Wow, sorry to hear about your loss of your buddy, Jason.
Cancer can be a horrible thing. I had cancer, but luckily it was thyroid cancer, which is pretty treatable albeit often you don't go back to normal. (But what is normal for me anyhow?
)
I hope you and your friends family and others that knew him pull through ok. I know it must be terribly hard. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.