A life in a day: the reality of living with lung cancer

The “A Life in a Day” experience aims to help employees better understand the challenges faced by those living with devastating diseases. Anna-Maria Mikic, a Human Resources professional at Boehringer Ingelheim, participated in this program to gain insights into the life of a lung cancer patient. Over a 24-hour period, she learned about the harsh realities of disease diagnosis and progression, and gained a deeper understanding of the patient experience. Anna-Maria shares her personal journey, the emotional impact, and the shift it brought to her perspective on life.

Diagnosis lung cancer

"I was excited to participate in the experience," Anna-Maria recalls. “Since I work in Human Resources, I don't often have the opportunity to get in contact with patients. I was really looking forward to it.” However, as she opened the first package—a handkerchief stained with blood—the harsh reality of the situation hit her. "My mood instantly dropped, and the emotional impact was intense," she admits.

Throughout the day, Anna-Maria's emotions intensified as she read patient insights, spoke with a patient advocate, and engaged in role-plays with doctors. "The limitations became clear to me," she says. "Things like climbing stairs were suddenly a real problem because you couldn’t breathe anymore. The thought of missing out on sports activities I enjoyed was difficult, but the realization that I couldn’t even climb stairs was unimaginable to me."

The diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer which had spread extensively, carrying with it a slim chance of survival, was the emotional climax for Anna-Maria.  "It made me reflect on how I want to live the rest of my life more meaningfully," she confesses. "I thought a lot about what’s important to me in life, and it also made me realize the insignificance of my daily stresses and problems."

Side effects of living with lung cancer

Anna-Maria also struggled to process her feelings and found it hard to open up about her experience. "Hour by hour, I realize the battle patients fight isn't just against the disease itself. It's an emotional storm, a rollercoaster that takes you on a wild ride. One moment, you're wrestling with shame, facing people who wrongly think lung cancer is only for smokers. This false belief sparks anger, quickly replaced by deep sadness as you face your reality. You're stuck in despair, unsure and worried about what's next”, Anna-Maria explains her feelings. However, the experiment provided her with a tremendous increase in knowledge about the disease and the importance of emotional and practical support for patients and their families.

On top of the significant impact the disease has on everyday tasks, another aspect that surprised Anna-Maria was the additional financial concerns. The uncertainty about health and professional implications added to her worries. "You have to come to terms with the fact that life is finite, and at the same time, you worry about how you can finance your life if you can no longer work due to side effects or the disease itself," she shares.

A day with long lasting impact

Looking back, Anna-Maria wishes everyone understands better that living with cancer is not just about therapy and medication. "It's about the individual's process of dealing with the diagnosis, uncertainty, and waiting. It’s about the little everyday things like being supported by family or friends,” she emphasizes. Anna-Maria also gained a deeper appreciation for her own health and routines. "This experience has underscored for me that our patients, individuals just like you and me living with serious diseases and often facing unimaginable challenges, are the real people behind my internal customers. This drives me to make swift decisions and pursue pragmatic solutions because ultimately, it’s all about providing better and faster help to our patients and thereby transforming their lives for the better."

Lung cancer awareness month 

During Lung Cancer Awareness Month (LCAM), and as part of our “Big Little Things” approach, we're dedicated to spreading accurate information about lung cancer. We believe that even the smallest things can feel monumental when you're living with cancer. That's why our campaign aims to show how seeking dependable information - an action that might seem small - can lead to significant strides in understanding, managing, and supporting those with lung cancer.  Be sure not to miss out our “Ask Dr Web” initiative featuring top voices from Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC).