Man Up to Cancer

Today’s show is all about our scars. Specifically, the physical surgical scars that many of us cancer patients have... And the emotional scars that go along with those scars of the flesh. My friend Charlie Henricks, a fellow stage 4 colon cancer survivor, joins me. I’m grateful to be connected to A LOT of cancer patients and survivors on social media, mostly Facebook, and a while back I posted abo...

I called today’s show Chemo Zombie, because that’s what it does to me.  One day I’m myself, engaged with the world, enjoying life with Sarah, Sage, and Elsie, then I go for chemo, and I turn into a zombie. I’m disengaged, sick to the very core of my being, drowning in that toxic chemical soup. I’m non-verbal, slumped in the bed or on the couch, and when I do get up I’m stumbling around. It’s...

Today’s Man Up to Cancer Podcast is all about The V Foundation .  Founded by legendary basketball coach Jimmy Valvano, the V Foundation is one of the largest fundraising organizations in the world for cancer research, having awarded more than $250 million in research grants since its inception in 1993. In August, the V Foundation is hosting the annual Victory Ride for a Cure . Take part in vi...

Cancer, Anger, & Airplanes Last week, I almost got into a fight while waiting to board a plane with my family in Baltimore... Naturally, that regrettable encounter inspired tomorrow's solo episode of the Man Up to Cancer Podcast. Served up with your Tuesday morning run, peloton ride, or laundry folding. For better or worse, this is a solo deep-dive into the emotion of anger, and how it is expe...

Man Up to Cancer is fired up to welcome Blue Note Therapeutics as a flagship sponsor!  As someone who has experienced depression and anxiety during cancer, I’ve had the privilege of working as a patient advisor for Blue Note over the past year. They’re developing digital programs to help cancer patients cope with the emotional stress of our disease.  For the podcast, I interviewed Blue N...

A solo show for today's episode... A long overdue update on my personal cancer journey, and reaching the three-year mark from diagnosis. OK, let’s get the bad cancer news out of the way... I have a peach-sized mass in my upper abdomen — nestled up against my stomach — that continues to grow despite my treatments. I call him Problem Child. We plan on getting a biopsy next week, to see if there are...

Dan Duffy is a filmmaker, video producer, author, speaker, blogger, and accidental activist. He is a testicular cancer survivor, coming up on the 20-year mark. Dan is the author of The Half Book : He’s Taking his Ball and Going Home. He lives with his wife and children in St. Louis, Missouri.   Bio material from Huff Post: Dan graduated from the Foundation Film program at the Vancou...

Today’s guest is J.J. Singleton, a 33-year-old stage IV colorectal cancer patient from North Carolina. We’re honored to have him on the show! J.J. is an inspiration and a cancer slaying beast. He has endured 96 rounds of chemo, 10 major surgeries, hundreds of IVs, scans, blood tests, and the list goes on. On a recent episode of the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, J.J. got a shout-out as the “GOAT...

Dr. Petar Bajic is a urologist and fellowship-trained specialist in sexual medicine, male genital reconstruction, and men’s health at the highly respected Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland Ohio. For the past five years, the Cleveland Clinic has been running the MENtion It campaign. Each year, they survey roughly 1,000 men on specific topics related to men’s health.  Some previous findings Men are...

Michael and Colin Ferro - the Ferro brothers from the mountains of Colorado The Ferro family founded and operates Epic Experience , a non-profit that offers free adventure camps for cancer survivors. Think whitewater rafting, hiking, XC skiing, campfires, and really an opportunity for people impacted by cancer to make deep connections and in some cases to re-define what is possible for them. Epic...

Well folks, I promised that I would never shy away from the tough or taboo subjects in #cancerland. So... here is a heavy one. Today's topic is about the bonds we form in cancer support communities, and how we cope with the deaths of our friends. If you take part in a cancer support group, I hope this gives you some comfort, and maybe even a few strategies, to cope with the inevitable losses that...

Have you listened to part 1 yet? Check it out here. Let’s talk about sex, baby! Where do we begin to navigate this minefield of taboo subjects? Is it possible to maintain or regain a fulfilling sex life during cancer treatment and beyond? If any topic calls for an expert, this is the one! Fortunately, we have an expert with us for a special 2-part series.  Dr. Sharon Bober is director of the...

