Hi Eve,

Sorry when I read this back it sounded very grumpy, I think I spent too long this afternoon struggling with some work that would just not work out!

Thank you for asking. Stephen is doing ok. He has just started cycle 5 of velcade, which he hopes will be his last. After two cycles his pp had dropped from 23 to 12, so he is hoping he…[Read more]

I will always be very glad that I found this forum and all of you here. I dont contribute very often because there are times when I dont feel i have anything useful to say. If I can offer support I do. I am very grateful for the support we have been given when we have needed it and would not want to think I was 'cutting and running' taking the…[Read more]

Hi Eve,

Stephen is just starting his second cycle of velcade this week. He goes in on Tuesday and Friday for two weeks then the week off. He has a long list of times for these days for several weeks in advance giving him specific times for his treatment. Tomorrow his appointment is 4.30pm but if the drugs are ready early they will give him a…[Read more]

Dear Gill,

This is such wonderful news i am absolutely delighted for you both. Like your Doctor I really want to hug you both. I hope you can both enjoy some time together now,

Lots of love Mari xxx

Dear Lin,

I have travel insurance with First Direct as part of my bank account with them. My husband has MM and last year was just post SCT but on no other medication. I had to answer a few extra questions about his health but they had no qualms in allowing him cover on my policy. They were well informed questions and they understood the…[Read more]

Hello John,

It is a long time since you wrote this post and i was very glad of your advice. Steve is coming to the second week of his velcade and is doing well so far. I was just wondering about what you said about your wife's treatment. You say she has had Velcade for a year, I had thought that only a few cycles of velcade were given. Does she…[Read more]

Hi there,

I am sorry you find yourself in this position that none of us would wish for. My husband also has MM and he went through an SCt although i do know what you mean, its a difficult decision. Steve became very depressed when he was having CDT even tho it was working very effectively. The shock of going from a fit healthy man with the…[Read more]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the good wishes, Steve is better and has had two lots of Velcade so far, plus the dex that goes with it. He is having sub cut injections rather than the old intravenous stuff cos its supposed to give fewer side effects and so far so good but probably a bit too early to comment as he has only had two injections so far. He is…[Read more]

Dear Dai and Janet,

So sorry to hear your news a great disappointment for you both I am certain. I wish you luck with the trial, you seem so positive and upbeat, I am sure it will go well for you.

Please send my love especially to Janet, I understand so well how she feels,

Mari x

Hi Glenn

I am sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with MM and that you and Jacqui are facing sure changes to you life. My husband Stephen was diagnosed in January 2010 when the tumour on his spine caused compression that prevented him from walking, resulting in a operation, sadly all too common in myeloma sufferers. He was 53 and like…[Read more]

Dear Bridget,

You are such a wonderful woman. I have seen what these treatments do to people and I think you are doing so well to even comtemplate all that you are doing. You are always immensely supportive to everyone here and now its our turn to support you. I know exactly what you would say to someone else. Dont lose hope, there is always…[Read more]

One word Eve

HURRAY!!!!!

Enjoy the good times that are ahead of you, I hope Slim starts feeling better soon,

Much love

Mari xxx

Hi Ed,

I am a carer too and my husband Steve has MM. He was diagnosed in 2004 when he was 48 but the disease did not become active until 2010. His paraproteins rose very slowly over that time and we were able to put it to the back of our minds and live our lives during that time. When it started to make itself felt in early 2010 we were very…[Read more]

Dear Eve and Bridget,

Thank you for your good wishes and really helpful comments. It never ceases to amaze me how differently people can react to both this horrible disease and the treatments for it. Steve was supposed to start velcade today but as he has another ear infection he is back on antibiotics and they would not give him the treatment,…[Read more]

Dear Jo and Eve,

Thank you for your kind words and good wishes. I hope you both had a good Christmas. We had the children home and some good friends came over in the morning and we all cooked lunch together. It was a lovely day. Dex seems to affect Steve in a very strange way. He gets very lethargic and needs to nap frequently, he does not get…[Read more]

I wish you all a joyous Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New year, thank you one and all for the support we have received here,

Mari xx

Dear Sarah,

I am so pleased to hear that Henry is doing so well with CTD and I wish you both well when you embarak on the SCT in the New year. I hope it bring him a long healthy remission.

Best wishes for a lovely Christmas,

Mari xx

Dear Jean,

I am so sorry to hear that Frank has been suffering such pain, and that you have had the worry of seeing him go through it, there is nothing worse than seeing your partner struggle with awful pain and not be able to help. I hope he is feeling more comfortable now and has some good pain relief to fall back on if he needs it. One…[Read more]

Dear Keith,

Sorry to hear you are suffering with such a nasty infection. As I write this Steve and I are both huddled up in the sofa in front of the fire with exactly the same symptoms as you describe. he has been ill since this time last week and is having some trouble shaking it off, as you say I sure that is down to his compromised immune…[Read more]