February Update!

Greetings! We have another update for you!

Liz's most recent release from Alrtu marked the end of her third round of Chemotherapy. She was receiving Chemo in week long rounds with two weeks in between treatments.

Liz's most recent CT (post chemo treatment) showed that the mass in her Liver has shrunk to half its size, and the Leiomysosarcoma is not anywhere else in her body!

The next step in Liz's treatment is called SIR-Spheres. Once injected, this treatment will make Liz Radioactive. After this treatment is administered Liz will be quarantined for one week. She will not be able to be within 6 feet of her friends and family. Given the condition of Liz's liver, SIR-Spheres is an absolutely necessary step before she can continue other treatments.

Liz & her doctors are generally happy with the progress of treatment up to this point. However, there is a problem. Liz is currently on Medicaid through North Dakota. Liz has been told that Medicaid will not pay the unknown cost for the SIR-Spheres treatment.

Liz's sister (who works in Interventional Radiology at Altru) has approached the hospital board to request that the hospital help absorb the cost of this necessary treatment. But, just in case, a fundraising event is being planned, and next time you visit the blog, there will likely be a PayPal button as well.

Once the financing is taken care of and Liz is no longer radioactive, she will undergo another form of radiation called SBRT (which is a localized radiation) designed to, and this is a direct quote: "Zap the hell" out of other spots on her liver, according to Dr. Lee, Liz's oncologist (who is handsome, and a snappy dresser, by the way). Initially, Liz had planned on receiving her SBRT at the Mayo Clinic, until Medicaid refused the treatment location, siting that it could be performed within the state of North Dakota. Seeing as how they suggested Altru for this location, it is assumed that most of the cost of SBRT will be absorbed by Medicaid.

From Liz:

 "I am happy to hear the results of my scan and am glad the chemo wasn't all for no reason. I am getting better at drawing on my eyebrows everyday, and am happy to be getting my energy back. I am looking into going to a clinic in KS for some alternative therapies, including intraveneous vitamin C treatments."

 I'll be updating the blog soon with exciting details about an awesome fundraising event being organized for Liz by Ryan Voiles and Myself. I can tell you the event will be a 21+ event on March 3rd, at the Aquarium, in Fargo. Mark your calendars, organize your car pool, and find a fargo couch to sleep on, this will be an amazing night.