MLA diagnosed with cancer

“I’m pretty confident that by the end of session I will be back in and working to full capacity there.”
— MLA Greg Ottenbreit

Yorkton MLA and Minister for Rural and Remote Health Greg Ottenbreit has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The Ottenbreit family’s history of cancer has changed Ottenbreit’s outlook on the disease. His son Brayden’s diagnosis inspired the Brayden Ottenbreit’s Close Cuts for Cancer event, which continued on for 19 years, now being held in his memory. As someone now going through the disease himself, Ottenbreit is philosophical.

“I remember saying years back when my son was diagnosed, five was too young, so as odd as it sounds, every year after that has been a blessing. Fifty-three years now, and I plan on living a lot longer, but things happen sometimes,” Ottenbreit said.

“It gives me a unique perspective to continue on that work. Continue fundraising, continue advocating, continue supporting people going through the battle.”

Ottenbreit is optimistic about the treatment plan, and believes the cancer was caught early enough for treatment to be successful. As a minister with a health portfolio, he says he has added confidence in the province’s heath care system.

“I do have total confidence in our system and our professionals. I’ve been getting great treatment.”

His faith is also something Ottenbreit credits with his and his family’s positive outlook on the diagnosis.

“I’ve got a very strong faith, and that has always carried us through. With the struggles with our son, and I sat with my dad in palliative care for a month or two, being with my father-in-law and a lot of other family members who have gone through the struggle. Sadly, a lot of them haven’t done that well, but also recognizing a lot that have been very successful.”

Ottenbreit also wants to use his diagnosis as an opportunity to remind others of the importance of getting tests done, taking symptoms seriously and catching cancer early. Even as someone who knows the importance of early detection, Ottenbreit believes he could have gotten on the disease sooner.

“Two things that came to mind were denial and embarrassment. Initially it was “Oh, I can’t be, it has to be something else, I must have ate something, it can’t be the serious.” Then going in for a rectal exam or a colonoscopy... I’m able to speak from a point of view now, the importance of early detection, not denying what’s going on, not being embarrassed about what’s going on.”

Ottenbreit expects to continue with his duties as an MLA and cabinet minister through the treatment. He expects to be able to work through the initial treatments, though he will take some downtime after surgery.

“I’m pretty confident that by the end of session I will be back in and working to full capacity there... My plan is to be back to normal at the end of six months, but we will what transpires and respond as it happens.”