Liz Flint

On May 2, 2016 Liz was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It is a very aggressive and rare cancer. It is called Invasive Lobular Carcinoma with some bad characteristics. It has metastasized and is present in her spine and is likely elsewhere but not detectable with scans yet.
Liz has a great team of doctors at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA). Her team has recommended a 'targeted' or 'biologic' therapy with a drug called TDM1 with the brand name Kadcyla as the first line of treatment.  This treatment is way less toxic than the standard chemotherapy treatment. It effectively targets only the cancer cells whereas chemo kills lots of good cells as well. The results of this treatment to date are encouraging and generally without  significant side effects such as loss of white blood cells, hair loss, nausea, etc. To be given TDM1 as a first line treatment, Liz will be part of a clinical study that is looking at the effects of of the treatment on blood platelets.  This means more time at and near SCCA involving primarily blood work and will last about nine weeks.
We now have a schedule for treatment with the 'baseline' blood work beginning June 6th.  We get to go on our panned trip to Hawaii, June 16 - July 3! After we return from our trip, the first of the initial three treatments with TDM1 will begin on July 5th.
If the drug is successful in reducing the cancer, Liz will continue on the same TDM1 treatment every three weeks until systemic control is achieved or that drug stops working and they try something else.  
God is giving both of us the strength we need to carry forward and we are trusting in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ fully! We really appreciate your love and continued prayers!