Albany man joins leadership role for cancer support group ‘Man Up to Cancer’
Chris Taylor, a Non-Hodgkin’s lymohoma survivor from Albany, is among 18 members selected to promote the growing men’s cancer support community
ALBANY, Ga. – Man Up to Cancer, an online community that inspires men to avoid isolation when facing a cancer diagnosis, has selected 18 members to help expand its reach across the U.S. and Canada.
Chris Taylor, 64, of Albany will serve a one-year term as a Wolfpack Leader. Taylor was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2010, and he has gone through multiple radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
The Wolfpack Leaders will connect with local cancer centers and will provide direct support to fellow cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers facing all types of cancer. Man Up to Cancer is comprised of a website, podcast, social media, and a Facebook group of more than 1,300 men, known informally as the Wolfpack.
“I was finding it hard to deal with some of the side effects and having cancer in general. I was looking for other men to talk to, but I didn’t want them to think I was weak. I found Man Up to Cancer through another cancer group called Epic Experience. I joined the group and soon learned there were other men who were also suffering from anxiety, depression, and mental health problems,” Taylor said.
“There is a huge diversity of people and there is never any judgment. I was amazed how other men were admitting that they cried and had problems with anxiety. Man Up to Cancer helped me to see that it is OK to not be OK. The emotional support from all these men is fantastic. How could I not want to share this with everyone?”
Trevor Maxwell, a stage IV colorectal cancer survivor from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, founded Man Up to Cancer in January of 2020. Studies show men are more likely than women to isolate when facing cancer, and are more likely to struggle with depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges during treatment and survivorship, Maxwell said.
“The core of Man Up to Cancer is about being strong enough to accept help. We’re trying to flip the script on what ‘manning up’ means,” Maxwell said. “That’s why the Wolfpack Leaders program has such great potential. These men represent all regions of the U.S. and Canada, and they’re stepping up as role models.”
