Testicular Cancer Blogs & Podcasts

This conversation is packed with practical, actionable guidance. Dr. Swartz explains why every patient should get a baseline audiogram before starting treatment (tested out to 20,000 Hz, not the standard 8,000) and a follow-up 6–8 weeks after finishing, how to protect the hearing you have from added noise damage, and how far modern hearing aids have come — now rechargeable, Bluetooth-enabled, and self-adjusting thousands of times per second. She also covers cochlear implants, listening strategies (sound bars, closed captioning, choosing the restaurant booth), and how partners and family can become better communicators.

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Faced with several paths — BEP chemotherapy, carboplatin plus radiation, or a robotic RPLND — Bray walks through one of the most difficult decisions of his life. He explains why he had concerns about the long-term risks of chemo and radiation, and chose a robotic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection Penn. Of the 15 lymph nodes removed, five contained cancer — more than expected, but still low-volume, with no adjuvant therapy needed and roughly an 80% chance of staying recurrence-free at two years.

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At just 24, personal trainer Andrejs Lejietis was building a business and living what he thought was a healthy, active life in Stockholm, Sweden — until a strange abdominal pain that kept returning after lunch led to one of the most confusing diagnoses in testicular cancer. In this episode of It Takes Balls, our first-ever Swedish guest shares a remarkable story about an extragonadal germ cell tumor: testicular cancer with no primary tumor in the testicles at all.

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David doesn't hold back about the gaps in his care, from "factory"-like bedside manner to Googling his way to a nearby cancer center and an experienced surgeon he'd never been told about. His post-chemo RPLND removed 21 lymph nodes (all negative) but left him navigating a brutal recovery that nearly broke him.

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Despite enduring more treatment than most typical testicular cancer survivors, Taylor continues fighting with remarkable optimism while managing an active brain tumor and ongoing surveillance.

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The conversation also dives into one of the most debated topics in testicular cancer today: the future of surveillance. Dr. Heidenreich discusses emerging blood tests that could reshape how recurrence is detected and monitored, offering his perspective. Rather than accepting the latest technology at face value, he explains why some innovations may hold more promise than others and what that could mean for the future of testicular cancer care.

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After undergoing an orchiectomy, Nate learned he had 100% embryonal carcinoma, the same aggressive type of testicular cancer that affected Lance Armstrong. As a new father, he suddenly found himself navigating sperm banking, treatment decisions, and the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.

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Tony was on paternity leave when he developed a persistent ache in his lower abdomen. There was no lump, no testicular pain, and no obvious signs of testicular cancer, just a nagging discomfort that refused to go away.

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Jack opens up about navigating cancer largely on his own, with family hundreds of miles away in Wisconsin (visiting after surgery) and friends helping him through recovery in New York. He shares the emotional moment when the reality of being a cancer survivor finally hit him—days after surgery, alone in a friend's apartment, when weeks of fear, uncertainty, and stress came pouring out all at once.

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Tony discusses using MicroRNA 371, an emerging blood test showing major promise in detecting active germ cell tumors, along with Signatera, a personalized circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) test designed to monitor for residual disease and recurrence. He shares what it was like balancing traditional surveillance methods like CT scans and tumor markers with these newer technologies, and how the uncertainty of recurrence can weigh heavily on survivors mentally and emotionally.

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Drawing from her professional experience as an LMFT, Renee explains how cancer affects far more than physical health. The conversation explores the fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and identity shifts that often follow a diagnosis, especially for men who may feel pressure to stay strong or avoid emotional vulnerability. She also shares practical insight into how couples can communicate more effectively during treatment and recovery, even when both partners are struggling in different ways.

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Dylan began treatment for a non-seminoma germ cell tumor with EP chemotherapy, but midway through, his condition took a devastating turn. What started as standard cancer treatment escalated into severe complications, including sepsis and gangrene, leaving him hospitalized in critical condition. At one point, his family was called in to say goodbye.

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