After surgery and HIPEC therapy, she is enjoying life while managing cancer
Even though her grandchildren nicknamed her OG for “Original Grandma,” walking 5 miles every morning was routine for Michelle Burns, 66, an active East Stroudsburg wife, mother of two and grandmother to five. However, in fall 2021 she noticed she was losing weight and “just didn’t feel right.”
Melanie Deluise, a nurse practitioner at Burns’ primary care office, LVPG Family and Internal Medicine–East Stroudsburg, urged Burns to get a computed tomography (CT) scan. When she did, it revealed thickening of her colon and a mass between her uterus and rectum.
Burns was referred to Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Pocono’s Dale and France Hughes Cancer Center, part of Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute. A biopsy revealed metastatic cancer of the appendix that spread to the peritoneum, the delicate membrane lining the abdominal cavity. In Burns’ case, the cancer had spread into her abdomen, making it stage 4.
At this point, Burns needed a specialist who could treat this rare cancer. She met with surgical oncologist Jacqueline Oxenberg, DO, who practices at LVH–Pocono. Dr. Oxenberg is one of the few clinicians in the region trained to treat cancers that spread to the peritoneum.
“There is a small subset of cases where the cancer doesn’t spread to the lymph nodes but spreads only to the inside of the belly and other organs,” Dr. Oxenberg says, noting that people generally have no symptoms. “Michelle is one of those patients.”
Burns’ treatment plan called for an extraordinary approach. First, she was treated by hematologist oncologist Rachel Kinney, DO, with the Cancer Institute, who administered six months of chemotherapy to decrease the amount of tumor that had spread to her abdomen. Michelle had a drastic improvement in her tumor markers from over 2,000 to 115, indicating a significant decrease in the amount of cancer she had.
Then, in 2023, Burns underwent cytoreduction surgery to remove the areas of disease. This surgery was performed by Dr. Oxenberg together with colorectal surgeon Bogdan Protyniak, MD, with Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence. Dr. Oxenberg removed the cancer, which meant removing the peritoneum and tumors on structures inside the abdomen as well as the uterus and a portion of the colon. Dr. Protyniak removed a portion of Burns’ rectum containing the mass and then reattached her colon to her rectum.
The second part of the treatment was the novel hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which delivers high doses of heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity. “It directly treats any remaining tumor cells on contact that can’t be seen after surgical removal. The heat amplifies the effects of the chemotherapy and kills more cancer cells,” Dr. Oxenberg says, explaining that HIPEC is done during the surgery.
“The unique part of Michelle’s treatment was HIPEC, which prolonged her survival,” Dr. Protyniak says.
Burns was doing well. She didn’t have chemotherapy for an entire year, almost had a normal appetite and was working up to walking a mile each day. Her care team had explained there was always a chance the cancer could come back, and unfortunately, it appeared again in her liver. Burns has returned to Dr. Kinney for more chemotherapy.
“For certain kinds of cancer, like early-stage breast or colon cancer, a patient can be cured with surgery,” Dr. Kinney says. “It’s not the same with metastatic disease. Michelle has active cancer and will remain on some form of treatment.”
Despite this reality, Burns maintains an exceptional attitude, which she attributes to her “wonderful life.” She finds strength in her grandchildren, ranging in age from 8 months to 8 years, and her husband of 37 years, who has been by her side through her entire experience. She talks with her sisters and brother for hours on the phone, and her aunt, age 102, calls once a week.
“I give Michelle a lot of credit. She’s been a rock star through everything,” Dr. Oxenberg says. “Her outlook is very positive.”
Besides her family, Burns is extraordinarily grateful to the team at the Cancer Institute. As a former pharmaceutical sales rep, she has experience with doctors and hospitals and says her care has been “fantastic.” “I can’t tell you the feeling I have for LVHN,” Burns says. “The doctors listen to what I have to say. My sisters, brother and son have met all the doctors, and they answer all our questions.”
“I can’t even explain how good the care is,” she says. “Every time I think about it, it brings tears to my eyes.”
