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.
Port Washington resident Christopher Berberabe III 41, will serve a one-year term as a Wolfpack Leader. Berberabe, a husband and father, is a stage III colorectal cancer survivor. He was diagnosed in May of 2020.
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.
“When I was diagnosed, my outlook on my life was pretty bleak. The only association I ever had with cancer was what you see on TV and the outcome is hardly ever good. I also felt alone,” Berberabe said. “Even though I had support from my friends and family, I felt that no one understood what I was going through. It wasn’t until I joined the Man Up to Cancer group that I found those I can relate with and those that can truly empathize with the struggles after cancer diagnosis. It was the first time I really felt some hope.”
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.”
