficult sometimes to sit down and write an upbeat message when you aren't feeling so upbeat! But things are ok, Steve is doing well, the chemo is exhausting him and he's been in bed most of the time. The last couple of days have been so much better and he's been up and about and spending some nice time with the children. Its a shame really to know that after his chemo today the cycle will repeat esp when you see him go off to the hospital in the morning all chirpy and come back so ill.

Slight difference in the UK treatment and the French! Steve was picked up by private ambulance this morning, on time, free of charge, and taken to the day unit where he had his own room with en suite for the day. He was home prompt by 4.15pm! It does make things easier for us when the hospital is so efficient and also full of so many kind nurses and doctors. Tomorrow he starts his second course of IVIG treatment - introduction of antibodies into his system to help treat his neurological problems. This will be done at home over the next three days by an IV and yours truly responsible for changing the bottles of drugs over - something that fills Steve with fear! Not sure why, its not like my nickname at school was Calamity Jane or anything. Steve says i have a short attention span, cheeky sod, lets hope I prove him wrong!

I promise to be better at updates over the next few days and will maybe even bore you all with photos of our fabulous children, Bella has taken to bringing Steve her dummies when she sees he is poorly. So sweet but also a little sad. She is in bed now singing a song about chocolate by the sounds of it so obviously it is not affecting her too badly. Hopefully we are on the up now and she will have forgotten about it all in a few months time.

Bisous a tous x x x x x xx

Steve gives us the thumbs up!

Well, here's the patient himself. See, perfectly happy, in a quiet bed, no kids, unlimited internet and an adoring wife by his bedside. What more could a man want?

Now back at home, a little bit of sickness this evening but the meds they have given him seem to have kicked in and he is rather chirpy really. Sure it will hit him harder tomorrow but we know this is only temporary.

The good news is they think that it is stage one. Should only be 3 cycles of chemo plus radiotherapy so he is halfway through already! Yippee! Of course they will need to do all the scans and tests in January to see if he is in remission but generally all good news.

All test results so far have come back clear so we are once again swinging away from auto immune diseases and back to the encephalitis and autonomic problems being a precursor to the Hodgkins (yet again this is all a bit complicated) but they are sure it is all linked. The doctors are hoping that his symptoms will diminish as the chemo beats the cancer.

So all good really, we're off to the English Christmas fair tomorrow with the Scraps to source mince pies and mulled wine, yum yum and then a cosy night in front of the fire and X Factor. Rock and roll at the Roebucks!

So off we go again tomorrow. Steve is in hospital for one night (we hope, they always sneak another one in once we get there). We have had a few really great days, hence the lack of updates. Its been lovely to be out the house a bit and having fun with Steve and the kids. Long may it last. Bit depressing to think we are going back in tomorrow and Steve will feel rubbish for a week or so but parents (or the support team, as we refer to them) will be here from tomorrow to give us a hand.

All is well, kids are great, little cheeky monkeys but so much fun.

Promise to be a bit better on the updates, apologies!

Sorry for the lack of updates!

We've been celebrating! Happy Birthday Bels!



Further update to follow......

More good news

Just a quick one as i must go to bed in preparation for the celebrations tomorrow but thought i would let you know that the MRI scan yesterday showed no cancer in the spine. We are all so relieved, it was rheumatism, never been so happy to hear that Steve has more rheumatism! A huge weight off our minds. We still have a way to go but I think we are on the right track now.

So a very happy birthday to Bella for tomorrow, we have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for!

Fatigue!

Sorry no update from Steve, he is super tired but doing well. Its amazing that someone can sleep solidly for 24 hours but we're thankful this seems to be the only side effect so far.

I'm sure he will be on soon to update you all. We are all well, MRI scan tomorrow, results next week. Keep the comments coming, nice to hear from you all x x x

Some good news..

Steve saw his team of doctors today and the good news is that the bone biopsy has come back clear - so no cancer in the bone marrow - phew! Just got to hold on now till the scan next week to look at the spine but one worry out of the way.

He is doing very well, had his chemo today and his first infusion of his antibody treatment. The second should be tomorrow and he should be home tomorrow evening - just in time for X Factor (he can hardly contain his excitement). The doctors are now going down the auto immune route - to see if this has caused his autonomic problems. For those of you who don't know autonomic refers to a nervous system which controls your unconscious body functions such as breathing or blood pressure. It is why Steve has so many problems regulating his blood pressure and so much pain in his stomach (amongst other things). As he already suffers from an auto immune disorder - ankylosing spondylitis - this could be a possibility. Yes it is all very confusing and no we don't really understand it, to be honest neither do the doctors really but they are trying their very hardest to get to the bottom of it all and looking at all options. Anyway suffice to say that the antibody treatment is related to auto immune disorders and could help. Right, thats the science bit, time for another glass of wine!

So we are all doing ok. Steve is in good spirits and looking forward to coming home tomorrow. The little scraps are being very well behaved for the grandparents and Arabella even gave them a lie in till 9am this morning so all quiet on the home front.

I'm sure Steve will be on to update you all tomorrow, I'm off to bed whilst Grandma does the late night feed to Xavi. I think i'll take my glass of wine with me.... night night!

