People of Amgen: John Mark Shares his Story of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Survival
People of Amgen: John Mark Shares his Story of Nasopharyngeal Cancer Survival
After learning that he had an aggressive form of nasopharyngeal cancer —in other words, throat cancer —John Mark feared a devastating impact on his life —if he survived at all. “I didn’t think that I would be here today,” he says.
John Mark survived to tell his story, however —as you’ll see in the video.
I'll be frank, I didn't think that I would be here today. I had nasopharyngeal cancer, or throat cancer. At the stage I was at, five-year-overall survival is about 30-33 per cent.
That's like playing Russian roulette with four bullets in the chamber. But… here I am, and I've had an amazing recovery. After experiencing life as a patient, I think I appreciate what patients go through more.
Amgen does their best to serve patients. Honestly that makes me feel proud to work for Amgen.
John’s experience has deepened his appreciation of the experience of cancer survivors and reinforced his pride in Amgen Canada’s commitment to patients. Seeing disease from a patient’s perspective is a central pillar in the company’s culture. “After experiencing life as a patient,” John Mark says, “I think I appreciate what patients go through more.”