George Kolasa is well-known and respected in all corners of the fashion universe. A marketing and public relations pro with three decades of experience, he has held executive roles at Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani, and Burberry. To know George is to have respect, admiration and affection for him.

In his own words, he was living his best life until February 2022. He was taking some time off, and, with his husband Justin and puppy Charlie, living in New York City and East Hampton. From one moment to the next, his life changed forever. On February 25, 2022, he was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, an aggressive form of brain that is considered incurable. His first reaction: “God’s will not mine be done – I was chosen for this.”

George’s determination and strength have been nothing short of inspiring to all of us, and today, as he marks one year to the day since the diagnosis, we checked in with him about the past 12 months, his feelings, his perspective on life and fashion, and how he is fighting cancer.

Click here to make a donation to Cycle for Survival’s Team Kolasa today.  

What are your feelings/thoughts as you mark the first year since your diagnosis?

I still can’t believe I have brain cancer. I am blessed to be here, to have survived this horrible disease for a full year.

Every day is a gift and lately, if I am being fully transparent, a struggle. It all happened so fast.

Within 72 hours of being rushed to the ER and told I had a massive brain tumor that needed to be removed immediately, I had major surgery and was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, Brain Cancer – the worst kind.

My immediate reaction to this life shift was to fight. To raise awareness, funds for rare cancer trials and research, to share my story and build a platform to help others.

This has been my survival toolkit since Day 1 and foundation and fuel to stay motivated and positive as I endured 12 months of radiation, chemotherapy, infusions, and now a monthly vaccine trial in Germany.

The past few weeks have been extremely emotional for me. A lot of up and down, feeling sad, disoriented, and confronting a disease that shall end my life. I am grieving who I once was and thinking more about leaving Justin.

But, I am OK. I am here. I am safe. I am with my husband, dog Charlie, and truly loved by the most wonderful family and friends.

We have so much more work to do with Team George Kolasa to beat rare cancers. So when I get lost, I meditate or journal. It helps me pivot my pain and stay focused on my mission to help others, like me, fighting for survival. Then, all I see is promise and hope that I am making a difference.

George, I read your pre- and post-diagnosis bio, and am so inspired by your strength and determination. Tell us about the moment you found out about your diagnosis, and the impetus to turn pain into purpose?

I went with a friend to the ER not feeling “right” but convinced I had Lyme’s disease. When the doctor came in, holding my scans, she asked me to sit down to deliver the life-shifting news.

In the kindest way humanly possible, the doctor said, “You have a brain tumor the size of a grapefruit that must be removed immediately – you need to call your family.”  My first reaction was, “God’s will not mine be done – I was chosen for this.”

The doctor was shocked and told me she had never experienced a reaction like this from anyone – ever.

This was 2/22/22, and within 48 hours Justin found the best neurosurgeons in NYC to remove what they could of the tumors and on 2/25/22, I was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, incurable brain cancer. This was now my life and would be my calling – to help others.

Why did you decide to document your diagnosis and treatment on social media? What do you hope people will take away from your Instagram feed?

I was writing in my journal one morning about two weeks after my surgery and shared the entry with my brother. I have always found comfort in expressing my thoughts in writing. Now more than ever, it is where I find peace and clarity. This entry was about gratitude and how blessed I am to be surrounded by such tremendous love and finding purpose in the moment – a purpose now in my life to help others, like me, with rare cancers.

My brother Michael suggested I film a video. I turned on the camera and just spoke my truth, from my heart and uploaded to Instagram. The outpouring of love and support from friends, family, colleagues — people I have never even met – has been unbelievable. The common thread is about bravery, courage, hope, love, a little laughter and life meaning. Justin and I, on a daily basis, receive DMs from others like me with brain cancer or in-treatment for different forms of cancer, their caregivers, thanking us for sharing our story. Or people who are not ill, just living their lives, their story, saying my courage and positive energy is what they needed at that moment to put their own life in perspective.

I share my story to raise awareness, raise money for rare cancer trials and research and to connect with people. I no longer have the strength to connect directly or as often with people, so this platform is my “job” and way of keeping in touch too.

My life is changed forever. I will never – and life will never – be the same. I am not afraid of dying. I am at peace with the reality that I have incurable brain cancer.

I am choosing to be inspired by my mission and purpose.

This I CAN control.

I want people to know that I am OK with whatever God’s plan is for me. By taking my Instagram community on my treatment journey – through radiation, chemotherapy, MRIs, countless appointments at Memorial Sloan Kettering with the incredible oncology doctors and teams – it all becomes more real and human and I hope less scary for others suffering and their family and friends.

When I walk in to MSK, I know that this community within these hospital walls is safe. We are all fighting for our lives and praying for a good day – good news – positive results. @memorialsloankettering has re-posted many of my videos. I launched Brain Cancer Awareness Day with them last May and also partnered for World Cancer Day on February 4 and will be on Rare Disease Day February 28.

I am lucky to have the opportunity to share my story and to have a platform to help others, with whatever shall be the rest of my life – I am going to do this.

How can people best help someone who is suffering from cancer?

BE THERE. And BE REAL. In whatever capacity that person needs. Hear them. See them as a person, not as a disease. Listen. Hug, laugh, it is OK to cry too.

Do stuff together or just sit and watch a sunset. Offer help and support – connections to medical and treatment care if needed.

