Firefighter's Cancer Battle Finds Hope With Chaplain

Greg Leitz spent 20 years running into burning buildings as a Spotsylvania County firefighter, but nothing prepared him for the fight that came in January 2024. Doctors diagnosed him with Gleason 9 prostate cancer, an aggressive form that had already spread to his pelvis and spine.

As a former fire department chaplain himself, Greg knew how to comfort others through their darkest moments. But when cancer came for him, he put on a brave face and told everyone he was fine.

He wasn't fine. The anxiety built up until Greg knew he needed help beyond chemotherapy and radiation.

That's when he called VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and asked for Chaplain Charles Riffee. A joyful receptionist connected them immediately, and within minutes, Greg's phone was ringing.

"We talked for an hour and a half," Riffee said about their first conversation. Both men had served as chaplains for first responders, creating an instant connection rooted in shared experience and authenticity.

For Greg, finally opening up about his fears felt liberating. "I hid it so well from my friends and family," he said. "Some of my best friends teared up when I told them about what I was going through."

Greg's cancer diagnosis came from a routine screening offered to firefighters. Cancer has become the leading cause of death for firefighters nationwide due to chemical exposure on the job.

"It's not pleasant, there's no doubt about it," Greg said about cancer screenings. "But if it's 20 seconds of unpleasantry, those could potentially add years to your life."

Why This Inspires

Greg's journey highlights something many cancer patients discover too late: medical treatment heals the body, but emotional support heals the spirit. His willingness to drop the brave mask and ask for help turned his isolation into connection.

Now Greg advocates for both routine cancer screenings and mental health support for firefighters. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network's motto is "no one fights alone," and Greg has made that his own rallying cry.

"The number one thing I say to cancer patients is to get in a support group or reach out to the chaplaincy or somebody that you can talk to about all of this," Greg said.

His courage to be vulnerable transformed his cancer journey from a lonely battle into a story of hope. After surviving a stroke in 2013 at VCU Health, Greg trusted the same team to help him through cancer, and they showed up for every part of him that needed healing.

Greg now uses his experience to encourage other firefighters to get screened and to remind cancer patients that asking for help isn't weakness. It's the bravest thing you can do.