Battling a Brain Tumor
- NBA alum Jason Collins has traveled to Indonesia to “recharge” with his husband, film producer Brunson Green, while navigating his fight against brain cancer.
- Collins’ cancer diagnosis was announced in September, however, specifics about his type of cancer and treatment plan remains private.
- Brain tumors account for 85-90% of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
- When it comes to brain tumors, as new treatment approaches are continually being explored through clinical trials, the standard of care for glioblastoma has remained largely consistent since 2005. It combines maximal safe surgical resection (surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible) followed by chemotherapy and radiation.
Collins, who made history as the first openly gay active male athlete in the four major North American sports leagues when he came out on April 29, 2013, recently shared on social media that he’s been enjoying some downtime at The Sanchaya, a scenic beachfront estate on Bintan Island, Indonesia.
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Fans were quick to praise collins, with one commenting, “Happy Birthday Jason! Thank you for being a trailblazer and inspiration to many.”
Others offered him prayers for his recovery, love, and positive energy.
Another fan wrote, “You’re [going to] win this damn fight like you do every other. And y’all look amazing.”
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Following his tranquil getaway, Collins posted an Instagram story documenting “a little cancer treatment shopping” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, on his actual birthday, December 2.
Coping With a Diagnosis
Collins, who has reportedly been receiving chemotherapy in Singapore, also posted a photo of himself on his Instagram story wearing wearable electric field detectors used for Electro-Capacitive Cancer Therapy (ECCT), a minimally invasive treatment that targets cancer more precisely.
Understanding Jason Collins’ Brain Tumor Battle
Collins’ loved ones announced he was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor on September 11, 2025.
The statement, issued by his loved ones, read, “NBA Ambassador and 13-year NBA veteran Jason Collins is currently undergoing treatment for a brain tumor.
“Jason and his family welcome your support and prayers and kindly ask for privacy as they dedicate their attention to Jason’s health and well-being.”
The following statement was issued today on behalf of Jason Collins and his family: pic.twitter.com/36lKwB7NiR
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 11, 2025
Although Collins has been open about battling a disease, he hasn’t offered any specific information on the type of brain cancer he has or the treatment plan.
Watching Collins share special moments with his husband while managing cancer is truly inspiring, reflecting the same strength and bravery he demonstrated when he publicly came out in Sports Illustrated almost 12 years ago.
During his announcement, he said, “I didn’t set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I’m happy to start the conversation.
“I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different.’ If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.”
Finding Time for Happiness & Meditation
During your cancer care, which can provoke a wide variety of emotions, feelings of happiness can actually help you live longer, therefore it’s important to take care of your mental well-being in addition to your physical health. In fact, studies have shown that patients with stronger emotional health have a better quality of life when going through treatment.
To better understand the role of emotional health and social support after a cancer diagnosis, we spoke with Dr. Dana Chase, an oncologist at UCLA Health.
Chase says taking care of your emotional health is as simple as doing the things you love. “You should try to do more of those activities.”
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She recommends that people take some time out of each day to do something that brings them joy. “Sometimes I will talk to a patient about making [a] list of the top 10 things that bring them joy. And trying to do those ten things…to make at least 50 percent of their experiences positive throughout the day.”
Gardening, cooking, nature walks, creating music or art, writing, or a simple meditation session can all be easily woven into a busy or stressful schedule if you just commit to a timeframe while mapping out your day.
Meanwhile, there is a good deal of high quality scientific research demonstrating the benefits of meditation for people with cancer.
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, there is data showing that meditation creates “reductions in psychological distress in patients with lung cancer, improves mood and general well-being in patients across several cancer diagnoses, as well as enhances psychological functioning and mindfulness in partners of cancer patients.”
Dr. Brian Berman, director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at University of Maryland, takes us through a guided meditation, here.
‘Your Emotional Well-Being’ Can Impact Overall Survival
Dr. Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at UCLA Health, also says that maintaining good emotional health and quality of life is associated with better survival and better outcomes for patients. She encourages cancer patients to prioritize their emotional health for this reason.
