Interesting claims about ALC causes.

I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it: Missing microbes 'cause' childhood cancer - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44199844

New CLL Tracking Website now live.

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If you are living with CLL why not check out this website which aims to collect data from patients. It doesn't matter if you are still watch and wait (like me) or if you have already had several bouts of treatment, they want to hear about your experiences.

To participate click HERE to visit their online questionnaire.

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Scirocco 50 LLR portrait now complete,and it looks awesome!

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I got an email from Mike Jones today to tell me that he has finished the commissioned picture of Scarlett in her Scirocco 50 LLR "war paint", and my goodness it is indeed an excellent rendition of the car that I have grown so fond of over the last (almost!) 3 years.

As I mentioned before, Mike has had numerous pictures published in both VW and Audi Driver magazines over the years, and this one is apparently the first one he has done in almost 4 years!.

All that now remains to be done is for the picture to be reproduced as a print and then for Mike to Sign them and get them to me.We are planning to limit the run to a maximum of 250 (numbered) prints, and they will be sold for £5.00 each, £4.00 of which from each print will be donated to the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research Charity (£1.00 per copy to cover costs).

The story of how the Scirocco 50 LLR project came to be will hopefully be being featured in a soon to be published issue of VW Driver magazine, and this will be scheduled to be on sale a few weeks before the GTI International show at Bruntingthorpe in June this year.

Keep watching for details of how to get your own signed print of this car soon. Andy

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How a David Beckham haircut saves Leukaemia boy Maddox.

A 'David Beckham' haircut saved a young boy's life after Maddox Tallowin's parents spotted strange lumps on the back of their his head and his neck after giving him an ultra-short Mohican-style crop.

It was quickly diagnosed that the three-year-old had leukaemia and, within a day of discovering the bumps, Maddox was in hospital undergoing chemotherapy.

‘It was more luck than anything else that we found it,’ said father, Ben, 32. ‘The sides were short but when we touched the actual mohawk, there were these bumps on either side of his neck at the bottom of his head.

To read the full story click HERE to view the Metro.co.uk Website.

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So what happens when engineers get a sense of humour ?

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Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by US Air Force pilots and the replies from the maintenance ground-crews. "Squawks" are problem listings that pilots generally leave for maintenance crews.

* Problem: "Left inside main tire almost needs replacement."
* Solution: "Almost replaced left inside main tire."

* Problem: "Test flight OK, except autoland very rough."
* Solution: "Autoland not installed on this aircraft."

* Problem #1: "#2 Propeller seeping prop fluid."
* Solution #1: "#2 Propeller seepage normal."
* Problem #2: "#1, #3, and #4 propellers lack normal seepage."

* Problem: "The autopilot doesn't."
* Signed off: "IT DOES NOW."

* Problem: "Something loose in cockpit."
* Solution: "Something tightened in cockpit."

* Problem: "Evidence of hydraulic leak on right main landing gear."
* Solution: "Evidence removed."

* Problem: "DME volume unbelievably loud."
* Solution: "Volume set to more believable level."

* Problem: "Dead bugs on windshield."
* Solution: "Live bugs on order."

* Problem: "Autopilot in altitude hold mode produces a 200 fpm descent."
* Solution: "Cannot reproduce problem on ground."

* Problem: "IFF inoperative."
* Solution: "IFF inoperative in OFF mode."

* Problem: "Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick."
* Solution: "That's what they're there for."

* Problem: "Number three engine missing."
* Solution: "Engine found on right wing after brief search."

Having spent 12 years as an airframes technician in the RAF I can relate well to many of these replies :-)

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Little stars are so brave - Twins, 4 both fighting Acute Leukaemia.

Brave identical twins Megan and Gracie Garwood are preparing for intensive chemotherapy after both being diagnosed with cancer – less than a fortnight apart.


The four-year-olds, who have just started at Rougham Primary School, used to love swimming but that is no longer possible because of the plastic tubes feeding drugs and, sometimes even food, through their noses into their bodies.

For the complete story click HERE to navigate to the Bury Free Press Website.

Could you Buy a Wristband or Bracelet and help Vicki's family ?

Could you spare a couple of quid after Christmas to help a family who's daughter is fighting Leukaemia ?
Fancy an Ultra Trendy Wristband...or maybe you know someone who might !.

Click HERE to visit Vicki's dads blog and have a read of how Leukaemia has affected this family for several months, then marvel at the amazing way they have coped with the situation they find themselves in.

Imagine if it were your child fighting this disease, wouldn't you be glad to know that complete strangers could help you out by contributing a few quid to help you along ? Come on, in the spirit of Christmas, give a little,help a lot :-)

Thanks :-)

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Jake Peach has raised over £600,000 for sick children since beating leukaemia

When Santa checks his list of this year's especially deserving boys and girls, Jake Peach's name should be right at the top.

Since last Christmas, the 13-year-old has battled and beaten leukaemia while raising more than £600,000 for sick children and inspiring millions with his bravery.


