An early Christmas gift
GREENSBORO – Two weeks ago, Greensboro Mayor Arnie Bowser received an early Christmas present of sorts when he was told the cancer he was diagnosed with in May was in remission. Not many people were aware that Bowser, 64, had been diagnosed with cancer. He was undergoing treatment for pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer that is most commonly related to asbestos exposure.
“I had to keep going in to get fluid drained from my lungs. They were at a loss as to what was causing it,” Bowser said. “I had them drained four times and the fifth time I went in they said, ‘We’re going to go in and scrape your lung and send it for a biopsy to see what’s causing this.'”
Bowser, who has never smoked, said he was taken aback with the results that showed he had a form of lung cancer. Although mesothelioma is not the same type of lung cancer associated with smoking, it has been shown that smoking increases the chance of mesothelioma developing in those exposed to asbestos, according to the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center.
Bowser said he believes he knows the source of his exposure to asbestos, which was widely used years ago in building material. Bowser, who grew up in Morgantown, W.Va., worked in the West Virginia University maintenance department for 15 years in the 1960s. While he worked there, Bowser said he is certain he was exposed to asbestos materials.
It may seem like the connection is a longshot after so much time has passed. However, once someone is exposed to asbestos, it can take as long as 30 to 50 years until the disease develops.
Bowser would go on to coach football at University High School in Morgantown, then on to coaching at West Greene High School in Rogersville, before settling in Southeastern Greene School District. In his capacity at Southeastern Greene, Bowser has worked as an aide and a multi-sport coach since 2005.
He said he has stayed active through the years and that combined with a good attitude is what he believes has helped him with remission.
“We caught it at an early stage that is treatable. My doctor told me with my good health and my attitude there was no doubt in his mind I would beat this,” Bowser said. He said he decided to tell his story now in the hopes he can help encourage others who receive a cancer diagnosis.
“My doctor told me 95 percent of beating cancer is your attitude. You’ve got to have a positive attitude. I told myself this is not going to beat me. I’m going to beat this thing,” Bowser said. “You can do it.”
Bowser is the father of three children. They and his second wife, Peggy, have been behind him every step of the way, he said.
Bowser’s first wife, Linda, was diagnosed with leukemia in Febuary 1995. She was gone seven months later. Bowser said that also was at the front of his mind as he started his fight.
“I just thought, ‘My kids can’t go through this again,'” he said. “When my first wife died of leukemia, our oldest son was a sophomore in college, our daughter was a senior in high school and our younger son was a freshman. It was really hard on them.”
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining that covers the lungs. There are two other forms of the disease, peritoneal, which affects the lining of the abdomen, and pericardial, that affects the layer of the heart.
Treatment can include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or all three. Bowser was spared the surgery that would have required removal of one of his lungs as the chemotherapy treatments he received seem to have done the trick. He said he can’t thank his doctors at Southwest Regional Medical Center enough for catching it early and getting him on the right track to fighting the disease.
“It feels good to be back to my old self. I just keep plugging along. People tell me all the time I look good. They ask if I am sure I am sick,” he said.
Bowser said he feels so good in fact he is already planning his reelection campaign for the position of mayor. He is about to start his fourth year as Greensboro mayor.
Of his colleagues in the school district, in the athletic department and members of the borough council whom he told, Bowser said he can’t thank them enough for their support. He said he hopes he can give that same type of support to others who are going through the same thing.
“I know you can get discouraged and get down,” he said. “But, I want you to know you can do this and if I can be of any help to encourage someone I want to do that.”