Update 19 - 4th November, 2013

SORRY AGAIN!!! Late and short as usual.  Lots to tell and very little time at the moment.  In short Emma has continued to do pretty well health wise.  She has no symptoms to speak of and is still keeping really fit and swimming loads and really just getting on with normal life.  She has spent the last couple of months discussing and planning for a clinical trial via the Surrey Clinical Research Centre which is attached to the hospital and university.
We have a new protagonist in the form of Research Oncologist Dr Ajaz (of course know by us Ajax - son of a Greek God - can't remember which one).  Very suave chap although not quite so Saville Row, Rolex and Mont Blanc blinged up as some of the other consultants.  Smart casual I would say.  We haven't established if he drives a Porsche yet.
He is running a Phase 1 Clinical Trial using immunotherapy.  This is basically loading Emma up with a modified form of Vaccinia (smallpox vaccine).  This should hopefully kick-start Emma's immune system to fight the cancer itself. This is potentially exciting but clearly it is early days.  We hope and pray that this will have an impact.
Side effects are mainly flu like symptoms after each treatment and she has to stay in what amounts to a bio containment facility in the research centre during the treatment - basically a self contained metal lined box with a door. Prisoner in Cell Block H here we come. This week will be the longest stay from Monday to Friday and then it is weekly for 1 or 2 nights up to Christmas Eve.  So it is quite a long treatment but very worthwhile.
The lead up has been a bit of a nightmare with loads and loads of every conceivable scan known to man, biopsies, cardiograms etc etc.  However we are now here and I shall be in a gown and mask for the rest of week for visiting.  Emma is fully wi-fi'd up so please send her a cheery message if you get chance.  She may even honour us all with a personal blog during her time doing porridge - OH YES!!!!!  Photos below are a bit random of the children from Spain in August but they are lovely and they are all I have got at the moment.
Love to all in the meantime and God Bless.
Andrew xx

Hannah at the Cowboy Western Film Set / Zoo in Spain (weird combo but a great day out)

James at the Cowboy Western Film Set / Zoo in Spain

Rebecca at the Cowboy Western Film Set / Zoo in Spain 

Update 18 - 3rd June, 2013

Again I find myself saying sorry as I wrote this over a month ago and have not published it again.  We are just back from a lovely half-term week in the Isle of Wight with Emma's family.  Good weather, lovely house, amazing food, good company, quite a bit of booze and no mobile signal - all in all a great break.

The post that I wrote at the end of April reads like this:

We were seen by Dr Illsley today for the results of Emma's PET scan.  The PET is more sensitive than a CT scan and is able pick up any other secondaries in the rest of Emma's body. Cutting to the chase, there are no more secondaries outside the lungs which is positive news.  The less positive news is that there are more spots in her lungs than the original ones already identified.  The original ones are all still growing slowly and steadily.  So it is mixed day of news, but it certainly could have been worse.

The result of this is that there are now too many secondaries in Emma's lungs to enable any local treatment which is a shame.  So the likely outcome is another round of chemo - the question is when.  Emma will have another scan in June and depending on how things look then Emma and the medical team will decide how to proceed. The other route might be the fast moving science around 'jamming' certain cells which have been identified as 'baddies'.  The pathologist in the multi-disciplinary team is also checking out the latest news on this form of treatment.  We are back to see Dr Illsley on the 23rd June which is when a decision may be made on when they might start a new round of chemotherapy.  There is no evidence to suggest that early chemo is any more effective than later chemo, so it seems likely that the timing will be driven by how Emma feels and any symptoms.

