In 2020 a doctor told Tim McDonald he had cancer and that it had already spread to his liver. A few months later an oncologist told him something worse. She said she was going to put him on a chemo that gave him the highest quality of life, because he only had three years left to live.
Tim did not say anything out loud. In his head he said four words. That's your story, not mine.
Six years later he is still here.
This is the Best Moment from Tim McDonald's episode of The Upgraded Man. Eleven minutes, and it is the part of the conversation worth hearing if you only have time for one thing.
Tim McDonald is a stage 4 colorectal cancer survivor, a Research Advocate with Fight Colorectal Cancer, and the Florida Chapter Leader for Man Up To Cancer. He spent 17 years building online communities for major brands before he turned that same work toward patients.
Here is what is in this one:
- The conversation with his doctor that made the doctor ask if something was wrong with him
- The question he asked back. If I act any differently, would it change what you just told me
- Why his first thought after hearing the word cancer was not about himself
- The drive home, and the words he had to say to his wife with no time to soften them
- Why knowing almost nothing about cancer may have protected his mindset
- What success actually means in oncology, and why it is not what most people assume
- The appointment where he was given three years, and what he said to his wife in the elevator after
- The change in himself he could not see until he looked back at it
- Why the people he is closest to now are not the people he worked beside for 17 years
- The pattern he noticed as a young man. Men work their whole lives, plan to travel when they retire, and die before they go
- What he does differently now. Doing instead of planning, and how he moved his infusion schedule to travel with his wife
If you have been putting something off until later, this is the eleven minutes to give it.
Find Tim at advocacyatwork.com and on LinkedIn at Tim A. McDonald.
The Upgraded Man is for men who refuse to stay complacent. New episodes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Subscribe, and if this one hits, send it to someone who needs it.
This episode may or may not be sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, meaning we'll receive a small commission if you buy something.
===========================
⚡️ PODCAST: Subscribe and listen on all major platforms
⚡️ Want to be a guest on The Upgraded Man? Apply here ➡ https://upgraded-man.com/guest
⚡️ For support or business inquiries, email us ➡ chris@upgraded-man.com
Our mission at The Upgraded Man is simple — help men upgrade every area of their life through real conversations, honest stories, and actionable insight from men who have done the work.
Want to be a guest on The Upgraded Man? Send Chris Anderson a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/upgradedmanpodcast
The content on The Upgraded Man is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not constitute professional legal, financial, medical, or therapeutic advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on information discussed on this podcast.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
