It Takes Balls

Attend the 2026 Testicular Cancer Conference: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/tcc-indianapolis-2026 In this episode of It Takes Balls, Nate Edwards shares how finding a lump the day after his 34th birthday led to a testicular cancer diagnosis in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although two people in Nate's life had previously been diagnosed with testicular cancer, includin...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Tony Florio shares one of the most unusual testicular cancer stories featured on the podcast. An attorney, husband, and father of two young kids, 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....

In this episode of It Takes Balls, recent law-grad Jack shares how a symptom many men might dismiss led to a life-changing testicular cancer diagnosis. Ironically, Jack describes himself as a lifelong "hypochondriac," someone who routinely worried about his health. Yet when this symptom first appeared, even he wasn't convinced it was anything serious. Living alone in New York City wh...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, testicular cancer survivor Tony Salas shares how his cancer journey led him into one of the newest and most rapidly evolving areas of cancer surveillance: MicroRNA-371 testing and Signatera ctDNA monitoring. Tony opens up about the symptoms and diagnosis that changed his life, including the whirlwind of appointments, surgery, and learning how quickly testicular c...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, licensed marriage and family therapist Renee Calhoun joins the podcast to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of a testicular cancer diagnosis: the emotional and relational impact it can have on patients, partners, children, and families. Drawing from her professional experience as an LMFT, Renee explains how cancer affects far more than physical health. T...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Dylan Bolton shares a testicular cancer journey that quickly turned into a fight for his life. In his early 30s, with a wife and two young daughters, Dylan noticed swelling in his testicle that continued to grow until he finally sought medical attention. Within days, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent an orchiectomy. Dylan began treatment for a...

In this special episode of It Takes Balls, the podcast heads to the golf course for the second annual Tee Off for Testicular Cancer tournament in Norfolk, Virginia. Recorded from a golf cart, this episode captures the energy of a day dedicated to testicular cancer awareness, fundraising, and community. Joined by returning guest BJ Lange, TCAF founder Kim Jones, and some event sponsor representativ...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Luke Jillson shares how a subtle symptom—heaviness in his testicle—led to a testicular cancer diagnosis. With no pain, it would have been easy to ignore, but mentioning it during a routine physical set off a chain of events that led to early detection and immediate action. Initially diagnosed with early-stage embryonal carcinoma, Luke underwent an orchiectomy (te...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Jeff Pilachowski shares his journey through testicular cancer, shaped by his identity as a veteran, father of boys, business owner, and man of faith. Self-employed and responsible not just for his health, but for his livelihood, he talks about having to postpone work for a new client. That reality added another layer of pressure to an already life-altering diagno...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Dr. Sia Daneshmand, a leading urologic oncologist at USC, joins the conversation to break down the realities of testicular cancer treatment, surgery, and long-term outcomes. Known for his expertise in complex cases and extraperitoneal RPLNDs, Dr. Daneshmand shares how advances in surgery and a personalized approach to care are improving survival while reducing un...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Osvaldo Castro shares his experience with testicular cancer 15 years ago as a 24-year-old man of Mexican descent. At first, he ignored what felt like a lump and assumed it was a hernia. But over the course of several months, the lump grew heavier and more painful, eventually causing back pain — one of the lesser-realized symptoms of testicular cancer. By the time...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Greg Gajewski shares what it’s like to face testicular cancer not once, but twice. Diagnosed at just 29 years old shortly after getting married, Greg was healthy, active, and focused on building his life when he discovered something unusual and decided to get it checked. That decision led to a life-changing diagnosis and surgery to remove the affected testicle. A...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Eduardo Celis, a Venezuelan-American, shares his journey through testicular cancer at age 35, a diagnosis that can feel especially unexpected for men who consider themselves healthy and in their prime. Eduardo opens up about noticing changes after a vasectomy, navigating the uncertainty of symptoms, and ultimately hearing the words no one expects. He walks throug...

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 delivere...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Dr. Darren Feldman, a genitourinary medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, provides a deep, evidence-based conversation on testicular cancer treatment, chemotherapy decision-making, and long-term survivorship. Dr. Feldman breaks down how cisplatin transformed testicular cancer from a fatal disease into one of the most curable solid tumors,...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Brian Carlson shares his powerful and rare experience of being diagnosed with testicular cancer twice, nearly a decade apart — first with an aggressive non-seminoma germ cell tumor, and later with seminoma affecting his remaining testicle. Diagnosed in his mid-20s the first time, Brian walks through how subtle pain led to rapid imaging, orchiectomy, and three cyc...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Don Dworek, a physician, U.S. Army veteran, and preventive neurologist, shares his experience being diagnosed with testicular cancer in his early 50s, well outside the age range most men associate with the disease. Don explains how regular self-exams helped him notice a small but concerning change, leading to rapid testing, diagnosis, and surgery. His story reinf...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Colin Safley — an opera singer and suit salesman — shares his experience navigating testicular cancer while facing a decision that could impact both his health and his livelihood. When treatment options included BEP chemotherapy, Colin was forced to weigh survival against the potential risk to his lungs, ultimately choosing a path that prioritized protecting his...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Mohammad shares his rarely heard and emotionally complex journey through a testicular tumor diagnosis that ultimately turned out to be benign, but not without life-altering consequences. After noticing a slow-growing lump in his testicle over several years, Mohammad sought medical advice and was told removal was urgent, with little discussion of alternative optio...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, urologist and men’s health expert Dr. Justin Dubin joins the show to dismantle some of the most common myths and misunderstandings surrounding testicular cancer, testosterone, and talks about the explosion of misinformation online. Dr. Dubin breaks down topics like pregnancy tests for testicular cancer, marijuana use and cancer risk, vaping, prosthetics, and why...

In this powerful episode of It Takes Balls, Australian guest Matt P shares his extraordinary path to a testicular cancer diagnosis that initially appeared to be a rare and life-threatening sarcoma. What began as persistent back pain, rising blood pressure, and unexplained fatigue spiraled into the discovery of a football-sized tumor wrapped around major organs, including his kidney and psoas muscl...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Matt Guilloty shares his intense journey through stage IIIB non-seminomatous testicular cancer. What he believed was a hydrocele kept growing until his testicle reached “the size of an avocado,” eventually leading to a shocking diagnosis delivered while he was driving on the highway. Matt describes the moment he learned his AFP tumor markers were 3,389, his cance...

In this powerful episode of It Takes Balls, testicular cancer survivor Jon Reiner shares his rare experience battling the disease twice, 15 years apart. Jon explains how he first noticed symptoms, what his testicle felt like, and he walks through ultrasound, tumor markers, orchiectomy surgery, radiation therapy, and the shock of recurrence after more than a decade. Jon also explores life after los...

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. In this episode of It Takes Balls, Peyton shares his raw and honest story — from early symptoms to learning the importance of self-exams and early detection....

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,...