Living with Colon Cancer: A Pfizer Colleague’s Story

Almost all of us have been impacted by cancer in some way, even those of us who work at a company dedicated to the fight against it. We at Pfizer are not immune, and we are dedicated to helping share the stories of those who have faced the terrible disease. Especially when they are a part of our family.

Lily Hickey works as a People Experience Lead for Commercial Oncology at Pfizer, and less than a year after giving birth, she felt a pain in her side that that she initially wrote off as postpartum. Her gynecologist referred her to a gastrointestinal doctor, who ordered a colonoscopy. Lily was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer, the third most common cancer worldwide.

Despite the shock and emotional toll, Lily’s courage and advocacy throughout her cancer journey have been inspiring. Recently, she shared her experience in a video detailing not only her diagnosis and treatment, but the support she received from colleagues across Pfizer.

“I was never nervous to tell anybody at work what I was going through because that's what we do; we take care of patients and we take care of each other,” she said. “Some of the best humans, they exist at Pfizer.”

At Pfizer, we stand together, supporting one another through moments that matter. Lily embodies our commitment to caring for patients by encouraging others to complete routine cancer screenings, which can be key for early detection and treatment.

"My message, my rallying call is ‘get it done.’ Own your body, your care – physical, mental, spiritual, emotional – all of it,” she said. “You have time to get a mammogram, a colonoscopy, to go to your primary care doctor. Theres's nothing else that matters.”

Lily’s cancer journey led her to believe that the future of colon cancer treatment is bright.

“The treatment paradigm has changed so much,” she said. “For me to be here about 14 months since my initial symptoms and say that I am a cancer survivor is amazing.”

Watch Lily’s story: