Top manager fights breast cancer – and remains in leadership position

Michaela Länger is a mother and CEO—then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. How the executive dealt with it and what conclusions she drew from it.

Twelve years ago, Michaela Länger, now Managing Director of Siemens Energy Austria, was diagnosed with breast cancer . At the time, she was a mother of young children and a manager.

The diagnosis was a shock, she told the Austrian portal " Standard ." However, it was clear to her that she wanted to be open about her diagnosis—at work and in her private life.

She underwent chemotherapy to fight the cancer – at the same time, she continued working as best she could. "Working was important to me; it gave me structure," she reported to the "Standard." Provision was made for the times when she couldn't work – there were clear rules for substitutions. This ensured that no work was left undone.

A year and a half ago, the cancer returned. Even then, Michaela Länger was open about her illness. She remained in her leadership position, but she emphasized: "Every person is different, every diagnosis is different."

There's no one-size-fits-all solution. Since her openness encouraged her colleagues to share their illness, she feels empowered in her decision: "That's when I knew I did the right thing," she told the newspaper.

In Germany, approximately 75,000 women and around 700 men develop breast cancer each year. These figures refer to 2022 and are from the Center for Cancer Registry Data . On average, one in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime – it is the most common cancer in women. These can be symptoms in the early stages, according to the German Cancer Aid :

Change in the size, shape, or position of a breast.
Skin changes of a breast.
One breast has indentations or bulges.
A nipple retracts.
Fluid is secreted from the nipple.
A palpable lump in the breast, for example around the areola or in the armpits.
Weight loss for unexplained reasons.

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Top manager fights breast cancer – and remains in leadership position

Michaela Länger is a mother and CEO—then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. How the executive dealt with it and what conclusions she drew from it.

Twelve years ago, Michaela Länger, now Managing Director of Siemens Energy Austria, was diagnosed with breast cancer . At the time, she was a mother of young children and a manager.

The diagnosis was a shock, she told the Austrian portal " Standard ." However, it was clear to her that she wanted to be open about her diagnosis—at work and in her private life.