Australian bassist Jordan Brunoli has revealed he is in the final chapter of life after receiving a stage-4 bowel cancer prognosis.
The 29-year-old musician, who plays bass for the Brisbane indie rock band Bugs, announced on Instagram on Sunday that his treatment team has been unable to stop the disease from spreading.
Brunoli shared that he received a prognosis in June of 3-4 months to live. He explained that a genetic mutation has caused rapid tumour growth despite undergoing more than a year of chemotherapy treatment.
"I have spent over a year now trying different chemotherapy drugs, backed by an amazing oncologist and treatment team," Brunoli wrote on social media. "Unfortunately I have a mutation that causes rapid growth of tumours, and none of the treatments have been able to stop the cancer from spreading."
"I am now entering the final chapter of my life after being told in June I had a prognosis of 3-4 months," he added. "I'm sharing this with everyone to keep y'all in the loop and be as upfront as possible."
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, develops in the colon or rectum and is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide. Stage 4 indicates that cancer cells have spread to distant parts of the body, making treatment particularly challenging. Neuropathy, a common side effect of chemotherapy, involves nerve damage that often causes severe numbness and pain in the hands and feet.
Recording Through Treatment
Despite his illness, Brunoli continued working with bandmates Connor Brooker and Brock Weston to complete the upcoming Bugs album, Head Noise.
"We've worked on it for the last two years, through the good and the bad," Brunoli wrote. "We kept recording when I was recovering from surgery, sick from chemo, even when I had neuropathy so bad I couldn't feel the guitar I was playing."
Bugs is an Australian indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Queensland, known for touring across the country and building a dedicated fanbase in the national indie music scene. Brunoli described his time with the group as an incredible experience.
"Playing, recording and touring around Australia with Bugs has been the opportunity of a lifetime," he wrote. "I just want to say, if there were a few final shows coming up, you can bet your a** I'll be playing them."
Community Support and Well Wishes
To assist Brunoli during his medical battle, his bandmates launched a GoFundMe campaign, a popular crowdfunding platform often used to help cover healthcare expenses. The fundraiser has raised more than $100,000 to date.
Brunoli closed his post by expressing gratitude for his journey and promising to enjoy his remaining time. "Thank you everyone, and watch me enjoy the f*** out of the rest of my life," he wrote.
Following his announcement, fans and fellow musicians flooded his social media page with messages of love and support. Australian indie rock band Eliza & The Delusionals commented: "Sending all of our love and we can't wait to hear everything you've worked on."
Another commenter wrote: "Sending you all the love and strength; thank you for sharing your talent with a generation who will never forget. Live the way you want to and leave no regrets. We love you." A third fan added: "I will be there with bells on and ready to celebrate you and this music!!!"
