COVER FEATURE
It’s personal – an inspiring triumph over breast cancer Petrina Burnett (1992)
Last month, Penrhos alum Petrina Burnett (1992) launched her new book, “It’s Not (Just) About the Breast”, raising awareness on the challenges that young women with breast cancer face, including the lesser publicised social and financial impact. Her in-depth, honest account has already hit number one in the breast cancer category of the Australian and US Amazon Kindle stores and can also be ordered via Burnett’s website, wellstrongcourage.com.
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fter graduating from Penrhos in 1992, Petrina completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiotherapy at Curtin University. Her qualification gave her the opportunity to work in many specialty areas in Perth’s tertiary hospitals, interstate in Melbourne and abroad in Oxford (UK). Petrina’s qualification and clinical experience would soon prove to be personally helpful when she was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer called a “triple negative breast cancer” at the age of 31. A year after her diagnosis, genetic testing confirmed Petrina had inherited a cancer gene mutation - called the BRCA1 gene - from her father’s side of the family, which further explained the diagnoses of breast and ovarian cancers in young adulthood experienced also by her grandmother, aunt and cousin. Petrina came to experience the limited availability in oncological physiotherapy and rehabilitation services in Perth. She therefore enrolled in further post-graduate
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EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN
physiotherapy and Pilates training to give her the skills to optimally self-rehabilitate after her bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction surgeries and chemotherapy. Responding to the demand in services, Petrina subsequently established a comprehensive and innovative rehabilitation and wellness service called Breast, Gynae and Lymph Physiotherapy in 2009. Her pioneering Subiaco practice has gone from strength to strength and has now cared for more than 4,000 West Australians, offering breast and gynaecologic surgical rehabilitation, lymphoedema treatments and exercise interventions across all phases of the cancer pathway (pre-operative, survivorship and living with cancer). Last year, Petrina stepped back from the front line to write about her personal cancer experiences, unique insights and perspectives - “It’s Not (Just) About the Breast,” was released in May 2021, 14 years after her initial diagnosis. In her book, Petrina also talks about her post treatment pathway, including ongoing surgeries including reconstructions and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies (removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries). She explains the challenges that young women face such as the added professional, financial and social pressures. Petrina talks openly about her chemotherapy-induced infertility with dignity and honesty - a side effect that is less known and understood outside of the cancer world. Despite her disappointment at not being able to have her own family, Petrina reminds us that there are many ways to find fulfillment and joy, and to make the most of our lives beyond our original dreams. She also reminds us that we are never alone, even when our experiences can feel isolating and difficult.
