“Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.” Kelly thought it couldn’t happen to her—until it did. Having worked at Pfizer for over 25 years, she knew how an unexpected diagnosis could suddenly turn someone’s life upside down, but nothing could have prepared her for her own cancer journey.
After developing a chronic cough, Kelly was looking for answers. She had appointments with several healthcare providers and specialists who diagnosed her with everything from gastroesophageal reflux disease to long COVID. Nothing gave her relief.
Kelly’s symptoms only got worse; her cough soon became debilitating, and she developed shortness of breath. After months of frustration, she decided to take matters into her own hands and called a friend who works as a pulmonologist. After hearing her symptoms, he booked Kelly for a CT scan right away. Minutes after the test was complete, she received news that turned her life upside down—she had cancer.
Despite significant advancements, millions of people across the globe face a cancer diagnosis each year. For the Pfizer Oncology team, these individuals are more than a statistic—they are parents, children, friends and colleagues.
Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither should cancer care
Breakthrough treatments can’t save lives if they can’t reach the people who need them. Collaboration across the cancer community is key to addressing barriers to access and tackling inequities in care. Pfizer is working to bridge gaps and tackle inequities to help make sure everyone has access to the care they deserve—no matter who they are or where they live. Through support for initiatives like Change the OddsTM with the American Cancer Society, progress is being made to improve and expand access to cancer screenings, clinical trial opportunities and patient support and navigation in underserved communities across the United States.
United by unique
When overcoming cancer becomes personal
To learn more, share stories, and join the global effort, visit WorldCancerDay.org and Let’s Outdo Cancer.
Cancer research requires persistence—you may find something that works, but you always want to keep making improvements for patients.
Chris Boshoff, Chief Oncology Officer and Executive Vice President, Pfizer
The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters.
Created by Reuters Plus for
This advertiser content has been created and paid for by Pfizer.
Neither Reuters News nor Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters, were involved/had a role in the production of this content.
This World Cancer Day is a reminder of the deeply personal story behind every cancer diagnosis and the united goal to see a world beyond cancer, highlighting that everyone is “United by Unique.” It will take a global effort to make people-centered treatment and care available to everyone impacted by this disease.
Kelly’s story is a reminder that cancer can happen to anyone at any time. As she says, “Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.”
Despite significant advancements, millions of people across the globe face a cancer diagnosis each year. For the Pfizer Oncology team, these individuals are far more than a statistic—they are parents, children, friends, and even colleagues like Kelly, who has worked at Pfizer for over 25 years. Their stories are a powerful reminder that Pfizer’s mission to deliver breakthroughs for people living with cancer is deeply personal.
Inspired to deliver breakthrough cancer medicines
After spending a week in the hospital, Kelly was not only diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, but she also learned that it had already spread to her liver, bones, adrenal glands, and brain. She was terrified and confused. She wasn’t a smoker, so how could she have lung cancer?
With additional biomarker testing, Kelly learned that the cancer was caused by a mutation in her ALK gene. ALK-positive lung cancer represents about 3%-5% of lung cancer diagnoses and is typically aggressive, often impacting younger people. She soon started targeted therapy.
The good news: Kelly responded to treatment and has had no evidence of active disease for over 15 months.
Kelly’s story is a reminder that cancer can happen to anyone at any time. As she says, “Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.”
For more than two decades, Pfizer has been dedicated to developing innovative cancer treatments that have the potential to improve and extend patients’ lives. Leveraging cutting-edge scientific technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Pfizer is pursuing new targets, platforms, and treatment combinations across a wide range of cancer types to bring novel treatments to people who need them the most.
This World Cancer Day is a reminder of the deeply personal story behind every cancer diagnosis and the united goal to see a world beyond cancer, highlighting that everyone is “United by Unique.”
No one should have to face cancer alone. Pfizer is dedicated to helping not only those living with the disease, but the people who care for them. In 2017, Pfizer launched This is Living with CancerTM, a website and mobile app to provide holistic support to patients and caregivers on their cancer journey, offering tools, resources and connection to advocacy groups and additional support. Initially available in the United States, This is Living with Cancer has now expanded to other countries around the world.
Kelly, in remission from lung cancer.
Caption goes here
Inspired by people like Kelly, Pfizer continues to work toward a future where fewer lives get turned upside down by cancer.
The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters.
Produced by Reuters Plus for
Disclaimer: The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters. To work with Reuters Plus, contact us here.
