It Takes Balls

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. He describes months of gr...

When Australian doctor Steve Coates suddenly developed severe abdominal pain during a hospital shift, he never imagined he’d become the patient himself. Diagnosed with testicular cancer that had already spread to his retroperitoneal lymph nodes, Steve’s experience as both physician and patient offers a rare, deeply human perspective on the realities of testicular cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, an...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Alex Skerget shares his candid journey from first symptoms of testicular cancer, through diagnosis, surgery (orchiectomy), and the anxiety of nearly starting chemotherapy as his tumor markers stayed high. 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 complica...

Jesse Beck’s journey with stage 3 testicular cancer began in an unexpected way: persistent back pain. At first, he chalked it up to getting older or from dancing again after years away, but the pain escalated until he could hardly walk or sit. Doctors initially suspected autoimmune issues, but tests eventually revealed enlarged lymph nodes, a tumor pressing into his spine, and dangerous blood clot...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Monica Bryant, Esq., Chief Mission Officer of Triage Cancer, unpacks the legal and financial rights that every patient, survivor, and caregiver needs to know. Drawing on her expertise as a lawyer and nationally recognized speaker, Monica breaks down how critical protections like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, 26-year-old survivor Jonny King shares his powerful story of discovering a testicular lump, receiving a cancer diagnosis, and navigating treatment through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Jonny first noticed his symptoms during a self-exam - an essential tool in the early detection of testicular cancer. Within weeks, he was on the urgent cancer pathway, un...

Editor’s Note:  Since this episode was published, we were saddened to learn of Christopher’s passing in December 2025. We are deeply grateful to Christopher for sharing his story on the podcast and for the strength, honesty, and hope he brought to our testicular cancer community. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. In this episode of It Takes Balls, 29-year-old Christopher Beck shares...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, husband, father, and testicular cancer survivor Ryan Rayfield shares his powerful story of early detection, recurrence, and the long road through surgery, chemotherapy, and recovery. 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 1S non-seminoma, he opted for a robotic RP...

In this deeply reflective episode of It Takes Balls, testicular cancer survivor David Rimmer shares a powerful story of diagnosis, survivorship, and resilience that spans more than 30 years. Diagnosed in 1992 at age 32, long before awareness campaigns or internet support groups, David navigated cancer with little guidance, learning to advocate for himself and seek out the best possible care. From...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Chris Ray (cardio-oncology specialist) and Dr. Bryan Taylor (exercise physiologist) break down what every testicular cancer patient and survivor should know about protecting their heart, rebuilding their strength, and monitoring long-term health after treatment. The discussion dives into how certain chemotherapies - especially those used for tes...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, pediatric anesthesiologist Aaron Bernotas shares his rollercoaster journey through testicular cancer - one that had fertility challenges, grueling treatment, and rare complications that pushed him to the brink. Aaron opens up about discovering a lump, downplaying it at first, and ultimately undergoing surgery the day after his urologist confirmed it was suspiciou...

In this moving episode of It Takes Balls, Andrew Kettner shares his powerful story of battling primary mediastinal non-seminomatous germ cell cancer (PMNSGCT), a rare and aggressive form of testicular cancer that showed up not in his testicles, but in his chest. Andrew opens up about the subtle symptoms he first noticed: shortness of breath, fatigue, and elevated heart rate - symptoms he initially...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Luke Alter, an assistant state attorney and testicular cancer survivor, shares his raw, powerful story of being misled and eventually forced to fight for his life. At just 27, Luke went from grappling on the jiu-jitsu mats to confronting a swollen testicle assumed to be a sports injury. After weeks of worsening symptoms and a urologist brushing him off, he pushed...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Josh Moore - a gym owner, coach, father of three, and testicular cancer survivor - shares a brutally honest and humorous look at what it really means to live through cancer. Josh shares how he first discovered a lump in the shower in 2021, initially brushed it off, and later found himself with two incisions (thanks to a surgical “oops”), and a grueling chemo regi...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Dr. Nabil Adra, a medical oncologist at Indiana University Health and leading researcher in testicular cancer care explores everything from recurrence and refractory disease to the latest advancements in treatment and monitoring. Dr. Adra breaks down risk categories that guide treatment - good, intermediate, and poor - and explains how factors like tumor type and...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, 19-year-old testicular cancer survivor and Tulane student Hunter Addy shares what it was like to be diagnosed after finding a lump just three days into his freshman year of college. 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 fro...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Justin Courtright, a young father, software engineer, and testicular cancer survivor, talks about navigating the ups and downs of diagnosis, treatment, and life after cancer. 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 whir...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Bob Jordan, a Brooklyn-based designer and snowboarder, shares the raw, emotional, and at times unbelievable journey of his testicular cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. 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...

For years, Patrick Hansen knew something wasn’t right. In this episode of It Takes Balls, he shares his long and frustrating road to a diagnosis after multiple doctors dismissed his growing lump as harmless. 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. While not test...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Dr. Rob Hamilton, a urologic oncologist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto in Canada, takes a deep dive into the science, strategy, and nuance of testicular cancer surveillance. Dr. Hamilton brings a unique perspective on how testicular cancer treatment must consider not just a cure—but the decades of life that follow. With a focus on ac...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Mike Knebel, a testicular cancer survivor from Nebraska, opens up about how training for a half marathon initially masked the warning signs of testicular cancer, leading to a delayed diagnosis at age 41. He recounts the whirlwind process of discovering a lump, undergoing an orchiectomy, and later facing a tough decision regarding an RPLND surgery. The conversatio...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Allan Zarach shares his journey of surviving testicular cancer twice. Diagnosed for the first time in his late teens, Allan ignored early warning signs before ultimately undergoing surgery and chemotherapy. After years of surveillance, he thought his cancer battle was behind him until 22 years later, when testicular cancer struck again. This time, however, a rout...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Scott Middleton talks about his unexpected battle with testicular cancer and how it changed his life in ways he never anticipated. After a chance discovery led to a doctor’s visit, Scott found himself on a fast track to surgery—losing one testicle, then the other, and later undergoing chemotherapy when the cancer spread. As an actor and athlete, he had to adjust...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Dominic Gross, an FBI special agent and testicular cancer survivor, shares his journey from diagnosis to recovery. Dominic first noticed something was off while going through intense SWAT training, experiencing pain and swelling that he initially brushed aside. Struggling to find a primary care provider, he eventually secured an appointment, which led to a quick...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Dr. Steven Bradley, a critical care anesthesiologist and host of The Black Doctors Podcast, offers an insider’s perspective on anesthesia and surgical care, especially for testicular cancer patients. As a physician who has personally undergone an orchiectomy, Dr. Bradley shares his unique dual perspective as both a doctor and a patient, shedding light on what hap...