Redefining Beauty
- Twenty-five year old Bernadette Hagans from Belfast, Ireland, lost her leg to synovial sarcoma, a rare cancer, but is not letting it define her as she becomes the first amputee to compete for the iconic Miss World beauty pageant.
- The strong-willed survivor not only displays her prosthetic leg proudly on Instagram (and shows off the different colors she has to match different outfits), but she makes it known that she also intends to compete in the Paralympics for running.
- Another synovial sarcoma survivor shares her outlook on life with SurvivorNet; Surviving cancer can make you reprioritize your life.
The strong-willed sarcoma survivor from Belfast will be competing for Miss Northern Ireland, which takes place in September, and Miss World will take place in Puerto Rico at the end of the year.
Read MoreNow, she displays her legs proudly on social media, posing with some birthday balloons last week for her big day. (She sports skin-toned, black, blue, and yellow prosthetics as well in her colorful array of photos in a variety of poses).
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"Bernadette impressed the judges with her beauty, intelligence and passion,” a Miss Ireland spokesperson said. “She's an inspirational young woman who earned her place regardless of her disability. We're delighted to help use our platform to promote body positivity."
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Bernadette felt tired for a year before finding out why, and discovered a lump in her right leg which was increasing in size. The tumor was found within her nerves and blood vessels.
The brave beauty learned to walk on a prosthetic leg after just a little over a week in hospital, even slipping on some heels for some extra practice.
Related: What Are Sarcomas? Know the Types and Symptoms of These Rare Cancers
"There's actually a button on the side of my prosthetic which adjusts it for wearing heels,” she said. “It will come in handy in the Miss Northern Ireland final."
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An avid runner prior to her cancer and surgery, Bernadette plans to try to compete in the Paralympics.
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The model has also recently signed on to an agency that represents people with disabilities.
“I hope this will show them that I'm happy after having cancer and that they can be too and encourage them to stay positive” she said. “If I got to the Miss World final it would be amazing and show people there is so much more to someone than having a disability."
A Rare Cancer
Most synovial sarcoma patients discover their tumor from a lump, and if you have “persistent, unprovoked pain in a soft tissue, such as the muscle of an extremity or from within your abdomen,” according to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Austin, Texas. Synovial sarcoma can also occur in the lungs, so looking out for any shortness of breath is important.
There are two major types of synovial sarcoma: monophasic (spindle cells) and biphasic (spindle cells and epithelial cells). There is no clear pattern for who this disease targets, but it is typically found more in young adults, and usually in more men than women.
Related: New Hope for People with a Rare Type of Cancer Called Epithelioid Sarcoma
This type of cancer can be found by MRI, or in the lungs with an X-ray or CT scan, however a tissue sample must be obtained for an “official” diagnosis during a biopsy or surgery, which is the most effective treatment. Radiation and chemotherapy will usually be given following surgery, and unfortunately, this disease does tend to spread to other areas of the body; the lungs, brain, bone, and lymph nodes, in addition to local organs, are all potential risk sites.
It is also important to be aware that this type of sarcoma “can be inactive for a long time before it grows again to a size that can be detected by a scan,” so continue to get follow-ups even if there is no evidence of disease for many years.
You Can Still Live Your Best Life After Cancer
Whether you want to throw on heels for a pageant or running shoes to stay athletic, it is a choice to do so. There is no wrong way to live your life after cancer or a disability, as long as you are not hurting yourself or others.
We spoke with another synovial sarcoma survivor, Kara Ladd, a fashion editor who was 24 years old and just getting her life started in New York City when she was diagnosed with the disease. She told SurvivorNet that she was completely blindsided after the diagnosis, and it really forced her to take a step back and look at the life she was leading.
Related: Energy Healing? Kara Ladd's Cancer Journey Took Her Down a Spiritual Path
"I was working too hard, I was stretched too much, I was partying too much,” she told SurvivorNet. “My life was moving at such a fast pace and I didn't know how to stop.”
When she was diagnosed with cancer, she was “forced to pause and figure out who I really was and what my purpose was."
Like many people in her situation, Kara's priorities shifted a lot after her diagnosis. A young woman who could not imagine herself without hair suddenly felt like a badass when she had to shave her head. "I see the world in an entirely different way now," Kara said.
Related: Feeling Overwhelmed by Your Cancer Diagnosis? Here Are Some Ways to Regain Your Equilibrium
Surviving cancer and/or another disability like Bernadette and Kara may affect your exterior self, but it’s how you push forward and show your inner beauty that is truly the most attractive.
Survivor Kara Ladd Met a New Version of Herself After Her Synovial Sarcoma Diagnosis
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