His fundraising included persuading Premiership footballers to donate a day's pay, rallying support from a 60,000-strong crowd at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, and charming Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah over coffee at 10 Downing Street.

Even when he was honoured with a Child of Courage gong at the Mirror's Pride of Britain awards in October, Jake was more concerned with helping others - using his moment of glory to ask celebrities in the audience for donations.


So the Mirror decided to make Christmas come a little early for Jake with a special delivery, including games for his PSP and Nintendo Wii, and a special DVD of his favourite movie, Transformers 2. Although delighted with his gifts, Jake was far more interested in talking about how he owes his life to the staff of Great Ormond Street - which is why he has raised so much money for the hospital.

To read more click HERE to view the Daily Mirror Website.

Merry Christmas Jake.What amazing fella you are :-)

Nicola Coates, 35, loses her brave battle with leukaemia.

COURAGEOUS Nicola Coates has lost a 23-year battle for life after being stricken by leukaemia for the fifth time.


The 35-year-old – who was given a life-saving bone marrow transplant by an American newspaper editor in 2000 after The Press ran a campaign to find a donor – died suddenly in hospital after suffering liver failure caused by the leukaemia.

This is a story of a lady who never gave up the fight for the most precious thing that any of us has...our life.
Many would have quit long before Nicola did, but her determination must serve as inspiration to all of us who are fighting this disease.

To read the complete story, click HERE to go to the York Press Website.

Drug apartheid hits victims of leukaemia in England (daily Mail Online)

Leukaemia sufferers in England will be denied potentially life-saving drugs freely available in Scotland.


The proposal to ban English patients from getting the medication on the NHS has been branded 'stupid and heartless'.
Doctors and campaigners say the Government rationing body's measures will worsen the postcode lottery, with patients north of the border able to get dasatinib and nilotinib that could add years to their lives.

The preliminary guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence affects patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.


Although the drugs cost £30,000 a year, only a maximum of 300 patients a year are likely to need them.

They have failed to respond to treatment with another drug, called Glivec, or become resistant to it.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1235589/Drug-apartheid-hits-victims-leukaemia-England.html#ixzz0aFrwPuV4








Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1235589/Drug-apartheid-hits-victims-leukaemia-England.html#ixzz0aFred1Vq

Rose Kelly. A moving story of one family's Leukaemia Journey.

Rose Kelly suffered Bone marrow failure at 5 months old.

Rose's diagnosis was the beginning of an arduous road to recovery from Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Rose’s mum, Alison, tells her story........

“Our world fell to pieces on the 13th July, 2006 when, after a series of infections, Rose was diagnosed with bone marrow failure. The next day we were admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital".

"Our lives changed drastically from that moment".

To read this story on the Children with Leukaemia site,click HERE.

New Dr Who star supports leukaemia boy's campaign

A Northampton teenager has enlisted celebrity support in his campaign to find a bone marrow donor.


Matt Herbert, 15, suffers from leukaemia and urgently needs a bone marrow transplant.A campaign has been started to find the boy a donor and has got the support of top sporting stars as well as the new Doctor Who Matt Smith.

"Matts Match" which is being run in conjunction with the Anthony Nolan Trust, involves a series of clinics to find a match, with the next due to take place tomorrow.The previous clinic, held at Northampton Town Football Club, saw 103 people recruited to the donor register and was one of the first to use saliva samples rather than blood samples.

Keen rugby player Matt has already gained the support of his sporting heroes, as well as childhood friend Doctor Who star Matt Smith, also from Northampton.

Writing on the Matt's Match website, the actor said: "Matthew and I grew up in the same street in Northampton just three houses apart"."Although he is younger, we both played ball games in that same street but his was a rugby ball and mine a football.

"We both went to the same junior school and secondary school and we even share the same name.

"Matthew is such a kind, intelligent and fun-loving young man and so it is extremely important to me, personally, that he has all the support and help he deserves with his current illness."

(Thanks to the Asian Leader for this story ).

Matt's Webpage can be found by clicking HERE.

Nice job Matt :-)

Husband and wife are now both fighting Cancer.

PREMIER League referee Mark Halsey and his wife Michelle are fighting back after a nightmare year when BOTH were diagnosed with cancer.


Michelle was told last New Year's Eve that she had leukaemia - then in August Mark learned he had a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, cancer of the lymph glands.
Mark, 48, says: "It was devastating when we heard about Michelle. Then when I was told I had cancer, I was just numb. Your life flashes before your eyes. But you have to stay strong, really strong. Now, not one part of me thinks I will die.

"I have been told I have a 95 per cent chance of survival. At first I concentrated on that five per cent. But not now."

To read the whole story click HERE to go to the Sun Newspapers website.

To see a video on the Bolton News Website click HERE

Best wishes to them both in their fight with their illness's.

Ahhhh...the sound of brass.....enjoy!

