Testicular Cancer Blogs & Podcasts

Matt opens up about the physical and mental toll of four rounds of chemo - nausea, hiccups, fear before each cycle - and how he juggled treatment with grad school. He reflects on finding support through nurses, fellow survivors, and online communities, and how skateboarding helped him stay grounded. Matt also revisits his major post-chemo RPLND surgery and his long recovery back to mobility and strength.

He shares how he protected his daughters emotionally, how anxiety and scanxiety impact families, and the importance of community support. Jon talks about empathy, masculinity, vulnerability, and advice for newly diagnosed testicular cancer patients: take symptoms seriously, fight early, and let people help you.

Freshly into adulthood, Peyton Dickinson was balancing school and setting new PRs when a sudden swelling in his testicle turned out to be testicular cancer. What followed was an unexpected journey through diagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy.

The Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation (TCAF) celebrated its 10th annual Testicular Cancer Conference in Boston, bringing together patients, survivors, caregivers, and leading medical experts to highlight 16 years of progress in awareness, survivorship, and research.

Celebrate 100 episodes of It Takes Balls, the podcast dedicated to raising awareness and sharing real stories from men affected by testicular cancer. Recorded live at the 10th Annual Testicular Cancer Conference in Boston, this milestone episode features survivors, past guests, and medical experts reflecting on the impact of the show and the progress made in testicular cancer education, treatment, and survivorship.

At just 15 years old, Mike Oshinski was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer — at a time when awareness was almost nonexistent. In this powerful episode of It Takes Balls, Mike shares his journey from a small-town high school athlete to surviving stage 3C metastatic testicular cancer with the help of Dr. Lawrence Einhorn’s groundbreaking cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Celebrating 16 years of raising awareness, supporting survivors, and promoting early detection, the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation reflects on milestones, events, and partnerships that have helped save lives-including the Deadpool PSA, the World Marathon Challenge, golf tournaments, and our Testicular Cancer Conference Boston 2025.

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Steve shares how his unique vantage point reshaped the way he practices medicine, from understanding the emotional toll of cancer treatment to recognizing the long-term anxiety that follows remission. He also discusses the challenges of balancing fatherhood, mental health, and vulnerability while going through orchiectomy, BEP chemotherapy, and the ups and downs of follow-up scans and tumor markers.

Alex opens up about navigating cancer as a young adult in college, the challenges of sperm banking and fertility decisions, and how his medical history complicated treatment choices. Nearly five years later, he reflects on survivorship, the mental health toll of testicular cancer, and why young men must learn to check themselves and speak openly about their health.

Throughout his journey, dance became his anchor. Even while using a cane and conserving energy, Jesse continued choreographing and teaching ballet classes as a way to hold onto joy and creativity during treatment. Support from his family and friends in both California and New York helped carry him through long hospital stays, setbacks, and scanxiety.

The conversation also dives into the complexities of health insurance. From understanding the differences between HMOs and PPOs to spotting common medical billing errors, Monica provides clear guidance to help patients avoid financial traps during treatment. She also sheds light on disability insurance and financial assistance programs that can ease the crushing costs of cancer care.

He opens up about the emotional and physical challenges of treatment, including hair loss, isolation during chemo, recovery after major surgery, and the lasting impact on fertility and body image. Jonny also reflects on what it means to navigate survivorship as a young gay man, underscoring the importance of mental health support and community connection after cancer.

Now, Christopher is enrolled in a cutting-edge CAR T-cell therapy trial - a hopeful step forward. He shares candid reflections on the mental weight of recurrence, the isolation of dealing with a rare cancer, and the importance of keeping faith while making space for both grief and gratitude.

Ryan’s journey began mid-flight on a work trip when unexpected groin pain led to a self-check that changed everything. Diagnosed with stage 1B non-seminoma, he opted for a robotic RPLND at the University of Pennsylvania in hopes of avoiding chemotherapy. With clean scans and pathology, it seemed the worst was behind him - until a month later, rising HCG tumor markers revealed a microscopic recurrence that imaging couldn’t catch.

David’s story doesn’t end with testicular cancer. In the years that followed, he faced multiple additional diagnoses - chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), basal cell carcinoma, and low-grade prostate cancer. Yet through it all, he has maintained a sense of perspective, purpose, and humor. He opens up about how survivorship reshaped his identity, the long shadow cancer casts over even the cleanest scans, and how he finds comfort in staying proactive with his health.

