Finding Strength in Survivorship

As director of regulatory affairs at McKesson, Megan Ueckert works to support the safe and responsible distribution of medications.

“I joke that I’ve been part of the McKesson family since I was eight years old,” she says. “I grew up visiting my dad at the distribution center where he worked, and that early exposure to McKesson really gave me a feel for what the company does. It helped me see how I could build a career in an industry that makes a real difference in patient health.”

When she officially joined McKesson in 2014 to make her own impact on patients’ lives, Megan never imagined she would be a patient herself at age 39.

She was ambitious in her career, a national board member of the Women Empowered (WE) Employee Resource Group and a devoted mom of energetic three-year-old twins. Life was so full, in fact, she almost ignored the unusual symptoms she was feeling until a friend urged her to see a doctor. In October 2022, she received a phone call she didn’t anticipate.   

“I heard, ‘Ms. Ueckert, I’m sorry, but you have cancer’,” Megan recalls. “Those words shattered my world.”

There was little time to process her cancer diagnosis. In a matter of weeks, Megan gathered second opinions and chose an oncology care team she trusted. Her treatment included surgeries, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. During those days, she balanced doctor’s appointments, the demands of raising young children and a desire to stay engaged in her work.

After over a year of weekly doctor appointments and treatments, Megan had settled into a routine that, while exhausting, became familiar. Her final treatment came, and suddenly the structure that had defined her life disappeared. Instead of relief, Megan felt unsure of what would come next.

“Surviving cancer is supposed to feel like a victory,” Megan says. “At the same time, you don’t look or feel like yourself. There’s this yearning to get back to who you were before cancer. I was standing there in the wake of it all, asking myself, what does my life look like now?”

Healing by Helping Others

As Megan was exploring what being a cancer survivor meant for her, she turned to the McKesson Cancer Support Network (MCSN). It’s a volunteer-run special interest group that assists employees who are affected by cancer, and their families, by offering resources, support and education. MCSN played an important role in helping Megan navigate her early diagnosis and treatment. Grateful for the support she received, she now gives back as the co-chair of MCSN, where she helps to set the strategic direction and raise awareness of the group across McKesson.

“The silver lining is, I’ve gone through this and now I can give back: whether it’s sharing information, being a listening ear, or helping my colleagues advocate for their health,” she says. “No one should go through cancer alone.”

To show colleagues they aren’t alone, MCSN is honoring National Cancer Survivors Month in June with a striking visual tribute. At the company’s headquarters in Las Colinas, Texas, and across several distribution centers, walls of purple ribbons will display the names of employees who, like Megan, are also cancer survivors.

Volunteering has been rewarding in unexpected ways. During this past World Cancer Day in February, she joined other McKesson colleagues to serve a meal to cancer patients staying at the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Dallas. She was surprised by how meaningful the experience was for her.

“It hit me harder than I thought it would,” says Megan. “But connecting with others on their cancer journeys gave me purpose. Listening to their stories and sharing my own wasn’t just healing, it helped me understand what survivorship means, not just for me, but for all of us navigating life after cancer.”

She also feels a special connection to those who are dealing with cancer at a young age. Only four percent of all cancers are diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 39.

“There’s a lot that is nuanced to having cancer young,” explains Megan. “I had an amazing support system, but I know that’s not the case for everyone. Many younger patients are balancing careers, childcare or financial pressures; concerns that aren’t always top of mind where the typical patient profile tends to be older. I try to support others who are facing those added layers because their experiences deserve to be acknowledged and understood.”  

Finding a New Normal 

Although she was technically in remission, it wasn’t until her two-year checkup that Megan felt a sense of relief.

“I started crying and told my doctor, ‘You’ve been telling me for two years that I’m cancer free, but it hasn’t really hit me until now,’” she recalls. “He said it’s a common experience, because you worry whether every ailment is the cancer coming back.”

That worry hasn’t disappeared, but Megan has learned to live with it in a way that empowers her.  She focuses instead on creating quality time with her husband and children. And she’s looking forward to celebrating upcoming milestones, such as her twins starting kindergarten this year.

Cancer reshaped Megan’s perspective, but it didn’t diminish her. She now uses her experience to inspire others to take charge of their health through the lessons she learned about the importance of early detection and self-advocacy.

“Cancer changes you, but it shouldn’t define you,” says Megan. “It’s one part of the journey that has led me here. I’m grateful that McKesson offers me the opportunity to share that experience and give back to others.”

In doing so, Megan is helping to fulfill our mission of improving healthcare in every setting, one patient at a time.