Cancer center chaplain helps patient find hope after prostate cancer diagnosis
Facing the battle of his life, retired firefighter Greg Leitz says he was met with compassion and support from VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.
February 18, 2026
Greg Leitz is a patient at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center who is being treated for prostate cancer. This cancer is common among firefighters because of on-the-job exposure to chemicals. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
By Bill Potter
Greg Leitz’s world was spinning. He was undergoing treatment for Gleason 9 prostate cancer – an aggressive form of prostate cancer – that had also metastasized into several areas of his body, including his pelvis and spine.
Once a chaplain in the Spotsylvania County Fire Department, Greg initially tried to put on a brave face to his friends and family while undergoing his cancer treatment, telling everyone he was okay. But he was feeling increasingly isolated.
“I had a lot of anxiety built up within me, and things just kind of came to a head,” Greg said.
Prostate cancer survivor Greg Leitz served with the Spotsylvania County Fire Department for 20 years. (Contributed photo)
Through the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Greg connected with VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center for treatment. He’s no stranger to VCU Health. In 2013, he suffered a stroke and fought his way to recovery with the help of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at VCU Medical Center. But his January 2024 cancer diagnosis was the toughest challenge yet – both physically and emotionally.
That’s why Greg reached out for more support. The cancer center offers support services for patients, their loved ones and survivors throughout their cancer journey.
“I called Massey to try to get in touch with [Chaplain] Charles,” Greg said. “A nice lady that answered the phone, she's just so joyous, and she said, ‘I'll reach out to him.’ And by the time I turned to walk back in the building, my phone was ringing and it was Charles.”
Rev. Charles Riffee, M.Div., joined Massey in October 2021, supporting the spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families that arise during their cancer journey.
For “Chaplain Charles,” as he is affectionately known, he was able to establish a quick connection with Greg due to his having been a volunteer chaplain with the Louisa County Sheriff's Office prior to joining the cancer center.
“We talked for an hour and a half,” Riffee said about their initial conversation. “We had shared experiences, even though they were different. From a chaplaincy standpoint, I think that Greg knew that I was being authentic. When I say, ‘I want to make time,’ I'm going to make time because emotions can be very hard for people going through a difficult time.”
For Greg, being able to open up about the wide range of emotions he was experiencing was 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. But Charles has just been incredible.”
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 Leitz, VCU Health patient and prostate cancer survivor
Some of those conversations have been about Greg’s ability to be an advocate and example for others facing a cancer fight. His own diagnosis was thanks to a routine screening offered to firefighters.
“We've been able to talk during those times about how this experience, as hard as it's been, can now inform how he wishes to care for people moving forward,” Riffee said. “And Greg's doing that. And it's a beautiful thing.”
Support for firefighters diagnosed with cancer
One of the mottos of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network is “no one fights alone,” a phrase Greg used when he decided to lean on Chaplain Charles, his family and his friends during his cancer journey the last two years.
Greg isn’t alone in his cancer fight. Over the last decade, cancer has become the leading cause of death for firefighters across the United States.
“Fire departments are taking a lot of initiatives to try to mitigate those [cancer risks], but it's still an inherently dangerous occupation,” Greg said. “So, you hear all of the bad stories that go with that, and it’s in the back of your head that this is the leading cause of death for firefighters. And now I have that. And not only that – it's metastatic.”
Greg's treatment plan involved an external form of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiation. (Enterprise Marketing and Communications)
Greg is now an advocate for cancer screenings after a routine screening helped flag his initial cancer diagnosis.
“It's not pleasant, there's no doubt about it. But if it’s 20 seconds of unpleasantry, those could potentially add years to your life,” Greg said. “And you got to do it every year. That's just the way it is. I had to go, and I'm glad I did. And not every man has a job that says, ‘Okay, every year you're going to have a prostate screening [like firefighters do].’”
Occupational cancer claims more firefighters’ lives than any other cause – surpassing fires and other on-scene incidents. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network partnered with Massey to develop the Virginia Firefighters for Lifelong Health (VA-FLH), a registry that brings together academic researchers and the Virginia Fire Service Advisors to collaboratively develop research aims, study design, and timelines to inform research that will have a positive, direct and timely impact on preventing cancer among Virginia’s firefighters.
“We know that work-related exposure as a firefighter is associated with increased risk of prostate cancer and several other cancers, as well,” said Jack Melson, M.D., a medical oncologist who specializes in treating prostate cancer and is part of Greg’s care team.
Everybody at Massey [Comprehensive Cancer Center] is so friendly and nice... You walk down the hall, everybody is saying ‘hi’ to you or ‘good morning’ and they’re truly caring. For a big city, urban hospital to have that level of compassion and caring is uncommon.
Greg Leitz, VCU Health patient and prostate cancer survivor
Melson said Massey’s approach to caring for cancer patients, through the Cancer Service Line, makes collaborating between different departments easier.
“Cancer care is inherently complicated. There are lots of different specialists involved in the care, and lots of logistics involved with imaging, blood tests,” Melson said. “The Cancer Service Line structure here allows for that multifaceted care to be streamlined.
“When someone comes here for their treatment, those different teams are in communication with each other, working with each other, allowing for a patient-oriented approach to bring all of those different pieces together.”
Aside from encouraging cancer screenings, Greg said one of the keys for anyone facing a cancer diagnosis is to lean in and find a support system.
“My advice to cancer patients is to reach out early. Early detection and early talking about it. And support networks are huge,” he said. “The number one thing I say to people is to get in a support group or reach out to the chaplaincy or somebody that you can talk to about all of this.”
Cancer care providers with uncommon compassion for their patients
Greg rang the bell – marking the last day of treatment – in July 2024 with more than 30 firefighters, EMS providers and members of his care team to cheer him on.
Two years after his initial diagnosis, Greg continues to take medication to keep the cancer at bay. He’s also still close to Chaplain Charles, talking to him at least twice a month.
To Greg, who lives 70 miles from Richmond, Massey’s ability to recreate the feel of a small town makes this cancer center different from others.
“Everybody at Massey is so friendly and nice. I've been around a bunch of other health care systems, and you just don't seem to get that in other places. I have never had a bad experience at Massey,” he said. “You walk down the hall, everybody is saying ‘hi’ to you or ‘good morning’ and they’re truly caring. For a big city, urban hospital to have that level of compassion and caring is uncommon.”
Prostate cancer survivor Greg Leitz (left) with oncologist John Melson, M.D. (right), from VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. (VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center)
Greg comes down to Richmond every three months to meet with Melson.
“Greg has done a great job with treatment and, right now, we have great control of the cancer,” Melson said. “I talk about this with Greg a lot – there's always a balance between the efficacy of our treatments and maintaining quality of life for a patient, and not allowing the cancer treatment to compromise that quality of life. Right now, I think we're in a very good spot with Greg where we've found that balance.”
For Greg, that balance means a return to the things he loves – firefighting, enjoying the outdoors and making time with his family.
“I work three days a week at the fire department. I'm a life member there as well, so I run an occasional fire call, which is kind of fun,” he said. “As far as crawling down the dark hallway and the house fire right now, I’m not doing that yet, but if things continue to improve like they are – maybe about a year from now – I'll be crawling down the dark hallway again.”
A version of this story was originally published by VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Greg Leitz reflects on the care and support he continues to receive at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. (VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center)
