Government minister diagnosed with cancer

Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit has been through cancer many times before, but this time it’s going to be different, as he is the one with cancer.

“I’ve got a very strong faith, and that’s always carried us through with the struggles with our son, or when I sat with my dad in palliative care for a month or two, and being with my father-in-law and a lot of other family members that have gone through a struggle,” Ottenbreit said.

On Friday the Saskatchewan Party announced Ottenbreit, MLA for Yorkton, had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

In 1998, Ottenbreit’s son Brayden was diagnosed with cancer shortly before his fourth birthday. In 2000, when Brayden was five, he died.

“I remember saying years back when my son was diagnosed that

five is too young. So as odd as it sounds, every year I had after that is really a blessing. And 53 years now, and I plan on living a lot longer, but recognizing that things happen sometimes,” he said.

Since 1998, the Ottenbreit family have hosted Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer in their hometown of Yorkton, a fundraiser that challenges people to raise money for childhood cancer research before cutting off their hair.

With Ottenbreit’s current diagnosis, he now wants to share the message of how important early detection can be. A few months ago, he started experiencing symptoms, but chalked it up at the time to other causes.

“Two things that came to mind were denial and embarrassment. Initially like, ‘Oh, I can’t be, I must have ate something,’ ” he said.

Ottenbreit does believe the cancer was detected early enough for him to beat it. He said his MRI showed the cancer hasn’t spread anywhere else in his body.

I plan on living a lot longer, but recognizing that things happen sometimes.