Written by:
Mika Sovak
VP, Global Franchise Head, Lung Cancer, Oncology Business Unit, AstraZeneca
In the fall of 2021, I found myself receiving the same news countless of my own patients had received in the past: It was cancer.
As a medical oncologist, I thought I knew what to expect from a breast cancer diagnosis. Viewing it from the vantage point of a clinician, my immediate thoughts were: “This looks like a straightforward case. I’m lucky it was caught early and it’s likely curable. We just need to get a couple more facts, and then we can come up with the treatment plan and get started.” Accepting the fact that I was now a patient, well, that was a pathway I was less sure about.
From oncologist to patient
Right after my diagnosis, I focused my attention on working with my healthcare team to determine the best possible care for my cancer. As an oncologist, I felt incredibly fortunate that I had a strong understanding of both my disease, prognosis and how the healthcare system works. I had an outline in my head of what my treatment plan would be, and was starting to think about which week or two I might have to take off from work to complete the course of treatment, so I could get back to life and work as usual.
But cancer had its own plans. The first stumbling block came when I found out that due to multifocal breast cancer, I needed a mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy. This meant that reconstructive surgery was now a consideration and the treatment plan evolved. After my first surgery there was a major complication, which meant another unexpected surgery a couple of weeks later. After that surgery, I experienced significant side effects from my medications and the treatment plan evolved again. There was constant evolution of the treatment plan, which meant continuous reshuffling of my own expectations. In the end the treatment I received (five surgeries in 10 months, no radiation, hormone therapy) was very different from the initial plan in my head (one surgery, radiation therapy all done within the first couple of months, then hormone therapy). I struggled with this loss of control, but it was easier to adapt as I understood the medical reasons for all the changes and could be an active participant in the decision making. I heard from other women about their personal struggles, and just how hard, challenging, confusing and frightening the experience was to them. Especially those with little scientific background, minimal support or those who were unsure how to self-advocate, or in some cases, were not listened to when they did. These experiences revealed to me the fundamental importance and positive impact improvements in delivery of care can have on patients and their families, regardless of where they live, as they go through one of the biggest challenges in their lives.
Making sense of time
I now think about time very differently than I ever did before.
To deal with my feelings of being out of control, I started focusing on living in the moment – which has quite a different meaning to me since my diagnosis. Rather than sitting around worrying about the next surgery, I’d hobble out to the garden or open the window and listen to the birds sing. I turned to nature. I turned to family and friends, my dogs. Statistics tell me that my chances of surviving my cancer are excellent. Yet months later, I experience moments of terror that I might not have long to live. That my time could be quite limited. And this is fuelling within me a new urgency to give patients as much of that time back as possible through bringing forward innovative treatment options and addressing barriers to treatment.
Fuelling my sense of urgency
Having been on both sides of a cancer diagnosis, in my work as an oncologist and experience as a patient, has strengthened my passion and resolve to push the boundaries of science and delivery of cancer care to benefit patients in need.
Since I started at AstraZeneca, I’ve worked across a variety of tumour types and stages of disease. I’ve been fortunate to work on – and benefit from – some of the incredible strides made in the treatment of breast cancer. The advancements we’ve made in screening, science and care for breast cancer are truly remarkable and have given the patient community so much hope. I now carry that same hope into my new role leading the Lung Franchise at AstraZeneca, the hope of transforming what it means to be diagnosed with one of the deadliest forms of this disease – lung cancer.
Until very recently, lung cancer was seen by many as an automatic death sentence. But several innovative medicines have resulted in incredible advances in recent years that are changing the trajectory of this terrible disease. For example, through our research in tumour drivers and resistance (TDR), we’re developing lung cancer therapies that target the genetic mutations and resistance mechanisms that enable cancer cells to evade treatment, survive and proliferate.1 Our team is tackling the tough questions: How can we target multiple biological pathways simultaneously and combat lung cancer as it evolves at every stage? What drug combinations might benefit the most patients? In effect, how can we keep the disease under control for as long as possible so that people with lung cancer have as much time as possible?
I am incredibly grateful that my cancer was diagnosed early, and thus, potentially curable – and I want all cancer patients to experience the same. If we want to improve lung cancer mortality, we need to diagnose the disease at the earliest stage. This is foundational to our ambition that a cure for lung cancer – the leading cause of cancer death worldwide – could be within reach.2 This is the reason we are leading global efforts to drive screening, early detection and treatment of lung cancer across the world.
Prior to my diagnosis nearly two years ago, I could have never imagined the depth my understanding of cancer could reach nor the impact it would have on my life, both at home and at work. I could had never fathomed how the experience of living with this disease could transform, elevate and renew my sense of purpose in serving the oncology community. I am proud to be leading a team focused on bringing innovative medicines to lung cancer patients, ensuring patients can get the care they deserve regardless of background or geography, and driving screening for lung cancer globally so that one day, curing lung cancer might truly be possible.
Mika’s story is part of our ongoing series: TrailblAZers in Oncology, which spotlights colleagues on the AstraZeneca Oncology team who are making an impact, both personally and professionally.
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References
1. American Cancer Society. Gene Changes and Cancer. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/understanding-cancer/genes-and-cancer/gene-changes.html. Accessed June 2023.
2. World Health Organisation. World Cancer Fact Sheet. Available at: http://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/900-world-fact-sheets.pdf. Accessed June 2023.
Veeva ID: Z4-55593
Date of preparation: June 2023