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.

After 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 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.

Petrina writes about the ongoing inter-generational story of her family’s cancer. Her grandmother passed from ovarian cancer when Petrina was just a baby and this framed her earlier years; her aunt’s breast cancer diagnosis was made when Petrina was 8 years old and, in 2012 - five years after her own diagnosis - Petrina’s cousin Gemma was also diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31. Although the ongoing losses and adversities remain suspended over the decades, Petrina and her family continue to prove that it is possible to reconcile the changes that cancer brings, to keep the strength, keep the courage and return to wellness.

Petrina considers “It's Not (Just) About the Breast” has many other take-home messages that many people will relate to. She describes of the value of loving, supportive and meaningful relationships with family and friends; of the need to be proactive for our own well-being; and of maintaining good self-care and mindset. Sometimes adversity comes our way and things happen beyond our control – but, even when life poses more challenges and adversities than we’d like, life still goes on with all of its absolute beauty… and we need to deal with what we have in front of us, making the most of our situations as much as we can. We also need to keep moving forward and remain open to all the positives and opportunities that life can hold.

Petrina now enjoys spending more time with her fiancé Lee and fox terrier dogs at Perth’s glorious beaches and in the West Australian great outdoors. She continues to use her skills and passions in cancer care advocacy and physiotherapy management. Petrina and the Burnett family are pleased that the future path for those diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer continues to look brighter, with ever evolving technological and treatment advancements in genetic testing processes, cancer screening and treatments.

Petrina Burnett

M.B.A. (Leadership & Innovation), M. Clinical. Physiotherapy (Women’s Health) B. Science (Physiotherapy), Dip. Pilates (Polestar Rehabilitation). Level 2 Lymphoedema Practitioner. Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) provides free information and support for people diagnosed with breast cancer, their partners, family and friends.

HELPLINE

BCNA's Helpline is staffed by a skilled and caring team who can help navigate callers to information, care, support and peers within and beyond BCNA. Call 1800 500 258.

INFORMATION

Whether diagnosed recently or many years ago, the new My Journey online tool gives people at all stages of their breast cancer journey up-to-date information tailored to their situation and diagnosis.

ONLINE NETWORK

BCNA’s online network connects people diagnosed with breast cancer with others who understand what they’re going through – at any time of the day or night. Visit bcna.org.au/onlinenetwork

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Penrhos College looks forward to getting creative for Pink Ribbon day later in the year, and raising much needed funds towards prevention programs, support services and lifechanging breast cancer research.