Man Up to Cancer

Man Up to Cancer
  • 5.0 (58)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Monthly

I'm your host, Trevor Maxwell. I'm a stage IV colon cancer survivor, and I've got a message for other men: You don't have to go through cancer alone. On the Man Up to Cancer podcast, you can expect raw, unfiltered conversations about men, cancer, and our experiences. My guests will be other patients, survivors, advocates, health experts, and friends from #cancerland. We'll tackle a wide range of topics including cancer screenings, chemo, friendship, scars, sex and intimacy, grief, and the physical suck-fest of cancer. But .. PLOT TWIST.. we're also going to joke, laugh, and have fun. Visit us and join our community at www.manuptocancer.org.

  1. 6h ago

    When Mom or Dad Has Cancer: The Magic of Kesem

    One of the coolest things about this job as podcast host is that I get to shine the light on other non-profits in the cancer space and the incredible work being done by their leaders and volunteers. Today, the spotlight is on Kesem. Founded in 2000, Kesem is a leading national nonprofit supporting children facing a parent’s cancer, providing year-round programs and services for children ages 6-18 at no cost to families. Their flagship program, Camp Kesem, provides free, week-long summer camp experiences for children whose parents are facing, have survived, or have died from cancer. Camps are led by trained college student volunteers. Our youngest daughter, Elsie, attended camp in 2023. She was an older camper at age 15, but the experience had a profound impact on her. Her camp name was Ivy by the way - from a Taylor Swift song. It's an honor to welcome Kesem's CEO Jay Stilwell, and someone who attended camp and went on to be a college camp counselor, Kuu Sanford. Check out their mini-bios and social channels below. Jay “Country Ham” Stilwell Jay Stilwell is CEO of Kesem, where he brings the perspective of a Kesem parent, former Board Chair, and longtime mission champion. After losing his wife to cancer, Jay found Kesem through his daughter’s camp experience and now leads the organization’s efforts to support children impacted by a parent’s cancer. Kuuleilani “KitKat” Sanford Kuu Sanford attended the very first Camp Kesem at age 7 as a child impacted by a parent’s cancer and later returned as a counselor. Now an entrepreneur and founder, Kuu credits Kesem with shaping her confidence, resilience, friendships, and lifelong commitment to supporting others. Kesem social channels Instagram: www.instagram.com/kesem/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/campkesem LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/kesemnationwide Kuu Sanford social channels Instagram: www.instagram.com/kuubabyy LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kuusanford/ SPONSOR SHOUT OUT! I want to thank my sponsor for this episode, Pfizer. This Is Living with Cancer™ is a free online resource developed by Pfizer Oncology for all people​ living with cancer, regardless of age, income, race, location, cancer type, or stage of disease. This​ comprehensive program is available to anyone in the US, whether they’re on a Pfizer​ treatment or not, with a growing focus on those facing challenges accessing care. Visit ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com to learn more. I can't make this podcast happen without sponsors that believe in storytelling and the elevation of real patient voices. All views are my own, and the opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.

    56 min

  2. May 19

    Chuck Aiken: "It Costs Nothing to Be Kind"

    Today on the show I welcome my dear friend Chuck Aiken from Glens Falls, NY Chuck serves as membership director for Man Up to Cancer, and has been a key figure in planning and being an emcee at our annual Gathering of Wolves men's cancer retreat. He is also known as the one who brought the phrase "It costs nothing to be kind" into the lexicon of our community. For more than six years, Chuck has been living with an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia, AML. He had a stem cell transplant in 2020 and since that time has battled Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD). Through all of this he has continued to: Coach powerlifting to Special Olympics athletesRun his business as an emcee and DJ, Big Show EntertainmentSpeak at functions about his cancer journey We've got a lot of big-hearted guys in the Man Up to Cancer community. Chuck Aiken is in the Mount Rushmore of that select group. SPONSOR SHOUT OUT! I want to thank my sponsor for this episode, Pfizer. This Is Living with Cancer™ is a free online resource developed by Pfizer Oncology for all people​ living with cancer, regardless of age, income, race, location, cancer type, or stage of disease. This​ comprehensive program is available to anyone in the US, whether they’re on a Pfizer​ treatment or not, with a growing focus on those facing challenges accessing care. Visit ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com to learn more. I can't make this podcast happen without sponsors that believe in storytelling and the elevation of real patient voices. All views are my own, and the opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.

