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.
Read MoreHe 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.
Read MoreFreshly 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.
Read MoreCelebrate 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.
Read MoreAt 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreAlex 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.
Read MoreThroughout 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreHe 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.
Read MoreNow, 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.
Read MoreRyan’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.
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