We spoke with Jedro in early 2020, when he shared his journey with a brain tumour in the story below. Please read on for an update on his incredible progress.

Grateful for a brain tumour?

It’s not something that you’d expect to hear from anyone, however, brain tumour survivor Jedro Magtoto says the prospect of losing his life made him start living it on his own terms.

For years, Jedro worked in a corporate sales position, succeeding at his work, but feeling incredibly unfulfilled. His gut was telling him this wasn’t his calling, but Jedro says the security of a steady job kept him in a position that brought him no joy.
Jedro decided to turn his passion into a career.

“Going to a cubicle with fluorescent lights every day, I was just miserable,” he says. “It’s just not me.”

It took a near-tragedy to shake things up.

From 9-to-5 to a seizure that changed everything

Like many brain tumour survivors, Jedro had no symptoms at all until the day he had a grand mal seizure. Adding to the danger, his happened while he was behind the wheel of a car.

It began with a twitch in his cheek, which he dismissed as nothing serious. However, the twitching wasn’t stopping. Instead, it grew in speed and intensity.

Soon after, he blacked out and his car went off the road. Jedro was woken up by paramedics, with the biggest headache he’d ever had. The timing of his accident was perfect, he said, as neither himself or any pedestrians were injured. Not only that, but had the twitching happened at home, he says he may have dismissed it all together.

Both the paramedics and the ER staff recommended a head scan. The cause of the seizure was a stage 3 oligodendroglioma. He was in surgery within 10 days, and began treatment soon after.

And yet, he says, it was a blessing in disguise, and an important catalyst.

“I took that as a sign,” he says. “I’ve got to live my life the way I want to do it. I was given that chance.”

Staying positive

The weight of that chance was reinforced for Jedro was when he was in the doctor’s office getting his insurance forms signed. He saw his prognosis—a 34 per cent five-year survival rate.

“I got scared,” he says. “But it’s been four years and my last scan was clear. I like to say I beat it.”

Now, he’s down to yearly scans.

Going in for radiation at the cancer centre was a bit of a downer, Jedro says. Patients were understandably feeling down and negative about the treatment and it effects, but Jedro says he fought hard to keep that mindset at bay.

“My energy was really different from some of my peers,” he says. “As much as I felt for them, I had to shield that energy from myself.”

It’s part of what inspired him to help people going through their brain tumour treatment. Yes, there are many negatives involved with brain tumours, he says, but they don’t have to overshadow everything else that’s good in life.

Pursuing his passions

Prior to his diagnosis and surgery, Jedro found escape through the twin passions of culture and food.

He created a YouTube Channel, The Filipino Cdn, which saw him visiting various Filipino restaurants around Vancouver.

Making good food, he says, has its own life lessons.

“You make do with what you have, and you make it taste good.”

For Jedro, what he had—at least professionally—was leaving a bad taste.

After his surgery, Jedro quit the corporate world. With his new, profound courage in wanting to try new things, along with his love for hip hop music, he helped co-found a DJ school in Burnaby, B.C. called TableTutors, which offers studio rooms, lessons and workshops to the DJ community. It provides a gathering place for creative people like himself, and it all came from taking a big risk.

“If there is something you want to go for, go for it now. Take those risks now—don’t wait. Just do it.”

Trying and failing, he says, is nothing compared to going through brain surgery.

“If I didn’t go through with it, I’d probably still be miserable today,” he says. “It makes me feel alive.”

Jedro’s 10-year update

Speaking with Jedro in 2025—10 years following his diagnosis, surgery and treatments—he’s as positive as ever.

“I’m incredibly grateful to be alive and thriving,” Jedro says.

As a martial artist, Jedro says his motto has always been, “Whatever you believe, you can conceive.”

“I believed I was going to beat this, and I didn’t want anything affecting that belief,” says Jedro. “When I got the news of what I had, I thought, ‘I have nothing else to lose. I might as well just believe 100 per cent that I can conquer this.’”

Looking ahead to new challenges

Jedro hasn’t looked back to the 9-to-5 life he lived before, instead looking ahead to new challenges.

One of those challenges has been taking on speaking gigs, which led him to the path of becoming a stand-up comedian.

“When I would tell my story on stage, I’d say things that would make people laugh even when I wasn’t trying to be funny,” Jedro says. “For some reason, doing that hit something inside me that made me feel more connected to the audience and I really liked it.”

As one of his good friends is a stand-up comedian, Jedro decided he’d also give it a shot.

“I have this one life to live, and I want to live it the best way I can.”

“Laughter helped me heal,” Jedro says. “When you laugh, you just feel good and you have this positive vibe in your spirit and your soul. I want to be able to do that for others—whether it be cancer or whatever struggle they’re going through, I want to make them laugh.”

He’s had several bookings and even produced his own show, securing the opening acts and the headliner.

“People will say they’d rather die than talk on stage,” Jedro says. “I call their bluff. I’ve faced death, and I’d rather be on stage. So, I decided to take the dive and I’m succeeding.”

He’s also launched a website, JedRocks.Me, where he shares his experiences, and he’s recently published a book, called From Stage 3 to Centre Stage.

In it, he offers advice for those who might be scared to step on stage themselves, or those who are scared to face other life-altering challenges—like a brain cancer diagnosis. Jedro has so kindly offered to donate a portion of the proceeds from his book to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, further supporting the brain tumour community.

“Being creative, I feel more alive,” Jedro says, of his new endeavours. “I feel more myself.”

Along with letting his creativity lead, Jedro focuses on his health. He’s still getting yearly MRIs, while also working out, fasting, practising jiu jitsu, meditating, and visualizing what he wants for his life.

“I treat my body as a temple,” Jedro says, “but not just for the physical benefits. Our minds are powerful tools, too.”

For anyone going through a similar diagnosis, Jedro advises to stick with the course of treatment.

“I know it sucks,” Jedro says, “but stick with it. Do the chemotherapy and radiation, and try holistic treatments as well. Keep a positive mindset and believe you’ll get through this.”

Jedro keeps focused on the future, while continuing to inspire others and challenge himself.

“Life is not linear,” he says. “I’m always evolving to become better every day.”

In Jedro’s efforts to support the brain tumour community, he’s donating a portion of proceeds from his Mind Over Matter shirts and his book, From Stage 3 to Centre Stage, to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

Also, if you’d like to be updated when his new Confidence Journal is available, you can sign up at jedrocks.me/confidence-movement. A portion of proceeds from these sales will also benefit Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

We thank you, and Jedro, for your ongoing support!