Discovery to Recovery-Jimmy Collins Cancer Fund

Friends,

I am writing to ask if you would help join the fight against cancer for my good friend Jimmy Collins. Jimmy was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer in September 2022, much to his surprise and to his doctor. I am helping to raise money to help pay for the out-of-pocket expenses which are not covered by insurance. I encourage you to click on the link below to read Jimmy’s journey from discovery to recovery. It was initially thought to be an enlarged prostate (very common in men over 50). After a difficult August and September, surgery was required and it was from those results that cancer was discovered. After multiple diagnostic tests, preparation was then made for radiation treatments. Jimmy began proton radiation therapy 5 days a week on January 12, 2023 and is finished on February 22! The amount we are hoping to raise is $10,000. Proton therapy is very expensive but thankfully Jimmy’s insurance covers over 90% of the radiation treatments. The Go Fund Me goal would cover the out-of-pocket expenses for the entire process. The prognosis is optimistic and although the obvious desire for the radiation treatment is to zap all of the cancer, the doctor instructed Jimmy that the chances of eliminating the cancer in his body is realistically 75%. In addition to the radiation, Jimmy has been taking hormone treatments since December 2022 and will continue to take them for the next two years.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among American men and with early detection, prognosis is good. The difficulty in Jimmy’s situation is that it is a very aggressive form of prostate cancer and that there were not any warning signs so it spread to his seminal vesicle. His PSA levels (a common indicator) prior to surgery were lower than the gauge for cancer. Jimmy has a long road ahead and is thus taking it day by day. Please click on the link below if you would like to read his online journal for more detail. I appreciate your consideration, and I know that he welcomes your thoughts and prayers for him and his family during this challenging time. Thank you!

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cancerupdate-jc