“So definitely working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment, your emotional well-being, definitely working on those things and making them better are important and can impact your survival,” Dr. Chase told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
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Dr. Chase suggests tapping into your support network, which includes loved ones like friends and family if you need help discovering what brings you positive emotions. You can also seek help from a patient advocate or a support group either in-person or virtually that shares your cancer or disease.
These important people in your life can help you navigate your emotions and even join you for fun activities to boost your emotional health, which in turn, can help how you address any lasting physical ailments.
Making Sense of a Brain Tumor Diagnosis
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), brain tumors account for 85-90% of all primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. They can either be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign), and depending on where the tumor forms on the brain, doctors determine its type, potential symptoms, and potential treatment.
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Signs and Symptoms of Brain Tumors
Brain tumors impact a person’s brain function and overall health, depending on their size, type, and location within the brain. Tumors that grow big enough and disrupt normal central nervous system functioning can press on nearby nerves, blood vessels, or other tissues. The disrupted central nervous system can present in various ways, making walking or maintaining balance difficult.
However, it’s important to know that brain tumors do not always cause symptoms.
Other signs of brain tumors may include:
- Headaches
- Difficulty speaking or thinking
- Weakness
- Behavioral changes
- Vision changes
- Seizures
- Loss of hearing
- Confusion
- Memory loss
Types of Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Brain Tumors
A brain tumor can affect you differently depending on its location and if it is cancerous. Some brain tumors are non-cancerous (or benign). According to the National Cancer Institute, some examples of these types of brain tumors include:
- Chordomas are primarily benign and slow-growing and are often found near the tailbone or where the spine meets the skull.
- Craniopharyngiomas are rare, slow-growing tumors that don’t spread to other parts of the brain or body. They form near the pituitary gland near the base of the brain.
- Gangliocytomas are rare tumors of the central nervous system that tend to form on the temporal lobe (the left or right side of the brain).
- Glomus jugulare are rare and slow-growing tumors.
- Meningiomas are rare brain tumors that usually form on the outer layer of tissue that covers the brain (dura mater).
- Pineocytomas are rare and slow-growing tumors located in the pineal gland near the middle of the brain.
- Pituitary adenomas are slow-growing brain tumors of the anterior pituitary located in the lower part of the brain.
- Schwannomas are rare tumors that grow on the cells that protect nerve cells. They are called Schwann cells.
- Acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannoma) are slow-growing tumors that develop from the nerves that help balance and hearing.
Other brain tumors are malignant or cancerous. These kinds of tumors include:
- Gliomas are the most common form of cancerous and aggressive primary brain tumors.
- Astrocytoma (glioma) forms in astrocytes (star-shaped cells). Depending on how aggressive or fast they grow and impact brain tissue, these tumors are classified into four grades.
- Ependymomas are tumors classified into three grades depending on how aggressive or fast they grow.
- Oligodendroglioma tumors are classified into grades depending on their growth speed. Grade 2 oligodendroglioma tumors are slow-growing and can invade nearby tissue, but they may not present symptoms for many years before detection. Meanwhile, grade 3 oligodendroglioma tumors proliferate.
- Medulloblastoma tumors are classified into four different grades depending on their aggressive nature or how quickly they grow.
- Glioblastoma, which is considered a central nervous system (CNS) tumor, is the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults.
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Building the Courage to Share
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of cancer in social situations,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explains.
Plutchik says patients consider questions like “How much information should they share and with whom should they share the information?”
Dr. Plutchik explains, “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”
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A cancer journey can last months to years, which means cancer warriors may be experiencing a lot of uncertainty until they fully understand where their health stands. This uncertainty can influence when a cancer patient is ready to share their diagnosis, Dr. Plutchik further explained.
Dr. Plutchik stresses that those close to a person going through cancer should be respectful of their wishes when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis and seeking support.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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