Jason Collins reveals stage 4 brain cancer diagnosis, says tumor cannot be removed via surgery
Former NBA player Jason Collins has stage 4 glioblastoma. Collins — who in 2013 became the first openly gay active player in a men’s North American sports league — revealed his diagnosis to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Collins’ diagnosis comes months after his family announced he was dealing with a brain tumor. At the moment they have not provided further details, asking for “support and prayers”.
Announcement
Collins, 47, explained that his family intentionally released a vague statement because they wanted to protect his privacy while he was “mentally incapable of speaking for myself.” Collins said he started feeling symptoms in the summer, but initially tried to fight them. But things came to a head in August, when Collins couldn’t concentrate enough to pack her bags for a trip to the US Open with her husband.
After undergoing a CT scan, it was determined that Collins had a stage 4 glioblastoma. Given the shape of his cancer, it couldn’t be completely removed without Collins coming out of the surgery “different,” he told ESPN.
Because his tumor cannot be operated on, Collins said the standard prognosis is “only 11 to 14 months.”
Since my tumor is unresectable, following only the “standard of care” – radiation and TMZ – the average prognosis is only 11-14 months. If that’s all the time I have left, I’d rather spend it trying a course of treatment that could one day become a new standard of care for everyone.
He vowed to look for new and innovative treatment methods in hopes that he could find something that would help him or the next person diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma. Because of his NBA career, Collins said money is no object and that he is willing to go anywhere in the world to get treatment.
Announcement
Collins drew parallels to when he decided to come out as gay. In either scenario, he may be able to help people he’s never met, Collins explained.
After I came out, someone I really respected told me that my choice to live openly could help someone I might never meet. I’ve kept it for years. And if I can do it again now, then that’s important.
Collins was selected by the Houston Rockets with the No. 1 pick. 18 in the 2001 NBA Draft. However, he never played for the franchise, as he was traded to the New Jersey Nets. Collins spent a total of 13 seasons in the NBA, playing for six different franchises.
Most of his time was spent with the Nets, which he later joined during his final NBA season. He logged 22 games during the 2013-14 season, averaging 7.8 minutes per game in Brooklyn. At the end of the season, Collins announced his retirement from the NBA.