JACK 96.9 (CJAQ-FM) Vancouver afternoon drive personality Jason Manning is opening up about an ongoing health journey that’s kept him off the airwaves for the last few months.
Manning says a serious fall in early August ended up being a “blessing in disguise,” leading to a diagnosis of multiple myeloma – a rare blood cancer that originates in bone marrow plasma cells.
“I had a pretty bad fall after my show on August 8th and that evening I had my first ride in an ambulance,” Manning recalled in an update shared on social media. “Five VFD firefighters had to lift me onto the stretcher (thank you legends). Then a short wait in the ER. I don’t remember a lot as I was in shock.”
Following the fall and subsequent femur fracture, it was determined it was caused by an underlying tumour in the bone, Manning told Broadcast Dialogue. Further evaluation confirmed the blood cancer diagnosis, finally providing answers after months of unexplained, severe discomfort that had begun early in the year.
“I had been in a lot of pain for about six months…since January, leading up to the fall,” Manning explained in an interview. “My doctor and I didn’t know exactly what it was going to be. You just assume it’s your back, right?”
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Manning said doctors had previously explored whether his back pain stemmed from a disc issue or other spinal condition. It turned out to be caused by lesions that scans revealed were along his spine and ribs.
Orthopedic surgeons replaced the diseased section of his femur with a metal implant. Following surgery and a six-week hospital stay, Manning said treatment has drastically improved his daily quality of life.
“Now that I’ve had radiation and continuing chemo, the pain has subsided dramatically. It’s gone from like a 10 to a two…,” he said. “The radiation has shrunk them, so I’m able to walk with my walker. I was bedridden in the hospital for six weeks – I couldn’t really walk or do anything. So now that I can, I’m trying to take as much advantage of it as I can just because it’s nice to be mobile again.”
While recovering at home alongside his French bulldogs, Beau and Gaston, and supported by his partner Erin – whom he described as an “absolute rock and advocate” – Manning’s day-to-day routine focuses on physical therapy and building strength.
“My day-to-day is pretty limited…I’m getting up, I’m walking, I’m seeing a physio, I’m doing my physio exercises,” Manning shared. “Bit by bit, just walking around my courtyard and in the neighbourhood with my walker and trying to remain positive alongside my chemo appointments.”
The veteran radio personality expressed deep gratitude for his medical care team at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and BC Cancer, pointing out everyone “from the porters to the doctors and specialists.”
“The treatment, especially at BC Cancer, it’s just so amazing because it’s so well researched, it’s well funded, and they want you to get better,” Manning said. “When I go to chemo every week, I don’t feel as isolated.”
Currently in his third cycle of four chemo cycles, Manning remains optimistic about his medical outlook and returning to the airwaves.
“The prognosis is really good,” said Manning. “With multiple myeloma, it is a treatable cancer…It makes me feel very thankful that this is something that will go into remission, and that can either be done through a stem cell transplant and/or continuing chemo and radiation if needed. So I can see the end.”
While remaining cautious due to being immunocompromised, Manning hopes to return to his afternoon post on JACK 96.9 within months once he’s cleared by his medical team.
“I love radio. I love going in every day,” he said. “When it’s part of your DNA and you’ve done it for so long, there’s a buzz when you go into a radio station…I’m sitting in bed doing word searches and reading and watching a lot of news, going, ‘I wish I could talk about that today.’ It does feel closer than farther away…As soon as I’m medically cleared, obviously, I’ll be back.”
In the meantime, he’s trying to remain positive while navigating chemo and other medical appointments.
“I’ve heard from so many…and hearing from a lot of listeners who have experience and friends that have experience with cancer, it’s kind of this tent now, and it’s nice to have people…there’s a lot of support. I have a really great support system.”
