Surviving Against All Odds: From a Death Sentence to a Billboard in Times Square
I’m thrilled to announce that this June marks my 17th year as a survivor of pancreatic cancer. And guess what? I'll be featured on the 3rd largest billboard in the world, right in the heart of New York City's Times Square! But before I delve into this exciting initiative, let's take a moment to reflect on the journey that has brought me here.
A cancer diagnosis comes with countless unknowns. Will you survive? When will you lose your hair? How many surgeries will you undergo? How many times will you have to recount your story? Can you carry out simple tasks like getting out of bed, eating, or seeing? Will you ever be able to embrace your children without pain? Amidst all these uncertainties, one thing that shouldn't be left in the dark is the support we receive at work.
When I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I encountered a whole new level of darkness. Asking for help was a challenge I hadn't faced before, and it was mentally and physically exhausting to expose my vulnerabilities. Throughout the grueling four-year treatment period, I put on a wig, plastered a smile on my face, and showed up at work, fulfilling my responsibilities as if everything was normal.
While my colleagues knew about my cancer, I concealed the pain of surgeries, aggressive treatments, and excruciating side effects. Preparing for and conducting meetings while pretending to be "normal" became an unbearable uphill battle. I didn't want to reveal the fatigue, pain, nausea, and discomfort I experienced. As the board chair, I wanted to maintain the image of the leader they believed in and assure them they could count on me as always.
But I lacked confidence and felt embarrassed by the lengthy bathroom visits, my bald head, or administering injections in front of others. Discussing my cancer and potentially dampening the mood made me uncomfortable. I felt awkward and different, making it challenging to contribute to conversations. Engaging in activities or dining with others provided an escape from being the center of attention. Yet, beneath it all, loneliness lurked like a dark veil. Trying to appear fine when I was miserable was incredibly difficult.
Did you know that 1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime? Yet, it remains a topic rarely discussed in the workplace, where we spend most of our time. The unimaginable challenges faced by cancer patients while working are often overlooked. I've had the privilege of coaching patients, hearing their stories firsthand, and witnessing the immense struggles they encounter when returning to work after a diagnosis. It's tough to inform their employers about their cancer, strike a balance between what to share and what to withhold from colleagues, and face the uncertainty of job security. The depth of their pain and the desperation that engulfs their spirits is truly heart-wrenching. However, through these intimate conversations, I have also witnessed the power of transforming stigma into strength.
That's why I've joined forces with Publicis Groupe for their Working with Cancer initiative. The Working with Cancer Pledge aims to unite leaders from companies worldwide in creating a culture of support and recovery at work. We need to alleviate the fear experienced by those working with cancer.
I am honored to be one of the faces of this campaign, and my billboard will be unveiled this Friday morning in Times Square! Looking back on my journey and the person I was on the day of my diagnosis compared to who I am now, I am forever changed. I've become a survivor, an advocate, and a cancer coach. My survival wasn't merely a stroke of luck; instead, I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to transform the cancer narrative and dismantle the stigma surrounding it.
There is a life after cancer. Whether you’re re-entering your day-to-day or just starting your cancer journey it all starts with creating a culture of healing and recovery at work. Ask your company to take the pledge today.
Watch this incredible video about the pledge and read below to learn more.
What is Working with Cancer and why is it so important?
Working with Cancer is all about erasing the stigma of cancer patients and eliminating the negative perception associated with cancer at work.
Cancer is so hard and support from the workplace can make all the difference for employees working with cancer. This initiative seeks companies, globally, to sign a pledge that encourages organizational leaders to establish a safe and welcoming environment that fosters open communication, a culture of safety, and empathy for employees facing cancer diagnoses.
How can you help?
Have your company go to the Working with Cancer website and sign the pledge. https://www.workingwithcancerpledge.com
Also, share your personal stories; they make such a difference. We need to heighten the awareness about what employees face working with cancer – the insecurity, balancing work and cancer treatments, and the huge stigma in an already stressful time of their life.
The Goal:
Hopefully, this leads to more companies encouraging their employees to speak openly and honestly about working while living with cancer. I am hopeful it makes people struggling with cancer feel a little less alone in their workplaces and a whole lot more supported. Talking about cancer in the workplace is already a challenging and difficult task for those going through the experience but explaining this is also hard.
Take action!
Join me in the Working with Cancer movement to help erase the stigma of cancer in the workplace once and for all. Stay tuned for more from Times Square this Friday, May 19! Tune in to my Instagram and watch the big reveal LIVE around 8:00 am ET!
“Laurie was extremely supportive of my desire to return to work, articulating the benefits of feeling productive, feeling a semblance of normalcy, and engaging with a team as critical components to mental health. She helped me navigate how to approach my supervisors and peers to set boundaries and expectations to establish that cancer does not define me or my ability to work and to keep the conversation about work. I am grateful for Laurie’s openness in sharing her work experiences and her support and encouragement in my return to work.”