On family life the children returned to school today celebrating the fact that they are now on packed lunches.  Testimony to Emma's catering skills and perhaps the school's lack of catering skills!  Emma flies to Spain on Thursday for a weekend in Almeria in South East Spain with some girlfriends - it is apparently baking hot so it should be good.  I am soon to take part in a charity walk (15th-16th June) and if you feel so inclined I would be very grateful for any sponsorship.  You will see from the link that the causes are very worthwhile and close to my heart.   The 'giving' page is at the following link:

http://www.justgiving.com/teams/24peaks24hours  

I need to run now but our love and best wishes to all in the meantime,

Andrew xx

View from Blackdown over West Sussex at 0600 hrs on a training walk 

James with two amazing British Army amputees (Derek and Rory) at the Army v Navy Rugby at Twickenham

Rebecca, Cousin Rachel, Cousin Charlotte, Hannah and James at the Isle of Wight Chilli Farm

Update 17 - March 19th, 2013, (Wales 30 - England 3)

Hello again.  Rather shabby again as I realise this is my first blog of 2013.  Time flies past in a blur and we have arrived at Emma's next check up in the blink of an eye.  Emma had a CT scan on Friday and we got the results today from Dr Illsley (considering a new nickname of Dr Crapsecretary but I am not sure if will catch on).  Basically the news is the same as the last check up.  Slow moving and still pretty small secondary cancers in Emma's lungs. It is now a year since her last treatment which is a decent enough time to observe the behaviour of the disease and so it is now time to consider the next steps.
The immediate new step is to conduct another PET scan (this continues the search for the elusive hamster which frankly neither of us believe is there). This is a whole body scan which is checking for any other disease apart from Emma's lungs.  Depending on the results of this scan then there are a variety options that the multidisciplinary team (Oncologist, radiologist and thoracic surgeon) will consider, including surgery, localised radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Whilst it would be difficult to dress this up as fantastically good news, the disease has continued to be pretty slow and steady for 12 months which opens up options for treatment - this is good news.

Life on the home front continues to be pretty hectic.  There was the massive dump of snow which led to an EPIC (Hannah's favourite word) day of sledging.  Photographic evidence below.  We saw a fantastic panto with James Dinsmore as the fabulous Captain Hook and Mr Darling (such versatility).  He is now appearing in Darling of the Day at the Union Theatre in Islington - miss this one at your peril (www.uniontheatre.biz). Kinniburgh Taxi services continue to be busy every day of the week except Sundays.  I am still based largely at Army Headquarters in Andover and have the great pleasure of having at least a fortnightly lunch break with my oldest pal Pete (Major Manson RM to you lot though).  I leave there in April as does Pete (good luck old friend).  I am starting with a new consultancy business in April and we shall see how that progresses.        

Sledging at Hindhead Golf Club in the January snow - outstanding day.  Rebecca lasted about 30 seconds before deciding she was too cold and wanted to go home - GRRRRRR and BRRRRRR.... 

Pre-Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe on the Southbank in the company of my gorgeous wife, and the also rather gorgeous Alex, Andre, Fran and Anne-Marie.  Mr Dinsmore was sitting down on account of his great age and infirmity.   We were there to see Ms Sarah Barron tread the boards as part of her Masters at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire dontcha know and very fine she was too.   

Rebecca and Hannah with a raven in the background at the Tower of London

James being stabbed with a large axe by a knight at the Tower of London with Tunbridge Wells Grannie and Papa

At Rosie and Al's hoose for tea,  The same day that England got beaten 30-3 by Wales! Rosie, Emma and Sue were having tea and champers at the Ritz dahling.

Unfortunately for Al (right) he forgot when he asked us round to watch the game and to kindly give our children tea that Justin was half Welsh and that I am totally  Jockanese therefore were both bellowing for the Reds throughout Wales's trouncing of the English girls rugby team. Did I mention the score 30-3................ 

James (E's brother) and E in a rather flattering distortion shot courtesy of my phone.  James and I had a quiet evening out in Twickenham after the Calcutta Cup (no photos available!).  England played well, unlike the 30-3 loss to Wales this weekend.   

 That's all for now - run out of steam..  We send love and best wishes to all in the meantime and wish God Speed to Ben Wrench for the remainder of his tour in Afghanistan and to his safe arrival home in Edinburgh.  We also send love to Elisabeth and the children.  Finally we hold the Kendall family in our hearts and in our prayers for the shocking and tragic death of Krystyna.