Houston firefighter Matthew Lloyd knows what it means to face danger head-on. For years, he ran toward emergencies—never away from them. But in 2024, after choosing to be medically separated from the department, he faced a new kind of fight: one for his own life.
Matt was 57 when things started to feel…off. “I was exhausted, chilled, nauseated, having a hard time putting my thoughts together,” he recalls. “I even started having strange, repetitive dreams and an overall odd body sensation.” Like so many firefighters, Matt initially chalked it up to fatigue, or maybe even something he ate. But after 72 hours of feeling worse, he turned to his wife, Wendy, and said, “Take me to the ER—something’s not right.”
It’s a good thing he did. Within days, Matt was diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain cancer. “I was delayed about 36 hours in the ER while doctors ruled out infections,” he says. “But once the spinal tap came back clear, it was straight to the neuro team.”
“It has been a ride, to say the least, especially with the initial diagnosis, but I want to assist others and let them know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Stay positive, enjoy your family and friends and do not always pay attention to the statistics.”
Matthew Lloyd
Matt’s quick decision to act, despite initially justifying his symptoms, was life-changing. He later learned that he had unknowingly followed DetecTogether’s 3 Steps Detect®, the early detection toolkit that teaches people how to recognize subtle early signs of cancer and act on them. “I inadvertently used it,” Matt says. “And now I want to help others to learn 3 Steps Detect to help them detect cancer early.”
What makes Matt’s story even more remarkable is that he and Wendy had already faced cancer once before, when Wendy battled breast cancer. Having walked beside his wife through diagnosis and treatment, Matt knew the importance of listening to your body and acting when something feels off. Matt also shares a powerful message for his fellow firefighters, and anyone tempted to “tough it out.”
“One thing I do preach to everyone, especially firefighters, is you have lived with your body for all these years, and you’ve had the flu, strep, allergies, colds, COVID and so on—and what I was experiencing did not fall into any of those categories. It was totally different. That’s what led me to the ER—it was unique, and I had no explanation, after I tried to explain it away with food poisoning, too much to drink, ran too far and too fast, dehydration and so on.”
Now retired from the Houston Fire Department, Matt calls himself a glioblastoma survivor and champion, determined to make a difference. He’s joining forces with DetecTogether to help more firefighters and families recognize that knowing your body, trusting your instincts, and collaborating effectively with doctors can extend your life.
When he’s not sharing his story with DetecTogether to help others, Matt mentors other glioblastoma survivors in the fire service and volunteers for the Houston Fire Department’s Cancer Comfort Crew. “Cancer doesn’t just test your body—it tests your spirit,” Matt says. “The diagnosis alone can be overwhelming. It takes real courage and persistence to keep fighting, and even then, you never think it’ll happen to you… until it does.”
With humor, heart, and heroism, Matt reminds us that early action changes everything.
Symptoms
- Exhaustion, chills, nausea, strange dreams
