My name is Greg Cantwell. I was born in Dusseldorf, Germany where I lived for
the first 12 years of my life. Then moved to the States where we moved around for a few
years then settled down in Potomac, Maryland where I went to high school. After high
school I moved to Colorado for College and it was there I landed the job I had been
dreaming about since I was a young boy, working in the Airline Industry. I moved around
quite a bit again and moved my way up in the industry which took me to California,
Colorado again, Virginia, Hawaii, Alaska briefly then back to Hawaii and then to
Minnesota where my story starts.
I was 30 years old living in Hawaii with no health issues when I was diagnosed
with cancer. I was strong and in good mental and physical condition. On October 28,
2004, my plane had just arrived in Minneapolis, where I would begin my new job with
Northwest airlines. I checked into my hotel, went out to eat and went to bed for what I
thought would be a good night sleep.
At approximately 11:15pm from what I was told, I awoke, experiencing a grand
mal seizure. I couldn't talk, was barely able to breathe, and was conscious but very
confused. I was rushed to the emergency room where the doctors asked me all sorts of
questions. The questions were “easy” and I knew I knew the answers, but could not
come up with them. I was scared. Why could I not answer these easy questions, but
everyone else could? I was given a CT scan and next an MRI. Then they said the doctor
was calling in a neurologist from home. I thought to myself, “Why?” “This can't be that
serious, or can it?”
The neurologist finally arrived and delivered the news no one wants to hear.
"Greg you have a brain tumor." Two days later I returned for a biopsy of the tumor.
A few days after that, the results were in, it was a Stage IV Glioblastoma. I could tell in
the neurologist’s eyes and tone of voice that the chances I would survive were extremely
slim. I thought to myself, “Did I hear him right?” “I have a brain tumor?” “Why me?”
That was the only time I ever felt sorry for myself. From that point on I was
positive and knew I was going to beat this cancer no matter what the statistics or doctors
said. My son Joseph was one year old at the time. I thought to myself, “I have to be
here for him.” “I want to see him go to school on his first day, play sports, have his first
girlfriend, graduate from high school, get married, etc.” “I have to be here for all that and
I am not going to die!” I buckled down for the fight of my life.
I met with my oncologist, who explained I had a 5% chance of surviving one year.
He gave me three options for treatment.
1. Have surgery but do nothing to aggressively fight the cancer and enjoy the
limited time I had left with minimal medical intervention.
2. Have surgery, do minimal radiation and chemotherapy to hopefully extend my
life a year or two.
3. Have surgery and go all out to fight this cancer with everything that medicine
had to offer. This option would make me the sickest, require
many different treatments but would hopefully give me the best chance of longterm survival.
Given this information, I had a lot to think about. On the positive side, I was
strong both mentally and physically and had the will to want to beat this. I decided that I
would take option three and was scheduled for surgery two weeks later.
I was scared. I had never had any type of surgery before and now I was having a
craniotomy. I had no clue what to expect. What would it feel like falling asleep? Would I
have complications during surgery? How would I feel when I wake up? Would I
remember anything? All these questions and uncertainties!
The big day finally arrived. Scared and with tears in my eyes, my parents and
friends said that they would see me when I got out of surgery and I was wheeled down
the hallway. I don’t even remember getting to the operating room. I was told afterward
that the neurosurgeon told my family and friends that he didn't know what to expect;
meaning, would I be able to talk? Feed myself? Or even walk?
Here are pictures of me with my neurosurgeon on top and my neuro-oncologist
on the bottom.
The first person I confided in was God. I prayed that he would give me the
strength to beat this diagnosis. I was just starting a new job and had to tell them that I
wouldn’t be able to work for at least a year. They were supportive and promised to keep
my position open for me when I return and to just focus on my health. I told my family
and friends about my diagnosis and I immediately received support. My family took turns
flying in to help out. My brother Chris uprooted his family where they lived in Alexandria,
VA and moved them to the Minneapolis area to be there for me. And my friend Jeff was
always a support system and continues to be there for me when I need him.
I began the road to “Winning The Fight Of My Life” . I completed the six weeks of
radiation in conjunction with oral Temodar. Let me back up for a second. At the time of
surgery my neurosurgeon was proactive and inserted five Gliadel Wafers into the
resected tumor site. These wafers were the size of a dime and are designed to provide
direct chemotherapy to the site and dissolve over a two and a half week period. After a
four week rest period I began an intense cocktail of chemotherapy which was
administered inpatient over a three day period. The cocktail consisted of Cytoxin,
Etoposide, and Intra Arterial Carboplatin. This treatment would be once a month for a
twelve month period finishing in Feb. 2006. Since then I have had routine MRI’s ever
three months and have had no recurrence. In 2014 I decided to do my MRI’s every 4
months. This will be the longest that I will consider going in between MRI’s just know
what this beast has the potential to do.