    52 min

  3. May 5

    Oya Gilbert builds a legacy: Health, Hope & Hip-Hop

    Today on the Man Up to Cancer Podcast I welcome Oya Gilbert, a nationally recognized cancer patient advocate who blends his love of hip hop with his calling to help others get on the path to good health. Oya is the founder the Health, Hope & Hip Hop Foundation. He is a hip-hop artist, producer, and event facilities manager who grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2017, Oya was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. He found strength in community, especially through his stem cell support group, and now he’s paying that forward, leading a myeloma support group, advocating in underserved communities, and using the platform he’s built through his Health, Hope & Hip-Hop foundation to reach people who might otherwise be left out of health conversations. Prepare for goosebumps. As a speaker, educator, and motivator, Oya is the real deal. https://healthhopehiphop.org/ https://hiphopehooray.podbean.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@healthhopehiphop https://www.youtube.com/@Grand-G Poetry by KRS-One https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fSjmF9Ro8c&list=RD8fSjmF9Ro8c&start_radio=1 Blood Cancer United https://bloodcancerunited.org/ SPONSOR SHOUT OUT! I want to thank my sponsor for this episode, Pfizer. This Is Living with Cancer™ is a free online resource developed by Pfizer Oncology for all people​ living with cancer, regardless of age, income, race, location, cancer type, or stage of disease. This​ comprehensive program is available to anyone in the US, whether they’re on a Pfizer​ treatment or not, with a growing focus on those facing challenges accessing care. Visit ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com to learn more. I can't make this podcast happen without sponsors that believe in storytelling and the elevation of real patient voices. All views are my own, and the opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.

    1h 8m

  4. Apr 21

    Hiding the Burden of Cancer

    When you're a metastatic cancer patient and you've lived beyond the “expiration date” some people may have quietly assigned you, two things can be true at the same time: 1) I’m grateful every day for the time I get to spend with people I love, to be out in nature, to do work that gives me meaning. 2) I carry the burden of pain and long-term side effects, along with a kind of grief that has no single source, always humming in the background. But when the world wants to celebrate and shower you with confetti because you're still alive, sometimes you leave out the second part. Sometimes you hide the burden. This is what I talk about in my latest solo episode, #87 of the Man Up to Cancer Podcast. If it resonates, give it a listen and follow the show so we can reach more men who are going through this. SPONSOR SHOUT OUT! I want to thank my sponsor for this episode, Pfizer. This Is Living with Cancer™ is a free online resource developed by Pfizer Oncology for all people​ living with cancer, regardless of age, income, race, location, cancer type, or stage of disease. This​ comprehensive program is available to anyone in the US, whether they’re on a Pfizer​ treatment or not, with a growing focus on those facing challenges accessing care. Visit ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com to learn more. I can't make this podcast happen without sponsors that believe in storytelling and the elevation of real patient voices. All views are my own, and the opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.

    31 min

  5. Apr 7

    Throwback to Ep. 4: Cancer and marriage

    No new episode today. Instead, we throw it back to episode 4. This episode was recorded six years ago, in the spring of 2020. In the midst of a lockdown for the Covid-19 pandemic, I sat down with my wife Sarah and talked about our first two years living with cancer. Our daughters were 14 and 12. They are now 20 and 18. This is one of the most meaningful discussions I've ever recorded, and I'm proud to share it with you. My hope then -- and my hope now -- is that this episode will be helpful to couples navigating the treacherous waters of cancer, especially those who are newly diagnosed. Back then, we had no idea that I would still be alive in 2026, that our daughters would both be in college, and that my disease would be stable. I've been blessed with the privilege of raising the girls, being there for all of their milestones, and seeing them into adulthood. I'm also painfully aware that so many other patients, including people I've been fortunate enough to call my friends, don't get that extra time.

    1h 10m

  6. Mar 24

    When Cancer Derails Work

    Cancer doesn’t just hit your body. It hits your identity, your routine, and your sense of purpose. And for a lot of men, it hits one of the biggest pillars in our lives: our work. In this episode, I talk with my friend Jay Abramovitch about what happens when cancer derails your career. Jay was 36, in a leadership role, building a life with his wife, when a stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis changed everything. He kept working through treatment to hold onto normalcy. But when treatment ended, that’s when the real reckoning began. The structure was gone, and he was left asking: Who am I now, and what do I want my life to look like? What followed wasn’t a clean pivot. It was a couple years of feeling lost, trying different paths, and redefining his priorities — health, family, and purpose. Today, Jay works as a family support specialist helping people through loss. It’s not where he started, but it’s exactly where his experience led him. KEY TAKEAWAYS Cancer disrupts identity, not just healthThe hardest part can come after treatment endsWork can provide purpose — but also mask what’s really happeningPriorities shift: time, stress, and family take center stageCareer reinvention is messy and takes timeThere’s no single “right” way back to workSometimes growth means moving toward what scares you Organizations referenced in this episode St John Ambulance Ottawa Cancer Foundation CCRAN Colorectal Cancer Canada Resources for navigating work, legal rights, and finances: Cancer and Careers (workplace rights, job search, and career support during cancer) Cancer Legal Resource Center (free legal help + workplace rights) Triage Cancer (practical guidance on work, insurance, finances) Patient Advocate Foundation (case management + job/insurance support) CancerCare (counseling + workplace resources) National Cancer Legal Services Network (connects you to legal help) SPONSOR SHOUT OUT! I want to thank my sponsor for this episode, Pfizer. This Is Living with Cancer™ is a free online resource developed by Pfizer Oncology for all people​ living with cancer, regardless of age, income, race, location, cancer type, or stage of disease. This​ comprehensive program is available to anyone in the US, whether they’re on a Pfizer​ treatment or not, with a growing focus on those facing challenges accessing care. Visit ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com to learn more. I can't make this podcast happen without sponsors that believe in storytelling and the elevation of real patient voices. All views are my own, and the opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.

