John Hoff, a 39-year-old Willow Grove resident, Abington Township native and the drummer for the popular rock band The Color Fred, announced on Facebook last week that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma.

“Hey everybody, just wanted to give a quick update with all this cancer stuff,” Hoff, an Air Force veteran and father of a three-year-old daughter, said in the video. “I have stage 4 melanoma, which just kind of popped up about a month ago. I woke up with a swollen armpit and my lymph nodes were pretty huge.”

His announcement continues:

So I got an ultrasound there at the Philly VA. They said it was the lymph nodes, and sent me to a cancer doctor. They told me I had lymphoma which sucked, but it’s a more beatable cancer than melanoma. But eventually we found out that it’s melanoma, and what makes it stage 4 is the fact that it’s spread to my lung, my gallbladder, my left foot, and to over 20 different lymph nodes at this point.

Hoff’s sister launched a GoFundMe to help with associated costs. From the description:

As he begins treatment, John will need to take time away from work for appointments, procedures, treatment, and recovery. While much of his medical care is covered through the VA, being out of work will still place a financial strain on John and his wife, Alysia, as they continue to care for Iris and manage the everyday expenses of their home.

We’re asking for support to help John and Alysia manage the financial challenges that come with this difficult time. Our hope is that he can focus as much of his energy as possible on his health, his recovery, and being with his family.

The fundraiser has raised $43,255at the time of this writing.

Hoff’s video is below:

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Photos: GoFundMe, Facebook