Peta Murphy speaks out about battle with incurable cancer

A brave MP has spoken out about her battle against incurable cancer.

Labor politician Peta Murphy was just 37 when she underwent a double mastectomy in 2011 after being diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time.

She had just been elected a local federal member for Dunkley in south-east Melbourne when the cancer returned eight years later, in 2019.

Four years later, the re-elected MP recently switched from oral to intravenous chemotherapy, which caused her hair to fall out earlier this month.

But business as usual for Murphy when parliament resumes in Canberra next month, despite being one of 10,000 Australians with metastatic breast cancer.

Now she is opening up about her personal experience to raise awareness and be a voice for other cancer patients who do not have a public profile.

“I have this unique platform of being in the Federal Parliament and having metastatic breast cancer, I should use it to try to make other people’s lives better,” Ms Murphy told the Today programme.

“Not everyone can keep working and doing what I’m doing, but I want people to see that they’re not alone, which is why I made the decision to be so open and public about it.”

Metastatic breast cancer is an incurable condition that spreads to other parts of the body.

Australian singer Olivia Newtown-John had an on-and-off battle with metastatic breast cancer that spanned three decades before she died last August at age 73.

According to statistics, the five-year survival rate for women with metastatic breast cancer is 29 percent.

“You want people to understand that something is going on, but you don’t want to be treated any differently,” Murphy said.

“I still want to be the best advocate I can be for my community and for people to know who I am and what I’m doing.”

Ms Murphy’s incredible story brought Today’s new presenter, Sarah Abo, to tears.

“That got me a little emotional actually, it was so beautiful,” she said after the interview aired.

“You need stories like this to inspire those who are going through such terrible times, all of us, in fact, just to get through every day. She’s just amazing.”

“It’s so hard what people go through, you never know. ‘

Added co-host Karl Stefanovic: It’s also a reminder that we have really good people in the world and there are good people representing communities.

It is the first time that the popular parliamentarian has looked like someone receiving treatment.

“While my hairstyle is changing, I am not,” Murphy posted on Facebook Tuesday.

Yes, it means I will be bald (I won’t be the only bald person in parliament!). But it also means that I have the opportunity to be a voice for other people living with the same disease.

‘To make sure they know they are seen, heard and counted.’

While an estimated 10,000 Australians are living with metastatic breast cancer, the exact number is not known because there is no registry, something Ms Murphy wants to change.

He attended the men’s final of the Australian Open on Sunday night with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who hailed his Labor colleague as a courageous role model.

“She is also determined to overcome her health problem by continuing to do her job, continue to work,” Albanese said.

“One of the things we need to do is talk more about the complex journey of life that people go through, and if Peta Murphy is prepared to do that, she will make it easier for others.

“Peta Murphy is an inspiration to all Australians, I have paid tribute to her courage and wish her all the best.”

It’s been three and a half years since Murphy ended her emotional maiden speech in Parliament by quoting the children’s book character Pippi Longstocking.

She discovered that her breast cancer had returned two weeks earlier.

“Pippi’s friend Annika had just told her that she couldn’t beat the strong man in the show because he’s the strongest man in the world,” he said.

‘Man, yes,’ said Pippi, ‘but I’m the strongest girl in the world, remember that.’