    43 min

  7. Mar 10

    We need laughter in #cancerland...Daniel G. Garza Brings It!

    Bringing Laughter to #cancerland Daniel G. Garza continues to cut up cancer audiences and other health audiences with his hilarious takes on the edgiest topics. He is fearless, relatable, and a healer at heart. Daniel is an anal cancer and HIV survivor whose lived experience fuels his mission to uplift and educate others. As the founder of LilMesican Productions Inc., Daniel creates spaces for storytelling, coaching, and advocacy, especially for Latinx, LGBTQIA2S, and health-challenged communities. His work with Cheeky Charity raises awareness of anal and colorectal cancer, and his background as a Reiki Master, Transpersonal Coach, and comedian allows him to blend healing and humor in transformative ways. Through workshops, public speaking, and creative media, Daniel inspires others to reclaim their dignity, embrace their power, and live with purpose. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdanielggarza/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamdanielggarza_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LilMesican SPONSOR SHOUT OUT! I want to thank my sponsor for this episode, Pfizer. This Is Living with Cancer™ is a free online resource developed by Pfizer Oncology for all people​ living with cancer, regardless of age, income, race, location, cancer type, or stage of disease. This​ comprehensive program is available to anyone in the US, whether they’re on a Pfizer​ treatment or not, with a growing focus on those facing challenges accessing care. Visit ThisIsLivingWithCancer.com to learn more. I can't make this podcast happen without sponsors that believe in storytelling and the elevation of real patient voices. All views are my own, and the opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of our sponsors.

    51 min

  8. Feb 24

    Two guys With Cancer and a Dream

    After a 693-day hiatus, the Man Up to Cancer Podcast is back! Join me and my right hand man in the movement to change the way men go through cancer, Joe Bullock. In this relaunch episode, Joe and I talk about the early development of Man Up to Cancer, our priorities for 2026, and our friendship that has sustained us over the past six years of doing this work together. You will hear shout-outs to Colontown, Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Jack's Caregiver Coalition, Cancer and Careers, and Duke's Mayo. And of course, Joe does not escape the Gauntlet of Random Questions! You'll learn which fast food chain mascots would win a brawl (hint: It's not Ronald McDonald). *One correction: Alex Pabon was a chef for a U.S. Army general, but not a "five-star" general. The point Joe was making remains 100 percent valid. Thanks to our sponsors for 2026, Pfizer and Foundation Medicine. You'll be hearing more about these sponsors later in the year. I couldn't do this work without their support and their belief in improving men's mental health and cancer health. Previous episodes with Joe Bullock Howling Joe Bullock, 7/14/20 Cancerland legend Joe Bullock is back to talk about the Howling Place, COLONTOWN JR., and... forest bathing#KFG #BDP, 1/12/21 Has Joe Bullock cloned himself? #Cancerland needs to know! 3/22/22 Man Up to Cancer grows up w/ Joe Bullock, 1/9/24

    53 min
See All (94)

5
out of 5
58 Ratings

About

I'm your host, Trevor Maxwell. I'm a stage IV colon cancer survivor, and I've got a message for other men: You don't have to go through cancer alone. On the Man Up to Cancer podcast, you can expect raw, unfiltered conversations about men, cancer, and our experiences. My guests will be other patients, survivors, advocates, health experts, and friends from #cancerland. We'll tackle a wide range of topics including cancer screenings, chemo, friendship, scars, sex and intimacy, grief, and the physical suck-fest of cancer. But .. PLOT TWIST.. we're also going to joke, laugh, and have fun. Visit us and join our community at www.manuptocancer.org.

Information

  • Creator
    Man Up to Cancer
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Man Up to Cancer
  • Show Website
    Man Up to Cancer

You Might Also Like