The Athlete's Foot: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Peta Brydon: I am a dedicated Metastatic McGrath Breast Care Nurse with over 40 years’ experience as a registered nurse and over 20 years’ of that experience working in cancer.
I have a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, a Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing and my Masters in Cancer and Haematology Nursing. I support patients and their families in the Inner West, CBD and Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, servicing both St Vincent’s Public and Private Hospitals, in addition to rural and regional NSW patients who are referred to our service here at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre.

TAF: Did you always want to become a nurse?

PB: Yes, I have always wanted to be a nurse. My family history is one of service, including my grandmother who served as an army nurse during WWII. I believe nursing is a real vocation much more than a career.
I have always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, to support, advocate, translate and navigate for patients in their most vulnerable times by offering my comfort, compassion and care.

TAF: What are the most challenging aspects of your profession?

PB: One of the hardest things about being a McGrath Breast Care Nurse is not being able to stop some of the side effects of treatment. It’s incredibly tough watching patients go through the difficulties associated with certain treatments and I do everything I can to support them during this time.

TAF: What are the most rewarding parts of your job?

PB: The most rewarding part of being a McGrath Breast Care Nurse is acting as an advocate for my patients. As a clinical expert, I am someone they can trust to help them navigate and translate an often overwhelming and frightening cancer diagnosis and its treatments, especially when they are often at their most vulnerable.
The most important thing I do for my patients is to simply be there for them, being available to answer their questions, to offer support and comfort, to facilitate their decision making and help guide them and their families.
I work hard to establish a trusting, supportive relationship with my patients from the very beginning when they first receive the news of a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.
Having a good relationship with my patients is really important when difficult conversations are needed, and is pivotal for all their ongoing psychological, physical and social needs.

TAF: With such a long career in nursing, you must have spent a lot of time on your feet. How do you manage that?

PB: Nursing can be a physically taxing profession and certainly in a lot of nursing roles you do spend a lot of time on your feet. Throughout my career I have found it important to stay fit and active for both my physical and mental health, and I also swear by comfortable shoes while I’m at work.

Thank you for all you do, Peta! 

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