Support Jason Gilbert's Battle Against Cancer

Hi. My name is Jason Gilbert. I was diagnosed with rectal cancer on Nov. 6th. I'm scheduled for an MRI and CT scans on Nov. 29th to find out what stage it is and if it's spread. Depending on these factors, they are talking about chemo and radiation to shrink it. Then possibly surgery to remove the tumor along with other things, due to its location. Now I'm totally freaking out.

I will try to keep this brief and leave out the gross stuff.

This started months ago when I moved from Florida to Montana. I was tired of the heat and traffic. Pinellas was getting way to crowded for me. Things were going well, and I had a job within two weeks of arriving. Then I started experiencing some discomfort in my backside. I thought it was hemorrhoids. I knew what they felt like, because I had experienced them before. I tried treating them with OTCs, but it just got worse. The pain and other symptoms got so bad I had to leave my job. I went to see a doctor and she told me it was an internal hemorrhoid. She gave me a prescription for suppositories to shrink it and a referral to see a General Surgeon if that didn't help. The suppositories had to be one of the worst parts, besides finding out I have cancer. Try doing that three times a day, not good.

After ten days of using them there was no relief. I made an appointment with the GS, but they couldn't get me in for two weeks. When he finally saw me, he said it was a fissure. He gave me an ointment for it. Thank God it wasn't more suppositories. He said it would take about 6 to 8 weeks to heal.

About 4 weeks later the pain got so bad I went to the ER. After an excruciating exam the doctor ordered a CT scan, because he said he felt something. The results of the scan were wall thickening and possible neoplastic event. Was told to follow up with the GS. The GS ordered a colonoscopy, and the result was I have adenocarcinoma.

I have now been to palliative care to help my symptoms. I have also applied for Medicaid due to mounting medical bills. I'm hoping to be approved, but due to not being able to work I have pretty much depleted my funds. I have enough for one more month and maybe to pay the following months' rent. Then I'm pretty much tapped out.

I am hoping through the kindness and generosity of others to be able to raise enough to pay my bills so I can make it through the next months and focus on getting better. Thank you so much for any help you can give. God bless.

I will post an update after Dec. 3rd. That's when I find out the results of the MRI and scans, and how they plan on treating it. Once again thank you and God bless.