Frank Graham | Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
This March, in honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we’re spotlighting some of the incredible warriors in our community who continue to face cancer with courage, humor, and honesty. Meet Frank Graham—a husband, a deer hunter, and one of our Man Up to Cancer brothers who reminds us that vulnerability is strength.
Frank’s story is raw and real. His symptoms started with ongoing bowel issues that slowly worsened. Like so many men, he brushed them off—until they became impossible to ignore.
“I got to the point that after sitting down to have a bowel movement, I found myself grabbing the trash can at the same time—I didn’t know if I was going to poop or throw up. I was 57 when I finally had a colonoscopy, after years of my wife urging me to get one.”
Frank shares what many men feel but rarely say aloud: it wasn’t the fear of the results that held him back at first—it was the stigma.
“I wasn’t afraid of the results initially. It was more the idea of having something stuck up my butt. Later on, that fear of the results did come in. But by then, it was too late. The gastroenterologist said the cancer had gone through the side of the colon and had likely started at least five years earlier. Now I wish more than anything that I had listened to my wife when I turned 50.”
Frank's message to others is simple, but urgent: don’t wait.
“Please, oh please schedule your colonoscopy when you reach the recommended age. If you have symptoms or a family history, get screened even sooner. And if you’re worried about insurance, fight for it. More and more young people are being diagnosed now. I don’t know exactly what caused mine, but I suspect our environment—processed food additives, pesticides, chemical treatments—it’s all playing a part.”
It was Frank’s wife again who pointed him toward something that would change his cancer journey: community.
“She encouraged me to find a support group. I started with Colontown, which was helpful, but eventually someone from Man Up to Cancer reached out. I was drawn in by the idea of a men-only space where we could talk freely. That’s rare.”
Frank attended his first Gathering of Wolves retreat last year, and although he was recovering from a chemo infusion during the trip, the experience left a lasting impact.
“I didn’t get to do everything because I forgot my anti-nausea meds—but Tanner Martin and Andrew Crowley saved the day. Being around so many guys I had only known from posts… sharing stories, laughing, crying—it left an imprint. Especially the night by the campfire when we read the names of the wolves we’ve lost. That part hit me hard.”
Frank is already looking forward to the next GOW—and hoping to take part in the full experience. His story is a testament to resilience, but also to the power of listening—to your body, to your partner, and to your fellow wolves.
