Support Bernadette’s Cancer Journey

In Spring 2023, Bernadette noticed a mass on her lower left leg that local medical teams misdiagnosed as a hematoma. Luckily Bernadette refused to accept that diagnosis and continued to advocate for herself! After two MRIs, a referral to Duke was provided where a core biopsy revealed a soft tissue mass, spindle cell and epithelioid neoplasm. Sarcoma.

Sarcoma is a rare cancer that forms in the soft tissue or bone, most typically needing surgery, radiation, chemo, or a variation of the three. On 7/3/23, Bernadette had a “radical resection,” removing the tumor. Pathology on the margins revealed NED, no evidence of disease. This was the news we all had hoped for! With the “clean” margins, and as Bernadette is young, healthy and active, her doctor put her on a ten-year plan, with chest xrays, CT scans, and MRIs every three months for the first three years.

On March 28th of this year, Bernadette saw her orthopedic oncologist for a routine CT scan, which was clear, but she complained of consistent calf soreness akin to cramping. Several doctors weighed in and thought the leg looked good with no noticeable issues. Two weeks later, a new mass reappeared, slightly above and more centered than the previous mass. After supplying a photo to her ortho, an MRI was ordered for May 1st. The MRI showed enough abnormality that a PET was ordered for May 13th. On May 23rd, Bernadette’s oncology team at Duke advised that the sarcoma had returned, not only with the visible mass but also an internal mass that was between her tibia and fibula. This mass was not only cutting off circulation to her lower leg (hence the soreness), but could not be removed and still salvage the leg. Originally suggesting radiation therapy, her ortho believed that chemotherapy would be the best option to eradicate any rogue cells that the PET had not imaged, keeping the disease below her knee, and hopefully reducing the size of the tumors to allow for radiation or surgery. This would be the best case scenario; the worst case would be amputation or metastasis to another part of the body, resulting in a new diagnosis.

The news was devastating. Bernadette’s team immediately referred her to a medical oncologist at Duke. During their initial clinical, she was advised that he felt that the cancer was incurable and that his job would be to allow her to live with the disease as long as possible. This additional revelation was shocking to her. She agreed to the chemo while vowing that she would find any way she could to fight the sarcoma. Losing a leg would not be life-ending, only life changing. If this was the best case of survival, she understood. But she wanted to know that she exhausted all chances to have additional limb-salvaging surgery.

On June 12th, Bernadette had a port placed and an echocardiogram to confirm her heart is healthy enough for chemo. She will have her first round of the chemo drug Doxorubicin on June 21st. Chemotherapy will consist of six rounds, one every three weeks for a total of 18 weeks. At that time, her orthopedic oncology team will review the update to decide the next course of action. In the interim, Bernadette has self-referred to MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, the top sarcoma hospital in the country, for a second opinion.

Bernadette’s love is the great outdoors. She recently completed her Masters in GIS where she was able to explore her love of all things data relating to the earth and location. She has been coaching the Wrightsville Beach Outrigger Canoe Club for many years, as well as helping them plan and execute the We the Water initiative with the NC Coastal Foundation, her partner for her Capstone Project at NC State University, over the past 3 years. When she isn’t working, she is hitting the trail, counting her steps, putting in the miles. If she isn’t obsessing over her Garmin data, she is working on one of her many home renovation projects or helping to rescue Jack Russell terriers, a tenacious breed that matches her wild adventurous spirit, with Russell Rescue Carolinas.

We all know how hard recovery was for Bernadette fighting this last summer, as she had no idea how exhausting, frustrating and slow the journey back from such an invasive surgery would be, and we also understand this road will be much more challenging. Bernadette is ready to start fighting and we want her to have the ability to focus on her fight! Cancer is expensive, especially for a single income household; we do not want her to worry about the financial stress of recovery, medical trips or supplies, bills, the ability to take short-term disability if needed, or the long-term prognosis and recovery that may require years of fighting this disease.

Bernadette is nothing if not headstrong, and she WILL get through this, especially with the love and support of those she has loved and supported over the years, through her many endeavors!

Thank you so much for sending Bernadette love, prayers, positive vibes, healing thoughts, etc., as she tackles this difficult obstacle.

If Venmo is preferred, Bernadette’s handle is MCBernadette-Burton.