It Takes Balls

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Surendra Ananth opens up about his battle with stage 3 testicular cancer and the unexpected path it took him on. With symptoms that didn’t point to his testicles at first, Surendra’s diagnosis came late—forcing him to make tough decisions about treatment. From navigating Malaysia’s healthcare system to traveling to India for his RPLND, he shares the physical and...

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Arjun Sud opens up about his life-changing battle with testicular cancer and the profound lessons he’s learned along the way. What started as a chance discovery in the shower became a journey through diagnosis, treatment, and self-discovery. Growing up in a culture where health discussions were often taboo, Arjun had to navigate uncharted waters, leaning on intui...

In this inspiring episode of It Takes Balls, Stuart Goldstein, a testicular cancer survivor, talks about his extraordinary journey of resilience and recovery. At just 18, Stuart's life took an unexpected turn when a chance incident during a family gathering led to a shocking diagnosis. He opens up about the whirlwind of treatment that followed—intense rounds of chemotherapy and the emotional toll...

In this episode of  It Takes Balls , Randy Herring, a three-time testicular cancer survivor from Washington, shares his incredible journey through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Randy recalls his first diagnosis in 2009 after noticing a physical change, the discovery of two recurrences in 2019 and 2021, and the challenges of enduring surgeries and over 40 rounds of chemotherapy. The conversat...

Dr. Richard Matulewicz is a urologic surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Dr. Matulewicz talks about health-related quality of life (HRQoL) considerations for testicular cancer patients and survivors, including what the future might hold for personalizing care based on a person's specific situation. Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on...

Austin Weimer is a testicular cancer survivor from Ohio. Austin talks about how his diagnosis was delayed due to being his original urologist's first testicular cancer patient, having chemo and an RPLND at IU, the disparities between testicular cancer and other cancers, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabdeesnuts.com Want to be a guest? Apply here: ⁠h...

Paul McCaffery is a 10-year testicular cancer survivor living in Scotland. Paul talks about catching his testicular cancer after seeing a self-exam illustration, being treated with orchidectomy and 2xBEP, having a 4-year-old at the time of diagnosis, nearly using IVF but conceiving naturally at the last minute, hosting the "Check One, Two" podcast, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutc...

Mike DeJean is a testicular cancer survivor from Louisiana. Mike talks about initially being diagnosed with lymphoma; later finding out that it was actually testicular cancer; having enlarged lymph nodes in his abdomen, neck, and lungs; being treated with VIP chemo; having his RPLND with Dr. Cary at IU, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabdeesnuts.com...

Kevin Hilden is a testicular cancer survivor living in Arizona. Kevin talks about being diagnosed with testicular cancer in his 40s, having an orchiectomy in 2021 and a retroperitoneal mass show up in 2023, having an RPLND at Indiana University, testosterone, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabdeesnuts.com Want to be a guest? Apply here: ⁠https://www....

Dr. Timothy Clinton is an associate surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Harvard University. Dr. Clinton talks about performing minimally invasive retroperitoneal lymph node dissections (RPLND), how robotic RPLND compares to open RPLND, risks involved with both options, how candidates are selected for robotic RPLND, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code...

James Paul is a testicular cancer survivor from the United Kingdom. James talks about being diagnosed with testicular cancer in his 40s after being born with an undescended testicle, receiving carboplatin chemotherapy, wanting to connect with other LGBTQ survivors, his advice for those who suspect cancer, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabdeesnuts.co...

Erik Vitáliš is a testicular cancer survivor from Slovakia. Erik talks about how rarely talked about testicular cancer is in his country and the need for more awareness, spending 7 weeks in the hospital during chemo, developing neutropenic fevers, being isolated while having COVID, his plans as an oncology PhD student, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkou...

Kyle Broxterman is a testicular cancer survivor in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kyle talks about noticing a lump on his testicle, advocating for himself to be seen sooner, getting the call about possible cancer while ice climbing, keeping a positive attitude, returning to the mountain as a "single nut climber," and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on htt...

Joe Karasek is a testicular cancer survivor living in Florida. Joe talks about his troubled past with drugs and alcohol, being diagnosed with and treated for testicular cancer, nearly taking his own life after his orchiectomy, finding purpose and love while overcoming his disease, writing a book, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabdeesnu...

Dr. Sean Kern is urologic oncologist in the Murtha Cancer Center and Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD. He is the founding Director of the military’s Testicular cancer Enterprise for Survivorship, Treatment, and Investigational Sciences “TESTIS” Program and the Program Director of the Walter Reed Urolo...

Seth Camp is a testicular cancer survivor from Wisconsin. Seth talks about being diagnosed with stage 2A testicular cancer at the age of 43, being a diabetic on chemo, the special stocking stuffer he now gives his sons to help them check themselves, having a vasovagal response to needles and surgery, the importance of talking to someone, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutche...

Julie and Jeff Hughes are a caregiver and testicular cancer survivor from New York. Julie and Jeff share their experience from both points of view on Jeff's Stage IB testicular cancer diagnosis in 2011, the decision to opt for surveillance and not regretting it even after Jeff's cancer recurred 10 years later, A Real Ballbuster: Untangling Testicular Cancer, and more! Sponsored by Dee'...

Cristian Alvizo is a testicular cancer living in southern California. Cristian talks about a primary doctor not doing a full exam, later finding his testicular abnormality on his own, seeing a urologist the day before high school graduation, his decision to share his story to help others, wanting to be a doctor after his journey, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout o...

Mike Sanders is a Navy veteran and testicular cancer survivor from California. Mike talks about being dismissed 4 times after noticing swollen lymph nodes in Greece; having an orchiectomy, BEPx3, and RPLND; allergic reactions to bleomycin and iodine during scans; running 100 miles; and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabdeesnuts.com Want to...

On the 8th anniversary of her son Jordan's passing, Kim Jones shares his story. Jordan relapsed 7 years after being declared cancer free after his initial battle with testicular cancer and passed away June 8, 2016. Kim also shares why she started Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation (TCAF) and more details about the organization's history, the impact of the programs, and plans for the future to...

Dr. Joseph Shirk is the Chief of Urology at the Greater Los Angeles VA Health System and Assistant Professor of Urology at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Shirk explains what constitutes the stages of testicular cancer, the different cell types, and breaks down what some of the common vocabulary is regarding testis cancer. Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on ht...

Fennec Pharmaceuticals joins to talk about ototoxicity (hearing loss) caused by the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin. Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabdeesnuts.com Want to be a guest? Apply here: ⁠https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions⁠ Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation: ⁠https://www.testescancer.org https://www....

Paul is a testicular cancer survivor in Tennessee. Paul talks about catching his testicular cancer because of his girlfriend's studies, feeling grateful for being stage 1B, having orchiectomy and 1xBEP, the importance of peer-to-peer support like the r/testicularcancer subreddit, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabdeesnuts.comWant to be a guest? Apply...

Tom Willner is a man of many talents living in Georgia. Tom talks about being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1999; having an orchiectomy, RPLND, lung surgery, and chemo after nodes showed up late in his lungs; writing and performing a musical about testicular cancer; being a musician with cisplatin-induced hearing impairment; having 3 children using his banked sperm; and more! Sponsored by De...

Af Marseh is a testicular cancer survivor from England. Af talks about catching his cancer while working 7,000 km away from home at the Rio Olympics in 2016, receiving BEP chemotherapy after orchiectomy, support from his network and beyond, writing his book, and more! Sponsored by Dee's Nuts. Use code "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabdeesnuts.com Want to be a guest? Apply here:...