Cancer and Clinical Services Patient Stories

For cancer survivor Cathy Gregg, her biological and cancer treatment families were her rock during therapy and are now why she’s giving back by volunteering at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).

“They’re my life, and I have just the most amazing family,” says Gregg, who was born in Atlanta, Ga., and met her husband, Van, at Clemson University. Today, they have three kids and seven grandkids who all live in the Columbus area. “That’s exactly why I would never retire back down south,” she adds.

Gregg, who was a schoolteacher for many years, was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma after a summer full of tests and surgery. When she learned about her diagnosis, she was given two choices on where she could receive her treatment. “I remember Van just saying to me, ‘There’s no question, we’re going to The James,’” she says.

While Gregg was initially devastated by her diagnosis, she quickly realized that she had to do something about it. “I have my husband, who is my best friend, and my kids and grandkids, who are my best friends, so there’s no choice,” she says. 

As Gregg and her husband walked through the doors of The James, she was very nervous about what she was about to face. However, her fears were eased as soon as she was introduced to the receptionists.

“Everybody from the receptionists to the doctors makes you feel like, when you walk through that door, you are the most important person,” she says.

Gregg’s therapy consisted of 33 radiation treatments that occurred five days a week for several weeks. She credits Matthew Old, MD, director of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Dukagjin Blakaj, MD, PhD, of the Department of Radiation Oncology, for her outstanding treatment. “Cancer truly is a journey, and every day involves taking another step, even if they’re baby steps,” she says.

Throughout her cancer journey, Gregg leaned on her family and her treatment family for support and strength. “They were all my biggest supporters and my rock,” she says.

Gregg’s children offered continual support, accompanying her during treatments when they could or taking care of her home. Even when she hadn’t seen them for a few days, they would call her to check on her progress.

“They just lifted me up. I know that when you have cancer, you’re fighting for yourself, but for me, I was fighting for me because of them,” Gregg says.

In November 2014, she was declared cancer-free. Following her treatment, she decided to give back to the place that had given her so much by becoming a volunteer at The James. “The volunteering fills my soul,” Gregg says. 

She is currently assigned to second-floor radiation, where she helps with delivering food and drinks to patients, answering their questions and making sure they feel comfortable. Gregg sees this as an opportunity to talk to each patient about her journey and theirs, as well as to offer them hope.

“If people know that you were once in their shoes, sometimes it’s just sitting and listening, and sometimes it’s a hug or just letting them know that they’re not alone,” she says. 

Every Monday, Gregg also brings several bracelets that state “Nobody fights alone” in the colors that represent head and neck cancer, and she hands them out to patients she talks to that day.

“When you walk in that room, everybody is rooting for everybody else; it doesn’t matter your religion, ethnic group, nationality or skin color. I wish the world were more like that,” Gregg says. 

Patients may consider Gregg to be their inspiration, but she sees it the other way around.

“Many people tell me, ‘Thank you,’ and I’m telling them, ‘No, thank you,’” Gregg says. “This is because I get so much more out of the patients, and they bring me joy. There’s just so much hope.”