Greg with his daughter, son-in-law and four out of his six grandchildren.
Greg Berger’s laugh is quick, his smile even quicker—and somehow, despite everything, both come easy. For the past two years, Greg has been receiving treatment at the Logan Health Infusion Center for stage four colorectal cancer. The disease has spread to his liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. And yet, when he walks into the infusion center every other week, he brings a kind of light with him.
“Waking up with a positive outlook and a smile on my face makes this journey easier on myself and my loved ones,” said Greg. “I’m so happy I still get more days and get to just keep living life—working at my job, seeing my grandkids—it’s all good.”
Greg is no stranger to hard work. A longtime machinist, he grew up in Butte and relocated to the Flathead Valley in 1989 to raise his family. Over the years, he’s built a good life surrounded by the people he loves—his two children, six grandchildren, and, until recently, his mom, who passed away from ovarian cancer in October 2023. The two were especially close, and in the end, they shared something neither of them expected: a cancer diagnosis.
Since her passing, Greg’s dad has stepped in with steady support—helping with the yard, running errands, and sitting down for regular games of cribbage. That time together, Greg says, helps him stay grounded and grateful.
Greg’s own diagnosis came suddenly, after a sharp, searing chest pain brought him to his knees. He drove himself to the emergency room, not knowing his life was about to change.
“They ran some tests, and that’s when they discovered I had cancer,” Greg recalled. “They told me if the chemo didn’t work, I probably had a month to live. But that was two years ago.”
Greg credits the team at Logan Health for the time he’s been given and for making that time meaningful. “The doctors and nurses here have been incredible,” he said. “I’ve never been much of a hospital person. I avoided it, which is probably why I’m where I’m at now. There were probably warning signs, but I didn’t go in for regular checkups or screenings.”
Now, he encourages others, especially men, to do just that—to listen to their bodies, take preventive action, and catch things early. He knows firsthand how different things might have been.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States when men and women are combined, but it is also one of the most preventable. With regular screenings, such as colonoscopies or stool-based tests, doctors can often detect early signs of cancer before symptoms appear, when the disease is most treatable.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45. Screenings are especially important for those with a family history or certain risk factors. “I avoided it,” Greg said. “That’s just the truth. But I don’t want others to make the same mistake. Catch it early, if you can. It makes a difference.”
Part of his purpose these days, he says, is to help others by sharing his story and encouraging people to get screened. Even now, Greg shows up—every two weeks for treatment, every day for his family, and always with a smile for the person sitting next to him.
He shares encouraging books and words with other patients. He offers reassurance and gives out inspiring wristbands that he designs and orders in bulk—small reminders of hope, placed on the check-in counter for other patients to take and wear. He reminds everyone he meets that even on the hardest days, there’s still life to be lived.
“I enjoy my life,” Greg said. “Every moment of it. I still have more to do. I’m grateful for the infusion and cancer teams at Logan Health for the time I get to be here. If I had to give advice to anyone just starting a healthcare journey like mine, it’s this: Live each day to the fullest and always treat your whole medical team with respect and kindness. It will make their day—and yours—easier. Kindness goes a long way.”
Greg also expresses his gratitude in quiet, meaningful ways through leaving anonymous gifts for other cancer patients and writing thank-you notes to the infusion staff who care for him. “They’ve given me so much,” he said. “It’s the least I can do.”
If you would like to learn about ways to say thank you to your care team, express your gratitude or share your story, visit Guiding Gratitude at logan.org/gratitude.