The discussion dives into how certain chemotherapies - especially those used for testicular cancer - can quietly weaken blood vessels and heart tissue, even in young men. With cardiovascular disease being the leading long-term cause of death in cancer survivors, Dr. Ray explains why testicular cancer treatment should always include proactive cardiac screening and long-term fitness monitoring.

The episode dives into the emotional impact of facing cancer while juggling a demanding medical career and processing the blow of infertility. Aaron later faced recurrence, underwent three rounds of BEP chemotherapy, and then an RPLND surgery. But what followed was a rare complication: chylous ascites, a buildup of lymphatic fluid in the abdomen. After months of procedures - including multiple drainings, gluing, a second exploratory surgery, and the placement of a Denver shunt - his condition finally resolved over 18 months after his initial diagnosis.

With a prognosis of only 40–50% survival at two years, Andrew began a grueling VIP chemotherapy regimen, complicated by a blood clot and extreme side effects including weight loss and neuropathy. He credits his survival not only to expert care at Walter Reed and Indiana University Health but also to the unshakable support of his wife, children, and medical team.

What followed was a whirlwind of scans, cross-country travel, and life-changing decisions. Luke opens up about going through four rounds of EP chemo, how a delayed diagnosis led to Stage IIIB disease, and the emotional toll of facing mortality at such a young age. He talks honestly about fear, depression, hair loss, and finding light through friends, family, Reddit threads, and complete strangers who showed up when he needed it most.

But this isn’t just a story about setbacks. Josh opens up about using humor to cope - turning ball jokes into a survival tactic, considering stand-up comedy, and keeping things light even when things got heavy. He reflects on the support of his family, his gym community, and the middle and high school athletes who unknowingly helped keep him going through the worst of it.

Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation supports Men’s Health Week, promoting early detection and breaking the silence around men’s health issues.

A major highlight of the episode is the discussion of innovative diagnostic tools like circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and microRNA-371. These biomarkers are making it possible to detect microscopic cancer earlier and more accurately, with the goal of reducing overtreatment and improving outcomes.

Hunter recounts the shock of discovering a lump almost immediately after moving onto campus - just as he was settling into college life. What followed was a whirlwind of confusion from first being diagnosed with epididymitis to later being told he needs 4 rounds of chemo. At an age when most students are focused on classes and dorm life, Hunter was undergoing surgery and processing a cancer diagnosis away from home.

Justin shares how a routine workout and a casual self-check led to a life-changing discovery - and how early instincts, combined with persistence and self-advocacy, helped him through a whirlwind year. He explains how he turned to AI tools for clarity when the medical system left him with questions, and facing the shock of a recurrence.

On April 27, 2025, Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation (TCAF) hosted a Meet & Greet at the WAKUDA within the Palazzo at the Venetian in Las Vegas. The event was sponsored by Fennec Pharmaceuticals and took place during AUA 2025 Las Vegas, attracting over 50 attendees, including leading urologic oncologists and researchers in the field of testicular cancer.

What began as a routine backcountry snowboarding trip ended with a bump, a tick bite, and a series of misdiagnoses that nearly cost Bob his life. From fighting for answers to confronting a flawed healthcare system, Bob shares how intuition, persistence, and community helped him survive one of the most challenging periods of his life.

The 14th annual Tee Off for Testicular Cancer raised over $30,000 at Sewell’s Point Golf Course, bringing together survivors, supporters, and sponsors for a fun-filled day of awareness.

It wasn’t until a persistent general practitioner stepped in that Patrick finally discovered the truth - he had a paratesticular liposarcoma, a rare and often overlooked cancer.

With a focus on active surveillance, he demystifies the term and explains how closely monitored checkups using blood markers, imaging, and physical exams can help reduce the risk of over-treatment. From managing relapse anxiety and reducing unnecessary CT scan radiation, to why Canadian guidelines emphasize quality of life and long-term survivorship, this conversation is rich with expert insight and practical clarity.

As a father, husband, and advocate, Mike reflects on how his journey has reshaped his perspective on health, resilience, and the power of community.