Spend quality time with anyone who is struggling and ask their caregivers if THEY need help. Justin, my husband, is in this with me. We are a team. His life has shifted forever too. He spends much of his day scheduling my treatment appointments, dealing with doctors, insurance, medication administration.

Planning my day with my caregiver Shema as I no longer can go anywhere alone. It is a LOT.

Also, friendly reminder – ha! We are not the cancer – we are people who have a disease. We do not want to focus only on our cancer nor do we want to be told what we SHOULD do – unless soliciting advice… we want to hear about the world – what is happening in our friends and families lives too. For me,  it is wonderful to escape from the protocol of cancer and be just George. I have always been an extremely present and interested person. You know me. Even now, when it is a bit difficult at times to get the words and thoughts out due to where the tumors are left in my brain – I am still ME.

I would also recommend patience when dealing with someone who has cancer – we are who we are but

our perspective on life is different. At least mine is. I never would “sweat the small stuff,” I had faith always, even when life was challenging – and it has carried me through this entire year since being diagnosed.

Tell us about Team George Kolasa and Cycle for Survival—why did you specifically choose Cycle for Survival?

Cycle for Survival is a movement to beat rare cancers. CFS supports pioneering research and lifesaving clinical trials at Memorial Sloan Kettering, bringing better and new treatment options to people all over the world.

They asked me to give a keynote speech at their NYC cycle ride event last summer. It was an opportunity to align my purpose and platform with an organization that was dedicated to revolutionizing our understanding and treatment of cancer, raising awareness and funding for rare cancers and better treatment options.

100 percent of every dollar raised by Cycle for Survival goes directly to MSK doctors and scientists, fueling bold ideas and breakthroughs for people like me who are struggling to beat rare cancers.

Team George Kolasa is a connected community of family, friends, colleagues, people around the world who support my mission, so many I do not even know personally but we are all united by a passion and purpose to help others. Together, we fight to find lifesaving trials and ultimately cures so we can one day live in a world where no one has to die from rare cancers. No child – no adult – no one.

My brain cancer, Glioblastoma Multiforme, has no cure. 13K people a year are diagnosed with GBM AND NOBODY SURVIVES IT. If I/we can help to get even a little bit closer to a cure – raise awareness, funding… save a life…then wow, I am so grateful. I have to believe God chose me to be an activist for this mission and for as long as I can – as long as I shall live – I am going to fight.

Your career in fashion is remarkable. How has cancer impacted your perspective on the fashion industry? What have you learned about the fashion community?

It has been an honor and privilege to spend my entire career, three decades in the fashion industry, working for and with the most gifted people on planet earth. And that is on all levels, Marc. The fashion community is a culture of creatives who care! About each other, about the world, and share a common goal to move humanity forward faster. And better dressed – ha!

I am overwhelmed with the love and support I have received from my friends and colleagues – relationships that may have been cultivated through work but have always been more than that – true, trusted, respected friends. Countless messages, visits, continued outreach to me and Justin. The support for Team George Kolasa and my fundraising efforts.

The fashion community shows up. Day after day for me. And helps me help others with every resource they have. I am grateful to you Marc, Steven, Lisa, Nicky and all of the CFDA for taking the time to hear and amplify my story.

How is this changing you and your point of view? What did you learn about yourself in the process?

I do not know if my point of view in life or on life has changed – my reality of what is my life has done a 360. I have never been stuck in the WHY? Why me?

I am at peace with my diagnosis of brain cancer. I have learned that the one thing I can control as things have begun to erode like my memory and my ability to be out and alone on my own is my FAITH. My faith in God, my love for my husband never waivers. It grows stronger every day.

Also, my relationship with time and nature. I thrive when I am out in the West Village with our dog Charlie, sitting at coffee on the bench outside on Greenwich or at the gym. When we spend time at our home in East Hampton, even a walk on the beach this winter is such a gift.

I never have, and especially today, I do not take one moment for granted.

I just value time differently. The time that I have with Justin, family and friends and hopefully making a difference for others.

What is your message for anyone suffering from Glioblastoma Multiforme, or any other type of cancer?

The best advice that I received from my brilliant neurosurgeons when I was diagnosed with GBM was not to GOOGLE the disease. And believe it or not I haven’t. I know how serious my brain cancer is and if I were to get caught up in the statistics I would be drowning.

I am beyond fortunate to have every opportunity and resource available in medicine today, including the vaccine trial I do monthly in Germany.

I know that not everyone is as blessed as I am to have the financial savings and network that I do.  However, I would recommend that from the moment you are diagnosed, use whatever resources exist (social media DOES help) to find the best cancer treatment protocol and ask A LOT of questions to your doctor as well as outreach within your community.

Build a toolkit – people who you can ask for help when you need it. Look for support groups in your area, treatment centers or doctor’s offices.

Keep a notebook (Justin keeps ours as I do not have the capacity to do so).

There are so many details, medications, information, appointments. Justin’s daily choreography of my cancer journey and life is a job. I pray everyone has a partner, friend, family member in this battle as it is impossible to “go it alone.”

Meditate. Pray. Channel whatever faith in a higher power that you feel comfortable with.

For me, keeping a journal has been paramount. Now, I video record my journey and share my story @gkolasa on Instagram.

And remember to still have FUN. Laugh. Even if it is watching a silly show, movie or Tik Tok video.

For me, my purpose and mission is my roadmap to get through even the darkest days and find the light in the fight.

A positive mindset and gratitude is the only way to get through it.