Justin Sandler's Battle With a Rare Germ Cell Tumor
Justin Sandler's Battle With a Rare Germ Cell Tumor
Episode 111
In this powerful episode of It Takes Balls, Justin Sandler shares his extraordinary journey with a primary mediastinal germ cell tumor, a rare form of testicular cancer that developed in his chest — not his testicles. After months of unexplained chest spasms and being told it was muscular, a CT scan revealed a rapidly growing 14cm tumor pressing against his heart and lung. Doctors at UCLA delivered a sobering reality: without aggressive treatment, the tumor could crush his heart.
Justin underwent four rounds of VIP chemotherapy (cisplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide), administered inpatient 24 hours a day for a week at a time. He openly discusses the brutal side effects of chemo, including severe pain, tinnitus from cisplatin, dangerously low platelet counts, and the emotional toll of living in the oncology ward. After chemo reduced the tumor to a dead mass, he endured an 8.5-hour open chest surgery, losing two-thirds of his right lung, part of his heart wall, and major veins that had to be reconstructed.
But the fight didn’t end there. Just months later, Justin experienced a life-threatening cardiac tamponade, requiring emergency heart surgery while awake. Through it all, he leaned on a philosophy he calls “Embrace Love Free” — choosing acceptance, mindset, movement, and service over anger and victimhood. From walking hospital laps with his chemo pole to performing a one-man show about his experience, Justin transformed trauma into purpose.
This episode explores rare extragonadal germ cell tumors, aggressive chemotherapy for testicular cancer, major thoracic surgery, survivorship challenges, post-cancer depression, and the mental resilience required to rebuild life after treatment. It’s a must-listen for anyone facing testicular cancer, rare cancers, chemotherapy, or long-term cancer recovery.
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