Tommy Watanabe’s Fight Against Cancer

Story

In January of 2025, my brother – Tommy Watanabe – went to the ER for an anal abscess (as diagnosed by an Urgent Care). As it turned out, it had developed into a fistula. Upon having surgery and being diagnosed with hemorrhoids, he returned to the hospital on May 8th because multiple hemorrhoids had popped up and the ones from surgery had not subsided. The hospital rushed him to a room because, SURPRISE, his paper work said he had cancer. A colorectal surgeon revealed the news that the hospital and his previous colorectal surgeon failed to deliver: the abscess was cancer. The “hemorrhoids” are also a rare case of tumors presenting themselves externally in the anal area. So, for months, after seeing a GI specialist for the hemorrhoids and having at home nurses help with wound care and a follow-up with the ORIGINAL surgeon, my brother has been treating his tumors as hemorrhoids and thinking nothing of it.

It was also revealed they found a nodule on Tommy’s lung and lesions on his liver (which were not present back in January). He has an apple core lesion in his colon and they fear it could become large enough to obstruct his bowel. Initially, back in January, they had told him they suspected he had Crohn’s… and never once stated he may have cancer. As a result, we have lost four months of getting treatment on this and the doctor fears that the cancer metastasized to the liver and lung. Additional testing is required, but unfortunately, his new surgeon has advised him to take a leave of absence from work.

My brother is an extremely proud person who works hard, and is very active in the local theater and wrestling community. He does not like asking for help, and has always been a provider and protector. Myself and my family want to return the favor and help take care of him while he is out of work. Since we are waiting on a treatment plan and how he will respond to it, we do not know how long he will be away from work. Our goal is to raise funds to help with medical costs, rent and utilities, and groceries so that he can focus on resting and getting better (anyone who knows my brother, knows he stresses about finances and has helped support the family… and that he does not adjust well to not working and that he ties his work to his self-worth, we need him to focus on fighting this rather than causing himself more stress).

My family and I have been inundated with everyone’s stories about their family members and friends beating colorectal cancer and thriving afterward. We have all the faith that Tommy will come out of this stronger and better, and we appreciate anything anyone is able to offer, especially in these difficult times. If you cannot donate, please share and spread the word. That would mean the world to my brother.

Organizers :

Jordan Rogers is organizing this fundraiser.