I made it through the treatments to my surprise very well with very little side
effects and didn’t lose any weight which I initially attributed to the steroids during the first
month of so during radiation. I never lost my appetite however did lose my hair which to
this day I keep short. I guess you could say that the look grew on me. In Feb. 2006 I
went back to work full time until I had a seizure driving home from work in 2008. I
immediately went in for an MRI, which showed no new tumor growth and my anti-seizure
medications were increased. Since my career for the past 15 years has been in an
airline management role, which required me to drive on a daily basis I was forced to
resign my position.
In March of 2008 I met Lisa. Like myself she understood what living with a
terminal illness is like. She has Cystic Fibrosis, has had a liver transplant and has
diabetes. We have a unique bond and take care of each other in addition to taking care
of my (OUR) 12 year old son Joseph. We dated for a little over a year and were married
in June of 2009. Lisa, her family and friends have been so accepting of myself, my
condition but most of all, my son Joseph I truly couldn’t ask for anything more. I am
blessed to know each one of you.
Losing my job was a blessing in disguise it gave me the opportunity to volunteer
at cancer agencies throughout the United States providing One on One Brain cancer
support. I even started my own website to provide help to those newly diagnosed their
families and caregivers. I have had over 35,000 hits at me site and have been able to
provide support through email, Skype, phone and in person to people from all over the
world with nowhere else to turn. I also travel throughout the country and share my
“cancer survivor-turned-caregiver” experience with various audiences.
As I think back over the years prior to my diagnosis I remember having
migraines, which started in high school. They would only happen 2 or 3 times a year but
were very severe. I could tell they were coming on because my tongue would go numb
the starting with me fingertips then all the way up my arms. My sight would go blurry and
I would be affected by the light. In order to feel better I would take a hot bath, but then I
would get seasick and begin vomiting. I went to the doctor many times never once did he
bring up an MRI. Knowing what I know now I would definitely advocate for myself and
get an MRI.
It has been 12 years since my diagnosis. My scans have showed no new tumor
activity. I have dedicated my life to helping and educating those going through a similar
diagnosis as well as their families and caregivers. There is so much that a person like
myself can do to help. I volunteer at a number of cancer organizations and Hospital’s
some of these are MD Anderson, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, The
Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, National Brain Tumor Society and Imerman Angels.
I started my own website 8 years ago www.survivorandcaregiver.com which has now
become a 501c3 non-profit called Greg’s Misson www.gregsmission.org I invite you all to
take a look at it and forward it on to anyone you know. No one should be alone! To date I
have helped over 1634 people.
Here is a quote which I came up with:
"Staying positive can be hard at times, but you have to focus on what you believe
your outcome will be. I am going to kick cancer's butt! Stay strong, get rest when
you need it and call on your friends and family for support. To admit that you
need help is not a sign of weakness. You are not a statistic! You should be
treated as a person not as a diagnosis."
The title of my presentation is:
Winning the Fight of Your Life!
I speak not only to patients and caregivers, but also to doctors, nurses,
psychologists and social workers. I feel it is important for these professionals to hear
from survivors themselves to know what helps and what does not, what they can do or
not do, and what to say or not say to help the patient. My presentation includes my
personal story as well as the following topics:







Positive attitude matters! Psychological dimensions of a life-threatening
illness
Statistics vs. individual patients
Importance of relationships with family & friends and other support persons
Tips on how to effectively communicate with doctors, nurses & other
healthcare professionals
Eat the good stuff!
What helped me and what didn’t
Reverse roles  Survivor to Caregiver
Please visit my website www,gregsmission.org to see where we have been in the media
and to listen to and read testimonials from patients, families and caregivers we have
helped.
The following is a poem which I wrote to my neurosurgeon and presented to him at our
wedding.
THANK YOU
November 2004
I received some news that brought me to tears,
I had something growing between my ears.
The tumor must come out, there’s no time to wait,
We have to make sure it’s not too late.
No one knew how long it was there,
But one thing for sure, I would lose all my hair.
I wasn’t sure quite what to say or what to think,
But one thing for certain, my spirit would not sink.
You never think this could happen to you,
When it does, you realize, you’re only human too.
I met with my neurosurgeon, Dr. Michael McCue,
He sat me down to explain what he would do.
I need to take out your tumor, he said with a concerned voice,
There is no other option, you don’t have a choice.
I remember thinking to myself, “it’s not my time,”
I have to be around for Joseph, the son of mine.
Six hours later, I awoke to groggily see,
My family and friends, constantly there for me.
Dr. McCue had done it, a miracle not yet known,
But over time he eventually was shown.
I defied the odds, proven the textbooks wrong,
I beat this cancer, determined and strong.
I am here today, thanks to you and your teams,
To finally have found the woman of my dreams.
Dr. Michael McCue, I dedicate this to you,
A token of my thanks for all you do.
I will continue to update you on my progress,
No matter where I am, I make this promise.