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Finding the Right Social Group with Bill Thach and JJ Singleton. Episode 43.
In this moving episode of "Cracking Cancer," host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by JJ Singleton and Bill Thach to discuss the "hidden" struggle of the cancer experience: social isolation, specifically among men. Both JJ and Bill share a striking commonality—it took each of them five years post-diagnosis to find a social support group that actually resonated with their needs.
The conversation dives deep into why traditional support groups often fail men, particularly Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patients. Bill and JJ candidly discuss the "stoic male" stereotype, the fear of having vulnerability weaponized, and the frustration of groups that focus solely on medical jargon rather than real-life struggles. They highlight the transformative power of Man Up to Cancer, a community that prioritizes social-emotional support and "campfire-style" vulnerability over clinical agendas. From navigating terminal diagnoses to the "superpower" of asking for help, this episode is a roadmap for any man—or loved one of a man—looking to break the silence and find a community that truly understands the weight of the fight.
Key Takeaways
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer
Chapters:
(00:00) Why Social Support Matters in Cancer
(05:08) Finding the Right Fit: Facebook Groups, AYA Meetups, and Time Barriers
(13:48) Safe Vulnerability: Trust, Brotherhood, and Men Supporting Men
(22:18) When Support Groups Hurt
(33:35) The real cost of “miracle cures.”
(42:00) Beyond disease type: building support around shared social struggle
(53:55) Bill’s postcard moment: joining, lurking, then going to Gathering of Wolves
(57:40) Taking the leap to an in-person retreat
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos
View all episodes
By Dr. Concannon and the Patient CommunityIn this moving episode of "Cracking Cancer," host Dr. Kyle Concannon is joined by JJ Singleton and Bill Thach to discuss the "hidden" struggle of the cancer experience: social isolation, specifically among men. Both JJ and Bill share a striking commonality—it took each of them five years post-diagnosis to find a social support group that actually resonated with their needs.
The conversation dives deep into why traditional support groups often fail men, particularly Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patients. Bill and JJ candidly discuss the "stoic male" stereotype, the fear of having vulnerability weaponized, and the frustration of groups that focus solely on medical jargon rather than real-life struggles. They highlight the transformative power of Man Up to Cancer, a community that prioritizes social-emotional support and "campfire-style" vulnerability over clinical agendas. From navigating terminal diagnoses to the "superpower" of asking for help, this episode is a roadmap for any man—or loved one of a man—looking to break the silence and find a community that truly understands the weight of the fight.
Key Takeaways
Want to get more involved with cancer research and support the podcast? Visit the link below: ⬇️ (All proceeds go strictly towards furthering cancer research and supporting this podcast)
Giving.CU.EDU/CrackingCancer
Chapters:
(00:00) Why Social Support Matters in Cancer
(05:08) Finding the Right Fit: Facebook Groups, AYA Meetups, and Time Barriers
(13:48) Safe Vulnerability: Trust, Brotherhood, and Men Supporting Men
(22:18) When Support Groups Hurt
(33:35) The real cost of “miracle cures.”
(42:00) Beyond disease type: building support around shared social struggle
(53:55) Bill’s postcard moment: joining, lurking, then going to Gathering of Wolves
(57:40) Taking the leap to an in-person retreat
To find out more about supporting the show and research endeavors, please go to the following website: www.crackingcancer.org
Attributions
The music track - Progression Pulse - is provided by Denys Brodovskyi through the Attribution 4.0 International License
X: (1) Cracking Cancer Podcast (@Cracking_Cancer) / X
IG: Cracking Cancer (@crackingcancerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos