Kylie inspired Greig in his fight against cancer

Brave Greig Trout found an unlikely inspiration to help him take stock of his life Kylie Minogue!

He didn’t meet or talk to the Aussie pop star. But as he sat in a doctor’s waiting room one day, flicking through a magazine, he read an interview where she admitted there wasn’t a day went by when she didn’t think about cancer.

She had battled breast cancer in 2005 and the words resonated with Greig. He had fought cancer twice and was battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the anxiety he suffered over the disease returning.

He realised he wasn’t alone in his fears, and it inspired him to share his experiences and demonstrate that there can be life after cancer. So he set up a website called 101 Things to do When You Survive.

The 34-year-old is currently travelling round the world, ticking off each item on his to-do list. Not only has it given him a new lease of life, it’s also inspiring others who are following his adventure online as they face up to their own health issues.

“I was seven when I had my first experience with cancer,” explained Greig, originally from Annan. He moved with his family to North Shields when he was three.

“I was diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumour, which is cancer of the kidney. It was stage four when the doctors found it, so it had spread. I needed my right kidney removed, as well as chemo and radiotherapy.

“When I was 30, bowel cancer was detected, which required another op and more chemotherapy.”

In between the bouts of cancer, Greig also developed Deep Vein Thrombosis, likely to have been caused by the childhood radiotherapy. Even though he had beaten cancer twice, the psychological impact the second time was massive.

“During my time with PTSD, I felt I was losing my mind,” he admitted. “I thought about cancer every moment of every day. I suffered insomnia, developed eczema on my face and body, and I didn’t believe the cancer had gone.

“I didn’t want to leave the house and at work I didn’t want to go out of the office. It was the worst time of my life. It took a long time for PTSD to be mentioned and it was that article about Kylie which helped me during the really bad period.

“More emphasis needs to be put on after-care for patients. I can’t imagine anyone going through cancer and not being affected by it mentally.”

Greig was granted a two-year career break from his job as a crime scene examiner with the Metropolitan Police in London and began compiling his list.

He left the UK last June and is lucky enough to have a number of sponsors to help him with his travels, but money remains an issue.

He said: “My aim is to get around the world by the end of next year. I plan to be away for as long as it takes or as long as my money lasts.

“The reaction has been overwhelming I’ve received emails from all over. My story seems to be helping and inspiring not only those who are ill, but who might be at a crossroads.”

Greig left the UK last June and aims to travel round the world by the end of next year.

“Cancer almost ruined my life,” he says. “It took my health, almost took my mind and led to the break-up of my relationship. But I’m still here and loving life again.”

Greig’s travels have so far taken him to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Belize, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru and now Bolivia. He’s volunteered with Raleigh International working in a remote community in Nicaragua, climbed a volcano in Costa Rica, visited the Galapagos Islands, seen the ruins of Tikal and Machu Picchu and watched the sun rise over the beautiful Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.

“The Galapagos Islands was like nowhere I’d ever been before and I even got to spend my 34th birthday there. It’s the first birthday since being diagnosed that I actually believed my cancer had gone.

“It was a very special time,” Greig said. “I even had an entire day when I didn’t think about cancer.”