This past April, Tyler (age 44) was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. He had been feeling unwell for almost a year, and by the time he was diagnosed it had spread extensively. Even his doctor was shocked, as he doesn’t fit the typical esophageal cancer patient profile – fewer than 15% of diagnoses are in people under 55.

As Tyler faces this challenging journey, he needs our support.

With a stage 4 diagnosis, there is no cure. His oncologists have estimated that if treatment is successful, he may have about 1 to 1.5 years. But “estimated” is the key word here – this isn’t a reliable forecast. Obviously, we’re hoping he’ll fall into the “I was given a year to live 5 years ago and I’m doing great” camp. Tyler is young, strong, and otherwise healthy. He is undergoing chemo, immunotherapy, and radiation, and so far, they’re going well. He is feeling better now than he was in the months before his diagnosis.

Tyler is choosing to live with the philosophy that he doesn’t have to hope for a cure to hope for a future. He wants to make the most of the time he has – spending time with the people he loves, and helping other people navigating a cancer journey. He recently joined an organization called Man Up to Cancer (a non-profit dedicated to helping men with cancer avoid isolation) as co-leader of the Vancouver chapter. He has been unable to work for 9 months, as his illness progressed before his diagnosis, but he is also looking forward to working again part-time once he gets into the rhythm of his treatments.

Core cancer treatments in Canada are covered by the provincial government. And to reduce expenses, he has given up his suite and is splitting his time between living with his girlfriend, Jessica, and his parents. What he needs assistance with is general living expenses, complementary treatments to help ease symptoms and side effects, and end-of-life preparation help. For example:

Anyone who knows Tyler knows he is an exceptionally kind and generous person. He has been uplifted by the support that has come his way so far. Let’s show him how many people are standing behind him as he bravely faces this devastating reality and tries to hold on to as much hope, acceptance, and love as possible. Please donate if you can and also share this campaign with others who know Tyler or who have been impacted by cancer.

We'll be sharing updates on Tyler's progress and treatments, and we're deeply grateful to everyone who contributes to his journey – whether through donations, sharing this campaign, or simply keeping him in your thoughts.