Breast Cancer Experience Inspires Help for Other Moms

Soon after her second child was born, Courtney Flannigan had concerns during the baby's weaning. Her OB-GYN referred her for a mammogram – Courtney’s first-ever – and then a biopsy followed. During the summer of 2024, she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.

Despite being a low-risk patient with no family history and no genetic predisposition, Courtney found herself confronted with this rare and challenging type of breast cancer.

"Being 34, this was something that was not on my radar. It was definitely a shock," she says.

As she learned more about her diagnosis, Courtney researched and weighed her options for the best healthcare moving forward. She started working with a nurse navigator at The University of Kansas Health System to begin the process of getting a cancer team on her case. She also visited a highly rated out-of-state breast cancer center and looked into others across the US She left no stone unturned in her quest for top-rated resources to treat her cancer.

Courtney chose treatment through The University of Kansas Cancer Center, and she was quickly introduced to her care team: a surgeon, a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist.

“It was very reassuring … not knowing what to expect and then having a meeting with all 3 of them at the same time telling me, 'Here's the plan. This is treatable. Here's how we're going to treat this.’ So, finally, I felt a little bit of peace.”

What followed were many rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, surgery, then radiation and more immunotherapy.

“It was reassuring to know that I was getting good care and that my doctors felt confident, and I felt like they were always realistic with me,” Courtney explains. “I remember at one point I was very anxious, and I really appreciate that [medical oncologist] Dr. Khan [Qamar Khan, MD] told me, ‘This is a treatable cancer. I understand you're feeling a lot of things, but we're going to treat this.’

“I appreciated that. Honestly, I don't think he was being optimistic. He was just being very realistic. I needed that in that moment.”

After completing this aggressive treatment regimen, Courtney was declared in remission in August 2025. She will continue to have follow-up scans, keeping an eye out for any signs of recurrence. Now, she is focused on how she can give back.

Courtney and her husband, Trevor Flannigan, recently made a generous gift to support enhancements in breast cancer care at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, with the goal of helping others – particularly young patients.

“How can we improve this for other people, especially young moms, going through that? You face a different set of issues as a young cancer patient. So how can we make it a better experience for them?”

Reflecting on the compassionate and comprehensive care she received, Courtney explains why she and her husband support the cancer center.

“We have been blessed in so many ways and feel called to help others experiencing something similar. Being from Kansas City and choosing to plant our roots here, we want to do what we can to help our community continue to offer exceptional cancer and wholistic care.”

The Flannigans are challenging the community to join them in making an impact. Every dollar given to the Courtney and Trevor Breast Cancer Fund will be matched, up to $500,000, effectively doubling the impact for patients and families navigating a breast cancer diagnosis. To make a contribution to this fund, please visit Giving.KansasHealthSystem.com/Flannigan-Opportunity-Fund.

Gifts from our supporters make a vital impact on exceptional healthcare and medical research at The University of Kansas Cancer Center – the region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Please reach out to us by email or contact one of our gift officers to learn more about how you can make a contribution.