Steve back in hospital for treatment

Steve went back in this afternoon for his second chemo treatment. We knew it was going to be an overnight stay as they wanted to keep an eye on him however much to Steve's disgust he will be staying in for a little longer now. They want to give him some more treatment to see if they can help his autonomic problems. This will be via an iv drip and they need to check he does not have any allergic reaction to it. To be honest I don't really understand it, its always a bit hit and miss with the french translation, it was described as 'crazy mad antibodies making him painful'. I'm hoping our lovely professor will be there tomorrow to make more sense of it all!

So will keep you all updated, it should only be for a few nights, i will be smuggling in lots of sandwiches as the food is bloody awful, one thing the NHS is better at!

Anna uses the oldest trick in the book

So this morning we had a phone call from the hospital telling us that all my Chemo appointments have been changed as the doctor can't make it this Thursday (nothing to do with it being a bank holiday I'm sure!)  My new appointments shall start next Thursday instead!!!

On hearing this news Anna cunningly used the oldest and most effective weapon a woman can.... crying!  She also pointed out to the hospital that since being given my chemo dates (dates we were told would never be changed) our parents had booked 3 separate flights to help look after the kids and the 'new appointment' of next Thursday was in fact our daughters second birthday!!!

After a short delay, the hospital phoned back to confirm the chemo dates shall remain as they are today!

Final Result:    Anna  1     Hospital 0

Xavi updates the blog!

Here's a little video of my little man updating the blog for me!

Bad hair day!

Here is the latest picture of me with my bundles of joy.  Of course 5 seconds later Xavi was sick and Bella was gone but that's the great thing about a photo!

Not feeling too bad today, still seem to have no energy but I'm hoping that will pass with time, my back is feeling much better which is a relief but still suffering from a slight headache... thank the lord for (legal) class-A drugs!

As you can see my hair is starting to take on a life of its own, the question is should I get it cut off or wait for the chemo to do its thing and let it fall out?  I've created a quick 'poll' at the bottom of the blog.... let me know what you think I should do ;)

Anna and the kids are fine, I don't know how Anna manages to survive on the few hours of sleep she gets a night but she seems to have a way of taking things day by day and just getting on with it.  All I know is she is one in a million, I may have been unlucky in my health this year but I sure was blessed with a beautiful and loving family.  I don't want this to turn into a gushing love note but sometimes these things need to be said.... Anna is simply the most loving person I have ever met!  Nuff said.

Hope everything is going well with you guys, feel free to leave a comment to let me know your latest gossip, I know this is supposed to be the 'Steve & Anna' show but I guess I can let you have your 5 minutes too... seriously I would love to hear how you are doing (although there is only a total of 15 people invited on the blog to date!)

Well that's enough for now, speak soon, love Steve x

Happy Birthday Brian!

Just wanted to say happy birthday!  Hope life is treating you well and you are enjoying the new job and house.  Take care and love to the family x

Evening all,

Just a quick update to let you know that today was a better day!  The last few days have been very tough and I've been feeling very tired... Anna even found me passed out at the foot of the loo at 1:30am, not my best look!

On a more positive note today I had my heart checked for the 100th time and the good news is it is still normal, and we also had an email from our doctor (the one who is treating my cancer) to say he has contacted another doctor who will come to see me during my next chemo appointment, this doctor specialises in complex cases so I should be just his cup of tea!

Took this picture of Anna and my little man, made me smile so I thought I would share it with you all, take care and love to all,

Steve

This is all obviously a ruse....

hmmmm - i have the feeling i am going to become chief poster on this. Another cunning ploy by Mr Roebuck to delegate. Just to say very quickly as i've been up since 5am and very tired, that the appt today went well. Steve was well and truly prodded and poked and the doctors have beetled off to make some more conclusions or conjure up nasty tests! She spoke English though which helped and seemed very interested in his case.

Off to heart scan tomorrow, hoping it will be less than the four hours it was today. The children are in creche all day tomorrow and we need some sleep while they are away!

Off to see the doctors again tomorrow!

Well, here we go again, off to see a neurological consultant tomorrow to see if they can shed anymore light on Steve's symptoms. Steve is convinced this will mean another spell in hospital as they poke and prod him. Can't blame him really but optimistic that maybe they will have the answer. Hoping they'll speak English and Steve can participate more in the conversation although all these doctor's appointments are really helping my French!

Apart from that we are all well, the Roebuck grandparents left today and are home safe, they will be missed! No lie ins for me for a week or so and I'll have to bring the wood in myself for our fires, still back in a week or so so hopefully will manage!

The smallest of the Roebuck are being very well behaved (long may it last!). Xavier has allowed me to sleep for up to 5 hours at a time the last four nights and Arabella has been entertaining herself today by terrorising the cat, chasing it, shooing it and then waving whilst saying 'bye bye biaow' as it exits mournfully into the cold outside through the nearest escape route.

Finally out of bed!

Well after the first session of chemo I was very tired, so much so I spent the next 3 days in bed!  Glad to say that I'm back on my feet now and I'm about to venture into the lounge.... where the children are, wish me luck ;)

St Lys walk

Just back from hospital

Hi all,

Just got back from hospital having completed my first chemo session, pleased to say that I feel fine and not too sick or tired.  Tried to wear the 'cap' which means you don't lose you hair but it was just too bloody cold!  Therefore expect some funny pictures of me in the near future with no hair or wearing silly hats!

Hope you enjoy the blog!

Steve