Former NBA player Jason Collins has revealed that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Collins, who was the first active male athlete in a major US team sport to come out as gay, says he has stage four glioblastoma, which cannot be operated on.
Writing for ESPN, Collins described the tumour as “a monster with tentacles” spreading across his brain. Doctors told him that without treatment, he would have only three months to live. He is now undergoing treatment to slow the cancer’s growth.
Collins, who played 13 seasons in the NBA, said he is approaching treatment with the same mindset he used as a professional athlete — staying calm under pressure. He compared the challenge to facing basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, saying it’s the toughest test he has ever faced.
The 47-year-old explained that the cancer was discovered after he began struggling with focus and memory. Soon after marrying his husband in May, he missed a flight because he couldn’t pack properly. A brain scan later revealed the tumour.
He joked that his memory problems made him feel like Dory from Finding Nemo. Collins said speaking openly about his diagnosis reminds him of coming out as gay, adding that living openly has made his life better.
He is being treated with the drug Avastin and is travelling to Singapore for targeted chemotherapy. Collins hopes his treatment can help advance future cancer research, just as his decision to come out helped others.
A California native, Collins played for six teams, was named in Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people, and retired from basketball in 2014.
