A Union County man who was diagnosed with the same form of brain cancer as Arizona Sen. John McCain says that there is hope of a long life despite the illness.

Joselito Geronimo says that he is beating the odds. He underwent surgery in 2011 for glioblastoma, the same type of cancer as McCain. Geronimo is now among the 5 percent of patients who have lived at least five years with the disease.

“That’s the most important thing, think positive,” Geronimo says. “Have faith in God, believe in God and you’re fine.”

Geronimo, 57, says that he gets choked up thinking about all that he has survived. His wife Sylvia made a photo album of his surgery and recovery. She says that the whole family has joined in battling the cancer.

“We never set any limits. We do it a day at a time,” Sylvia says. “He goes to the gym, I end up going with him.”

Geronimo and his wife also participate in a support group for brain cancer patients founded by neuro oncology nurse Patricia Anthony.

“You might go in saying ‘I can’t do this,’ but the next person is the step ahead of you, so they’ve already been through the process,” Anthony says.

Chemotherapy and radiation are the most common treatments for glioblastoma. But doctors says that new ways of treating the condition are being developed.