“It’s just a cough,” she told her doctors.
Inspired to deliver breakthrough cancer medicines
“Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.” Kelly thought it couldn’t happen to her—until it did. Having worked at Pfizer for over 25 years, she knew how an unexpected diagnosis could suddenly turn someone’s life upside down, but nothing could have prepared her for her own cancer journey.
After developing a chronic cough, Kelly was looking for answers. She had appointments with several healthcare providers and specialists who diagnosed her with everything from gastroesophageal reflux disease to long COVID. Nothing gave her relief.
Kelly’s symptoms only got worse; her cough soon became debilitating, and she developed shortness of breath. After months of frustration, she decided to take matters into her own hands and called a friend who works as a pulmonologist. After hearing her symptoms, he booked Kelly for a CT scan right away. Minutes after the test was complete, she received news that turned her life upside down—she had cancer.
Despite significant advancements, millions of people across the globe face a cancer diagnosis each year. For the Pfizer Oncology team, these individuals are far more than a statistic—they are parents, children, friends, and even colleagues.
Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither should cancer care
Breakthrough treatments can’t save lives if they can’t reach the people who need them. Collaboration across the cancer community is key to addressing barriers to access and tackling inequities in care. Pfizer is working to bridge gaps and tackle inequities to help make sure everyone has access to the care they deserve—no matter who they are or where they live. Through support for initiatives like Change the OddsTM with the American Cancer Society, progress is being made to improve and expand access to cancer screenings, clinical trial opportunities and patient support and navigation in underserved communities across the United States.
United by unique
When overcoming cancer becomes personal
To learn more, share stories, and join the global effort, visit WorldCancerDay.org and Let’s Outdo Cancer.
Cancer research requires persistence—you may find something that works, but you always want to keep making improvements for patients.
Chris Boshoff, Chief Oncology Officer and Executive Vice President, Pfizer
The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters.
Created by Reuters Plus for
This advertiser content has been created and paid for by Pfizer.
Neither Reuters News nor Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters, were involved/had a role in the production of this content.
“It’s just a cough,” she told her doctors.
This World Cancer Day is a reminder of the deeply personal story behind every cancer diagnosis and the united goal to see a world beyond cancer, highlighting that everyone is “United by Unique.” It will take a global effort to make people-centric treatment and care available to everyone impacted by this disease.
Kelly’s story is a reminder that cancer can happen to anyone at any time. As she says, “Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.”
Despite significant advancements, millions of people across the globe face a cancer diagnosis each year. For the Pfizer Oncology team, these individuals are far more than a statistic—they are parents, children, friends, and even colleagues like Kelly, who has worked at Pfizer for over 25 years. Their stories are a powerful reminder that Pfizer’s mission to deliver breakthroughs for people living with cancer is deeply personal.
Inspired to deliver breakthrough cancer medicines
After spending a week in the hospital, Kelly was not only diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, but she also learned that it had already spread to her liver, bones, adrenal glands, and brain. She was terrified and confused. She wasn’t a smoker, so how could she have lung cancer?
With additional biomarker testing, Kelly learned that the cancer was caused by a mutation in her ALK gene. ALK-positive lung cancer represents about 3%-5% of lung cancer diagnoses and is typically aggressive, often impacting younger people. She soon started targeted therapy.
The good news: Kelly responded to treatment and has had no evidence of active disease for over 15 months.
Kelly’s story is a reminder that cancer can happen to anyone at any time. As she says, “Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.”
For more than two decades, Pfizer has been dedicated to developing innovative cancer treatments that have the potential to improve and extend patients’ lives. Leveraging cutting-edge scientific technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Pfizer is pursuing new targets, platforms, and treatment combinations across a wide range of cancer types to bring novel treatments to people who need them the most.
This World Cancer Day is a reminder of the deeply personal story behind every cancer diagnosis and the united goal to see a world beyond cancer, highlighting that everyone is “United by Unique.”
No one should have to face cancer alone. Pfizer is dedicated to helping not only those living with the disease, but the people who care for them. In 2017, Pfizer launched This is Living with CancerTM, a website and mobile app to provide holistic support to patients and caregivers on their cancer journey, offering tools, resources and connection to advocacy groups and additional support.
Initially available in the United States, This is Living with Cancer has now expanded to other countries around the world.
Kelly, in remission from lung cancer.
Caption goes here
Inspired by people like Kelly, Pfizer continues to work toward a future where fewer lives get turned upside down by cancer.
