Just Beginning

Steve's screening tests began yesterday. They did his bone scan and echo cardiogram and then today he had his bone marrow biopsy. We followed up in the afternoon with his local oncologist who told his M-spike was down to 1.4. Last month it was at 1.6. Apparently as we get lower and lower the differences are not as dramatic. As long as the number keeps going down and not up then we are happy!

It' s been a few stressful days as you can imagine. For me it's the reality of the whole thing sinking in. Not to mention we received a call from our local hospital regarding his biopsy slides from April. We took them with us to UCLA on our first visit up there and turned them over to the "specialist". They never sent them back and the pathology department at UCLA had no record of receiving them! Many frantic phone call were made by several people trying to locate the slides. We received the news that they were found just before Steve was put under for the new biopsy.

Please keep us in prayer. The days are very busy for many reasons and are becoming more stressful. We love you all and we will keep the updates coming.

Screening Tests

We are still in waiting mode. We were told Steve would have all of the necessary tests scheduled and completed in two weeks. Well it's been 10 days and we are still waiting to be scheduled. I know many of you care to know how Steve is doing and continue to pray for us. As things progress I will post new updates. Once Steve is in the hospital, the blog will be the best way to find out out things are going.
Thanks again for your prayers.

Love, Deanna
AKA Mrs. Liscom!

Stem Cell Transplant

Yesterday we learned that Steve's best chance at a longer, healthier life will be to have stem cell transplant. Before they begin he has to have a myriad of tests to determine if his body can handle the transplant. The most important test will be the bone marrow biopsy. They want to make sure the current treatment has not damaged his stem cells. We knew this was a possibility but we had no other choice. (If you are interested in reading more about an autologous stem cell transplant click here.)

All the tests will be scheduled in the next two weeks. Once they are complete and everything looks good UCLA will contact the insurance company for authorization. So we are looking at starting the procedure in early October. I plan on taking a leave of absence from work so I can focus on him and his recovery. There is a lot we have to talk about and decide upon. Steve could be in th hospital I want to stay with him as much as possible.

Please pray for the following;
-Steve's stem cells are not damaged from the current treatment and all of his tests come back in his favor
-Steve will respond well to the transplant with limited side effects
-Our time at UCLA will be minimal
-For both of us to be prepared for what lies ahead, emotionally, spiritually, physically and mentally
-The Lord's provision and wisdom during the time I will be off work
-The Lord to help me manage our home and all that entails during Steve's transplant and recovery
-Protection over our home
-Strength for our marriage
-And most importantly we would glorify the Lord, always trusting in his perfect plan.

September 8th

Hi Everyone,

Steve's appointment at UCLA is the 8th. We are going to see the stem cell transplant specialist. He will be the one who decides if Steve can or cannot have a transplant. Please pray that the Lord will prepare both us for what lies ahead, to provide a restful night the night before so we will have clear minds to ask all the right questions and especially for his leading to make the right choice if other options are presented. To God be the Glory. Amen

Enjoying Life!

Steve and I have been enjoying life these past 4 months. Life "seems" to have returned to normal. You know, life before cancer. When he began the new treatment I have to say I was worried that he would not do well and have severe side effects that would limit him in many ways. As each month went by I was waiting for it to get worse. Boy, was I happy to be wrong. I don't want to minimize the side effects he is experiencing. Sometimes they are hard for him to bear. But through it all he has continued to do pretty good. He's done so well we've been able to go out of town a few times.

First we sent to Solvang in June to celebrate our fourth anniversary. Here is Steve outside of our hotel. Looks pretty good huh?

Then we went to South Lake Tahoe during the first week of August. We love spending time in Tahoe. It's where we went on our honeymoon. We just love the fresh mountain air and we get to spend time bicycling, swimming and going for walks around town.

From Tahoe we headed off to Reno for "Hot August Nights" and to see Steve's son, Dane. He we are at one of the venues, "Victorian Square". Dane took this picture of us. He did pretty good. And below is Steve and Dane at one of our favorite restaurants, Los Tres Hombres. Even though it gets pretty hot in Reno, Steve and I are very grateful that we were able to go.

Please, please keep us in prayer. The months ahead bring much uncertainty. We go to UCLA in September to find out if Dr. Schiller thinks Steve should and can have a stem cell transplant. If he can it will be a very tough road. If he can't we are unsure of what will happen next. God will have the final say.

But in the mean time Steve has begun some very ambitious projects. He wants to get the outside of the house painted, the garage a new roof and completely redo the front yard! A brand new planter bed with a new tree, plants and pavers. And do it all in the next 3 weeks! Yikes!

More Great News

Today was a day we received more good news in regards to the treatment Steve is on. His m-spike number was down from 2.6 to 1.8! The target number is zero. Steve's doctor was very happy to see this number. It means his treatment is working and his cancer is at a level where it should not cause him any problems with his bones. We are so relieved to know he his headed in the right direction. We'll know in about 2 weeks when he'll be going up to UCLA for his consultation for a possible stem cell transplant. Please keep praying.

Day #11 Cycle 3 of MPT Treatment

Sorry it’s been a few weeks since I let everyone know how things are going. Steve and I are noticing a pattern with this current treatment. Each cycle is 28 days, the first 7 days he takes all three medications; mephalan, predisone and thalidomide. Beginning on day 8 he just takes the thalidomide and this is when he starts to experiences an increase in his fatigue and peripheral neuropathy, which gets worse with each new treatment. He puts on a really good show and makes it look like he’s doing great, and yes, there are times when he has “really good” moments but I would say he is far from doing great.

The mephalan is the strongest of the 3 medicines. This is the one that is really going after the cancer, but along with the bad cells it’s destroying a lot of good cells, particularly the ones that make white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. This is where some of the fatigue is coming in.

Pray his blood counts stay in a safe range while at the same time the cancer continues to be destroyed. Pray also for the neuropathy to subside. I would say this is the hardest on Steve. Just 3 days ago he started to feel a very painful type of neuropathy in his chest. And pray for the coming months. My work load will increase a lot in September and this is the time we maybe going to UCLA. I’m not sure. But the next few months are a mystery which makes it hard to prepare for.

God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Love,
Deanna