Jason Collins is used to pressure, but nothing from his NBA days compares to the reality he is facing now. The former center, known around the world as the league’s first openly gay active player,Stage 4 glioblastoma.
It is a diagnosis that instantly shifts life into a different gear, and Collins has chosen to talk about it with honesty and a sense of purpose.
The first signs showed up last August and felt more confusing than alarming. He noticed his short-term memory slipping and struggled to process things that once came effortlessly. When doctors began running tests, the news escalated quickly. Collins learned he had a brain tumor, and later, that it was glioblastoma, a cancer the National Cancer Institute identifies as one of the most aggressive forms known.
In an interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Collins described the tumor with unsettling precision. He said it felt like a monster spreading underneath his brain, as wide as a baseball. His case is classified as “wild type,” which means it lacks certain mutations that allow for more targeted treatments. In other words, the challenge became even steeper.
I have Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. It came on incredibly fast.
A critical fight with a tough opponent
Once the diagnosis was clear, Collins began a treatment schedule that combined medication, radiation, and chemotherapy. These steps are standard for glioblastoma patients, and organizations such as the American Brain Tumor Association note that the condition often grows and spreads rapidly. Even so, Collins started noticing progress. The fog lifted a little. His thoughts sharpened again.
Despite these improvements, he has no illusions about the statistics. Studies from institutions like the Mayo Clinic generally place life expectancy for glioblastoma patients at around 11 to 14 months. Collins has read the same numbers, yet he remains focused on the bigger picture. He told ESPN that if this is the time he has, he wants to dedicate it to treatments that could eventually become a breakthrough for future patients.
My glio is extraordinary for all the wrong reasons, and is ‘wild type’ — it has all these mutations that make it even more deadly and difficult to treat
Collins joins a list of high-profile figures who faced the same cancer, including former Senator John McCain and Beau Biden. Their battles brought national attention to the urgent need for better therapies, and Collins’ openness is now adding to that momentum. Across the sports world, support is pouring in for a man who has never backed down from a challenge.
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