Let’s talk about sex, baby! Where do we begin to navigate this minefield of taboo subjects? Is it possible to maintain or regain a fulfilling sex life during cancer treatment and beyond? If any topic calls for an expert, this is the one! Fortunately, we have an expert with us for a special 2-part series.  Dr. Sharon Bober is director of the Sexual Health Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institut...

Tracy Morgan is a proud dad, US Navy veteran, a stage 4 prostate cancer survivor, and strong advocate for men’s health.  Tracy is the founder of Mohawk Mission , which calls on men to screen for prostate cancer. He is also a volunteer, advocate, and fundraiser for ZERO: The End of Prostate Cancer . Tracy is also a leader in the Man Up to Cancer community, and I’m proud to call him a frie...

We are all pulling for #TeamHolson! Christy Cochran Holson is from Charlotte, NC. She is the mom of two boys, and she is a part-time college sociology instructor. She is married to a fantastic guy, Buddy, who has been fighting stage 4 colorectal cancer for the past two and half years. In this episode, Kelin and I talk to Christy about the roller coaster of her life as a cancer caregiver. Christy i...

Anjee Quiko Davis is a superhero in the cancer community. She's the president of Fight Colorectal Cancer , aka Fight CRC, a national organization focused on colorectal cancer research, education, and awareness. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined and 1 in 20 people will be diagnosed in their lifetime. In this episode, Kelin and I talk to Anjee ab...

Jason Randall is a stage 4 colorectal cancer warrior and family man from Eudora, Kansas. He has become a fierce patient advocate and source of inspiration and knowledge for other patients and their families.  He is a leader in COLONTOWN , an online community for people with CRC. He is also a leader and administrator in the Man Up to Cancer community. On this episode, Jason shares some amazing...

Matthew Zachary was just 21 years old when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. That was back in 1995, making him a 25-year survivor.  He is the founder of OffScrip Media , the first audio broadcast network focused on consumer health and patient advocacy.  You may have heard of a little organization called Stupid Cancer ...  Well, Matthew is the founder. Under his leadership from 200...

Anytime you can get a middle-aged cancer survivor from North Carolina to talk about his experience with “forest bathing,” you know you have hit podcast GOLD. Joe Bullock , my brother in arms, the lead administrator for Man Up to Cancer’s Howling Place Facebook group, makes a triumphant return to the podcast. Together, we kick off 2021 in style.  We celebrate the first anniversary of the Howli...

Sarah and I are blessed with two amazing, kind, talented daughters. Sage is 15. She is a beautiful singer. She runs XC, indoor, and outdoor track. She loves music and her friends and Grey's Anatomy. Elsie is 13. She is a ball of enthusiasm. She plays softball and soccer. She loves to swim, and her friends, and Gilmore Girls. On today's episode, I sit down for a conversation with Elsie. She asked t...

This "unplugged" episode features just me and one of my blog posts.

Stephen Huff is from Nashville, Tennessee. He is a husband, father, high school teacher, and a former professional baseball player in the Chicago White Sox organization.  In 2017, when Stephen was just 29 years old, he was diagnosed with inoperable, stage four lung cancer. His disease is currently stable, and he remains in active treatment. Not long after his diagnosis, Stephen and his wife E...

This "unplugged" episode features just me and one of my blog posts. On this cancer journey, when bitterness creeps into your soul -- and it will -- what are you going to do? Are you going to feel sorry for yourself? Check out from the things you love because they're too painful? Shake your head and say no, it hasn't been worth it? Or will you choose life? Will you invite joy and celebrate the mome...

Every cancer needs a power couple! Carole Motycka and Michael Mancini are both stage IV colorectal cancer thrivers. They are both rock star advocates, inspiring other patients and fighting for legislative changes, more funding for scientific research, and other advances in the field. They are also in a loving relationship, having met at the Call-on Congress event put on by Fight CRC. In this episo...

On today's episode, Kelin and I chat with Torry Holt. You may know him as a football legend who starred at NC State and went on to become one of the greatest wide receivers of all-time in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams. But others know him better for his impact off the field -- as the guy with a huge heart who would do anything for kids who have a parent facing cancer. As a young man, Torry lost...