Former NBA player Jason Collins, a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ representation in sports, has revealed that he is battling stage four glioblastoma, a highly aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. The news comes as no surprise to those familiar with Collins' courageous decision to come out as gay in 2013, when he became the first openly gay male athlete in a major American professional sport.
According to an article published on ESPN, Collins was diagnosed with glioblastoma after struggling with focus and memory issues following his marriage to husband Jason Sehgal in May. A brain scan later confirmed the presence of the tumor, which has spread across his brain like "a monster with tentacles."
The prognosis is grim, with doctors warning that without treatment, Collins' condition would deteriorate rapidly, leading to death within three months. However, thanks to aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy and a targeted form of cancer therapy, he is currently fighting the disease.
Collins' approach to his illness is not unlike his athletic career: tenacious and focused on pushing through adversity. "As an athlete you learn not to panic in moments like this," he writes. "To me it's like, 'Shut up and go play against Shaq.' You want the challenge? This is the challenge."
The 47-year-old Collins' courage has inspired countless fans and fellow athletes alike, including those who may have benefited from his coming-out story. "After I came out, someone I really respect told me that my choice to live openly could help someone who I might never meet," he writes. "And if I can do that again now, then that matters."
Collins' remarkable journey has left an indelible mark on sports and beyond. As he navigates this difficult chapter in his life, he remains committed to spreading awareness about brain cancer and the importance of living authentically.
The former NBA player's bravery serves as a powerful reminder that authenticity, resilience, and determination can overcome even the most daunting challenges.
According to an article published on ESPN, Collins was diagnosed with glioblastoma after struggling with focus and memory issues following his marriage to husband Jason Sehgal in May. A brain scan later confirmed the presence of the tumor, which has spread across his brain like "a monster with tentacles."
The prognosis is grim, with doctors warning that without treatment, Collins' condition would deteriorate rapidly, leading to death within three months. However, thanks to aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy and a targeted form of cancer therapy, he is currently fighting the disease.
Collins' approach to his illness is not unlike his athletic career: tenacious and focused on pushing through adversity. "As an athlete you learn not to panic in moments like this," he writes. "To me it's like, 'Shut up and go play against Shaq.' You want the challenge? This is the challenge."
The 47-year-old Collins' courage has inspired countless fans and fellow athletes alike, including those who may have benefited from his coming-out story. "After I came out, someone I really respect told me that my choice to live openly could help someone who I might never meet," he writes. "And if I can do that again now, then that matters."
Collins' remarkable journey has left an indelible mark on sports and beyond. As he navigates this difficult chapter in his life, he remains committed to spreading awareness about brain cancer and the importance of living authentically.
The former NBA player's bravery serves as a powerful reminder that authenticity, resilience, and determination can overcome even the most daunting challenges.
my heart is breaking for Jason Collins... stage four glioblastoma is so bad 
he's still fighting though and that's what matters 
it's crazy how his brain cancer journey is kinda like his sports career - you gotta push through no matter what 
i love how he's using his platform to spread awareness about brain cancer, it's such an important topic 
we should all be supporting him and his family during this tough time 
Jason Collins was always so inspiring to me, he literally broke down barriers in sports and now he's facing one of the toughest battles ever 
glioblastoma is no joke, the prognosis is super grim 
but what I love about Jason's attitude is that he's still got that fire 
in him, refusing to back down or give up. He's using his platform to raise awareness for brain cancer and living authentically 
it's so beautiful 
Jason Collins is literally fighting for his life and still inspiring people with his strength & courage 
Glioblastoma, man... that's no joke. I'm trying to stay positive for him, but this prognosis is super grim 
He's got a chance with treatment and all, but it's still really scary. Collins' attitude is so inspiring tho 
Anyways, just wanna say props to this dude for being an icon and spreading awareness about brain cancer 
.
. That's the kind of attitude we need more of in this world! 
... the stats are grim, but what's inspiring me is how he's approaching this like his athletic career - tenacious, focused, and not letting anything get in his way 
... can we please just make brain cancer awareness more prominent on here tho? 
it feels so important but every time i try to start a thread about it, it gets lost in the noise 
...
.
collins 4eva 
His strength is really inspirin', but at the same time it's heartbreaking that he's goin' through all of this 
. I love how he's using his platform to spread awareness about brain cancer, that's just 
.
This stage four glioblastoma diagnosis just makes his story even more heartbreaking 
but like shouldn't we've been supporting him since he was a rookie too? 