At age 41, Emma Blake walked into Mount Hospital for her first mammogram and ultrasound.
Breast cancer was always something the Curtin Masters of Physiotherapy graduate took seriously, after her Mum was diagnosed in 2008.
That experience made regular screening a priority because she knew that early detection could save lives. Still, she never really believed it would happen to her.
Expecting to be told that the scans were all clear, Emma was shocked to hear her ultrasound came back abnormal, and she needed a biopsy.
“When my doctor called me to deliver the news that the biopsy results were also abnormal, I was sent into a terrifying spin of panic and distress,’’ she said.
“I couldn’t believe the words that I was hearing.”
Given the cancer’s aggressive nature, Emma’s treatment plan involved a year of intensive interventions, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy.
“I had been working long hours as a physiotherapist at Hollywood Hospital, so it felt very strange to suddenly go from treating patients in the hospital, including those with breast cancer, to becoming a patient myself.
“The situation felt very grim, and I couldn’t see any way forward,” she said.
Despite feeling she was at a low point in her life, Emma was excelling at work, having just been appointed National Chair for the Australian Physiotherapy Association‘s Orthopaedic Group.
Emma was determined not to let her health affect her ability to fulfil this exciting role.
“I was prepared to endure whatever side effects I might have from the treatment; however, losing my hair was one of my biggest fears,” she said.
Fortunately, the cold cap was an absolute game-changer that allowed Emma to keep all her hair during the treatment, boosting her confidence and mental health during a time when she felt so vulnerable.
During her treatment, the cold cap was a game-changer for Emma as it allowed her to keep all her hair.
Refusing to let the diagnosis hold her back, Emma focused on chasing her goals and making the most of every moment.
She was able to return to part-time work at the start of her chemotherapy and continued to play netball.
A few months after her radiotherapy, Emma decided to enter the Ramsay Healthcare Triathlon Pink Series.
“What I did not expect was how much I enjoyed the sense of achievement in pushing my body, proving I had control and knowing that the cancer had not compromised it,” she said.
Emma completing the Ramsay Healthcare Triathlon Pink.
During such a dark time in her life, Emma found solace in her local running club, which gave her a sense of purpose, belonging, and a renewed sense of self.
Through her local running club, Emma made lifelong friends and entered long-distance running and triathlon events, including achieving her half-marathon (21.1 kilometres) goal in the 2023 HBF Run for a Reason.
Through her fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Research Centre WA she formed the group, ‘Hollywood Physio’, with her physiotherapy colleagues who were keen to support the cause and run alongside her on the day.
“It was so important for me to raise as much money as possible as a way of personally thanking the outstanding organisation and staff that have provided me with so much care and support,” Emma said.
Together, the fundraiser was a great success, and a total of $12,643 was raised.
For Emma, this run represented her breast cancer journey.
“It was tough, but you will eventually get through to the finish line with persistence and determination,” she said.
Emma completed the 2023 HBF Run for a Reason, raising vital funds for breast cancer research.
Over the past few years, Emma has combined her clinical experience as a physiotherapist with her own lived experience to help other people navigate their cancer diagnosis.
As a Senior Physiotherapist in Orthopaedics at Hollywood Private Hospital, being a cancer survivor has changed her approach to professional practice.
“Sometimes it’s the little things, like instead of walking in and standing in front of the patient, it’s grabbing a chair and sitting down next to them, listening, and then deciding what’s best for the patient at that given time,’’ she said.
“Over the years, I’ve found that we tend to treat patients very similarly because we’ve got a goal or a box to tick, and sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we have a person in front of us who has experienced trauma.”
“I now see life with a completely different perspective, and this has led to many new opportunities and interests that I would never have thought were possible.”
With more than 17,000 women being diagnosed with breast cancer every year in Australia, early detection can save lives. Learn more here.
Emma Blake, Senior Physiotherapist at Hollywood Private Hospital
Born and raised in Perth, Emma has 20 years of senior orthopaedic physiotherapy experience in both elective and trauma departments across the private and public sectors. Since graduating from Curtin with a Master’s of Physiotherapy in 2003, Emma has been responsible for establishing the Accelerated Rehabilitation Program (ARP) for elective joint replacement surgery at Osborne Park Hospital. In 2021, she took on the role of National Chair for the Australian Physiotherapy Association Orthopaedic group. A proud breast cancer survivor and marathon runner, Emma is also passionate about supporting those affected by cancer.
