José Antonio Patiño deserves your help
José Antonio Patiño deserves your help.
Our friend, José—a man whose default facial expression is a wide toothy smile and sparkling eyes—recently received a devastating cancer diagnosis.
Right around Christmas time, José was experiencing a lot of back pain. This is a man who embodies healthy habits, takes fitness and diet seriously, and had successfully resisted looking his age with frequent visits to the gym. So the sudden back pain was worrisome.
On January 8th, 2026 José received a diagnosis of an extremely rare cancer of the salivary gland, which had already metastasized into his spine. Rare cancer + bone metastasis = very scary news and a dim prognosis.
José completed ten rounds of radiotherapy in January and is beginning chemo.
For the last two decades, José and Marianela have devoted their lives to raising two lively, talented, and respectful young men. Now, as their sons stand at the threshold of adulthood—finishing high school and navigating the first year of college.
We are asking you to help José maintain his focus on sharing fully in the joy of his sons’ launch into adulthood. José has medical insurance, but it is not comprehensive, and he is unable to work while also needing to drive back and forth between Bloomington, Illinois and Chicago multiple times a month. Mileage and hotel stays alone are stressing their budget.
José’s intense back pain is mitigated with medication but by no means alleviated. And there’s nothing most of us can do to help with his back pain or to shrink the malignant tumors nesting in his spine. But we can help alleviate his financial pain and ensure he goes into chemotherapy with as little economic stress as possible.
Thank you for your generous support on behalf of José Antonio Patiño, whose sweetness and good humor makes the world a better place, and who deserves the joy and the peace of mind he is known for evoking in his family and community.
Antecedentes Médicos
José Antonio developed low back pain in October 2026, which persisted despite conservative treatment with pain medication. Subsequently, he underwent an MRI of the lumbar spine, revealing abnormalities in the bones of the lower spine. Further imaging studies, including a PET scan, demonstrated that these abnormalities were indicative of a cancer that had metastasized to several bones and some lymph nodes in the neck.
On January 7, 2026, José Antonio was evaluated at the University of Chicago Medicine. On January 13, 2026, he underwent a needle biopsy of the parotid mass, which confirmed a poorly differentiated carcinoma of the parotid gland. This type of salivary gland cancer is an aggressive type of cancer characterized by abnormal cell appearance and rapid growth and spread.
The cancer was classified as HER2-positive, meaning it has a high level of HER2 protein. This classification is significant because HER2-positive cancers are targeted with specific treatments designed to address this protein. Additionally, the cancer was PD-L1-negative, indicating a reduced likelihood of responding to certain immunotherapy drugs.
The cancer is advanced and has metastasized to stage IV. At this stage, treatment typically focuses on controlling the cancer, slowing or stopping its growth, reducing symptoms such as bone pain, and maintaining quality of life.
It is important to note that the HER2-positive classification provides a clear treatment target, which is beneficial in planning therapy. José Antonio has completed the first cycle of radiation treatment and is initiating chemotherapy.
José Antonio commenced treatment promptly and completed ten sessions of Radiation Therapy at OSF St Joséph Medical Center in Bloomington, Illinois, on February 4, 2026. He also initiated his first cycle of chemotherapy at the University of Chicago Medicine on February 6, 2026, with the intention of maintaining ongoing surveillance and treatment throughout his life.
Given his overall favorable health status, José Antonio has demonstrated a positive and goal-oriented attitude throughout this initial stage of treatment.
Updates
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