In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Emily Razaqi, Amgen’s senior vice president, Obesity and Related Conditions, shares the story of her sister Peggy Card Govela, who passed away earlier this year after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
Emily sat down with Amgen colleague Michelle Carrillo, associate vice president, Corporate Affairs, for a deeply personal conversation—one Emily wasn’t sure she was ready to have. But she felt it was important to honor her sister’s memory and raise awareness for others.
Peggy was not only a mother, a wife, and a gifted writer, but also an eternal optimist who brought light to everyone around her.
“The tragedy for my sister was not how she passed away, because her passing was loving and peaceful, surrounded by everyone she cared about,” Emily shared. “The tragedy was that a 44-year-old ran out of options.”
Emily reflects on her sister’s courage while living with multiple sclerosis and facing a breast cancer diagnosis—a disease that affects 1 in 8 women in the U.S.
“She told me, ‘Em, I literally will do anything to stay alive’,” Emily said.
Her words serve as a powerful reminder of both how far research and treatment have come—and how much more progress is still needed.
Around the world, an estimated 2.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and more than 670,000 lose their lives to the disease. Breast Cancer Awareness Month encourages early detection, regular mammogram screenings, and continued research to improve outcomes for patients everywhere.
Watch the interview above to hear more from Emily about her sister Peggy.
