Cancer survivor George Green to serve as Phoebe Lights of Love tree-lighter

ALBANY – George Green served his country in the U.S. Army. He served his state in the Georgia National Guard. He served his city as an Albany firefighter. Now, he’s serving his community in a new and meaningful way: as a men’s health advocate, encouraging men to get screened for prostate cancer.

“I hope and pray that I can continue to help other men and myself by talking about my cancer diagnosis; I want to ease their minds,” Green said. “My advice to men is to take time to take care of yourself and have your prostate checked regularly.”

It wasn’t something he liked to think about, but Green knew he had a high risk of developing prostate cancer because of a history of the disease in his family.

“I had four uncles, one brother and one cousin to pass from prostate cancer,” he said.

In 2015, Green was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate. He was prescribed medicine to help with symptoms and began seeing a urologist every six months for a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. A PSA screening is a simple blood test, and high levels may indicate the presence of cancer. In 2021, Phoebe Urologist Dr. John McGill noticed Green’s PSA level had increased, so he ordered a biopsy which confirmed George’s worst fear: He had cancer.

“I was in denial because I didn’t want to believe I had prostate cancer,” he said.

Green’s wife Gloria helped him face the reality and convinced him to pour all his energy into battling the cancer. Radiation Oncologist Dr. Adam Jones oversaw 45 radiation treatments for Green over a 2 1/2-month period, then hematologist/oncologist Dr. Thomas Neal led a team that, for two years, provided quarterly injections of a synthetic hormone used to treat prostate cancer.

“Everyone in the Phoebe Cancer Center was so caring,” Green said. “All the doctors and all the staff who assisted me in my care, they all did a great job. The best part was I didn’t have to travel. It was all right here.”

Green continues his after-care at the Phoebe Oncology Wellness Center, a facility at Meredyth Place in Albany for cancer survivors that was partially funded through Lights of Love. Since the Phoebe Foundation started the annual holiday tradition more than 40 years ago, Lights of Love has raised more than $1 million to support local cancer patients.

Green said the survivorship programs and resources available at the Phoebe Oncology Wellness Center have helped him maintain good physical and mental health, and he has become especially close with Oncology Wellness Program Coordinator Robin McCord.

“Robin has been sensational ever since I started,” he said. “I do chair exercise classes and sometimes tai chi and yoga. They help me stay active and talk to me about what food I should eat. I go to a prostate cancer survivors group meeting once a month. It’s very important because mentally you can just start to worry about things. It releases the pressure off me. I know I have a place to go to talk about it.”

And Green said he wants to be there for other men and talk to them about the importance of making their health care a priority.

“I don’t really like to think about what could have happened if I hadn’t gotten those regular screenings, because I know what the result could’ve been. But I feel good now, real good.” Green said. “I hope other men will get checked. It’s very important because it’s a silent killer. If you don’t get that screening, you’ll never know. Don’t take anything for granted.”

Green will flip the switch on this year’s Lights of Love tree at the annual lighting ceremony outside the Phoebe Cancer Center on Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Individuals can donate in honor or memory of a loved one at www.lights-of-love.org. 

Special Photo: Phoebe