The Ireland colliery Chesterfield Brass Band performed at the Speedwell rooms in Staveley and raised money for Leukaemia Research,The Anthony Nolan Trust and the Ashgate Hospice.

Many of my family have been involved in several different Brass Bands over generations.I remember going on many outings with the Teversal Colliery Welfare band when I was a kid...i learned many pub songs on those trips :-)

Well done to them for a great concert.

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Bone marrow patient meets donor

"Without Paul I wouldn't be here today - how do you thank someone for that?"

In his back garden in Stockport, David Smirthwaite is stood arm-in-arm with the man who donated the bone marrow that saved his life.

It is a scene that neither he nor his family could have pictured a few years ago. In 2003 the father-of-two was told that he would probably die within four years after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, bone-marrow cancer.

To read the full story please visit the BBC website by clicking HERE
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Child leukaemia genes found

A study has found particular gene mutations that put children at a higher risk of leukaemia.

The Times said that “research into the development of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)… suggests that individuals who inherit specific genetic variants are almost twice as likely to develop the disease”.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common leukaemia in children, and accounts for a quarter of all childhood cancers. This genome-wide association study identified three gene variations that are more common in children with ALL than in those without it.
The study is well-conducted, and its results significantly advance our knowledge of this condition. However, ALL is a complex disease and is likely to have many causes, some genetic and some environmental. These findings do not mean that researchers know how to prevent the disease in children found to have these mutations. Also, the variants discovered in this study will not be responsible for all cases of leukaemia. At the present time, genetic testing of children for these mutations is unlikely.

Where did the story come from?
The research was carried out by Dr Elli Papaemmanuil and colleagues from the Institute of Cancer Research in Surrey, and other academic and research institutes in the UK. It was funded by Leukaemia Research (UK) and the Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund. The authors also acknowledge funding from Cancer Research UK. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Nature Genetics.

What kind of scientific study was this?
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) is the most prevalent childhood cancer in developed countries. Although its exact cause is not known, factors such as radiation exposure, some genetic disorders and the environment (exposure to certain chemicals and some infections) increase the risk of a child developing ALL.
This genome-wide association study looked for particular gene sequences (variants) associated with leukaemia in children. By pooling the results of two case-control studies, a total of 907 children with leukaemia and 2,398 controls without leukaemia were available for analysis. These children’s gene sequences were compared in order to test for variations that were more common in the children with leukaemia. Only people of western European ancestry were included.
Between the groups, 291,423 gene variants were examined and compared. Where significant links were found between variants and disease status, the researchers discuss other studies that may explain the biological reasons for these associations. In one case, they investigated this further through experimentation.

What were the results of the study?
The researchers found that three gene variants in their pooled sample were more common in leukaemia cases than in controls. One variant was found on a gene called IKZF1, one on a gene called ARID5B, and one on a gene called CEBPE. All three of these variants were in genes involved in the differentiation (specialisation) of certain types of white blood cells.

What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
The researchers say that their study provides the first unambiguous evidence that common gene variants influence the risk of developing ALL in children. They say that their results provide ‘new insight’ into the causes of this specific haematological cancer.

What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
This is a well-conducted study and the results are reliable. It identified several gene variants that are more common in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). There may be other genes that play a role in the condition:
The researchers acknowledge that the risk of ALL may be affected by ethnic differences. As this research was limited to western European children, the findings may not apply to non-western Europeans or non-Europeans.
The knowledge that certain variants are associated with leukaemia does not mean that researchers know how to prevent the disease in children with the variations. Leukaemia is a complex disease, and the risk of developing it is likely to be linked not only to genes, but also to environmental factors. In addition, not all cases of leukaemia may have these variations.
More research is needed before we know whether the proteins that are encoded by these genes are suitable targets for leukaemia treatments.
Overall, this study advances our knowledge of a complex disease. The findings are robust, but replication in further studies using different cases and controls would increase the confidence that the associations found in this research are real.
Links to the headlines
Research links childhood leukaemia to parents’ genes. The Times, August 17 2009
Child leukaemia 'genes' revealed. BBC News, August 17 2009
Genes 'could play significant role in development of leukaemia'. The Daily Telegraph, August 17 2009
Links to the science
Papaemmanuil E, Hosking FJ, Vijayakrishnan J, et al. Loci on 7p12.2, 10q21.2 and 14q11.2 are associated with risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Nature Genetics 2009; Published online: August 9.

Further reading
Cochrane: Several reviews deal with issues relating to the treatment of ALL; none address causes specifically:
van Dalen EC, Raphaël MF, Caron HN, Kremer LCM. Treatment including anthracyclines versus treatment not including anthracyclines for childhood cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1
Sasse EC, Sasse AD, Brandalise SR, Clark OAC, Richards S. Colony-stimulating factors for prevention of myelosuppressive therapy-induced febrile neutropenia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 3

I pinched this from the NHS Choices Website which you can find by clicking HERE.