Q&A with Trevor Maxwell, Founder of Man Up to Cancer

“We’re altering what it means to “Man Up” within the face of most cancers. It’s not nearly being robust. It means having the braveness to simply accept assist, and realizing we’re smarter and stronger as a pack than we’re as lone wolves.” – Trevor Maxwell, Founder, Man As much as Most cancers

What’s Man As much as Most cancers?

Man Up to Cancer is an internet neighborhood that evokes males to attach and keep away from isolation throughout our most cancers journeys. We provide a podcast, web site, social media channels, and a Fb group with greater than 1,500 males impacted by most cancers. Man As much as Most cancers additionally operates a Chemo Backpack program, sending backpacks full of sensible objects to males going by means of chemotherapy.

We’re altering what it means to “Man Up” within the face of most cancers. It’s not nearly being
robust. It means having the braveness to simply accept assist, and realizing we’re smarter and stronger as a pack than we’re as lone wolves.

Males typically don’t really feel snug sharing concerning the bodily and emotional impacts of most cancers in a co-ed surroundings. When males lack communication expertise, or when they’re coping with a delicate hardship resembling lack of sexual operate, they’re even much less prone to be part of teams. This robs them of the confirmed well being advantages of peer-to-peer assist.

We offer a judgment-free zone the place males can present assist to others, obtain assist, or each, on their very own phrases and with no expectations. Our podcast and different digital content material addresses widespread issues confronted by our neighborhood members.

What impressed you to change into a passionate advocate for making a neighborhood for males by means of Man As much as Most cancers?

I used to be 41 years outdated once I was identified with stage IV colon most cancers, and it was a whole shock. I used to be residing a satisfying life with my spouse, Sarah, and our two teenage daughters, Sage and Elsie, who’re the lights of my life, and dealing as a self-employed author, editor, and public relations guide.

After my analysis, I struggled mightily with anxiousness and melancholy. I began to hunt assist in assist communities, each on-line and in individual right here in Maine. I rapidly realized that in these assist areas, ladies usually outnumbered males by no less than a 3 to 1 ratio.

In my coronary heart I knew that different males had been scuffling with the emotional impacts of most cancers, and it troubled me that they merely weren’t searching for assist. So I dove into analysis and realized that males are more likely to isolate after a most cancers analysis, and that’s typically associated to our cultural conditioning. Many males are taught that searching for assistance is a weak spot, and that we must always be capable of deal with all our challenges on our personal. Individuals who isolate through the most cancers journey usually tend to endure psychological well being issues; they’re extra prone to have damaged relationships; and their medical outcomes are worse than sufferers who don’t isolate. I made a decision that I needed to do one thing to vary this.

“Individuals who isolate through the most cancers journey usually tend to endure psychological well being issues; they’re extra prone to have damaged relationships; and their medical outcomes are worse than sufferers who don’t isolate.”

What was your preliminary response to your analysis in comparison with now, and have you ever made any way of life modifications in consequence?

There may be actually no option to put together for such a devastating analysis. I went from being a typical husband, father, and employee, to being a most cancers affected person with a life-threatening sickness, going by means of surgical procedures and chemotherapy, and being inundated with info.

To say that I felt overwhelmed can be an understatement. Immediately, I nonetheless wrestle often with the psychological well being challenges of my analysis and therapy, however I feel I’ve merely adjusted over time.

“Males are taught that searching for assistance is a weak spot, and that we must always be capable of deal with all our challenges on our personal. They’re much extra prone to isolate after a most cancers analysis.”

The largest change I’ve made is expounded to meals. Previous to my analysis, I used to be positively a crimson meat shopper. I grew up consuming a ton of processed meats – scorching canine, hamburgers, ham sandwiches, and so forth. After my analysis, I began to study concerning the connection between processed meats and most cancers. These days, I often nonetheless have a burger, possibly as soon as each couple of months.

I additionally be sure that I get extra train than I did previous to analysis. We all know that train is without doubt one of the most essential components in stopping recurrence, and that it promotes long-term survival after a most cancers analysis. I get pleasure from rocking out to music whereas I experience my stationary bike within the colder months, after which hitting the paths on my mountain bike when it will get heat.

“The largest change I’ve made is expounded to meals.”

What’s normal recommendation that you simply give to folks newly identified with most cancers?

Three issues are on the high of my checklist: Keep away from isolation; Get second opinions; Know your biomarkers. Additionally, I all the time remind people who find themselves newly identified that most cancers is normally a marathon, not a dash. Get pleasure from your pals, don’t isolate. You must maintain residing, maintain doing issues that convey you pleasure, maintain consuming and sleeping, and all the time keep in mind to breathe!

Any quotes, songs, or books that get you thru robust days?

In our Man As much as Most cancers group, we’ve a beloved hashtag, #KFG. It means “Preserve Effing Going.” Some folks may consider this as crude, however typically there may be nothing like a very good swear phrase to encourage you for the day. The message is easy and highly effective: It doesn’t matter what terrible issues you’re going by means of, regardless of how tough issues are, regardless of how a lot you simply need to quit and stop, it’s important to maintain placing one foot in entrance of the opposite. You must KFG – for your self and the individuals who love you. Any man with a most cancers analysis is welcome to hitch Man As much as Most cancers. To study extra, please go to www.manuptocancer.com.