Honoring National Cancer Survivor’s Month: A Focus on Life After Testicular Cancer Treatment
In honor of National Cancer Survivor’s Month, it’s important to reflect on what survivorship really means—especially for testicular cancer survivors, who face unique long-term impacts.
In a recent article from Harvard Health Publishing, cancer experts highlight the evolving needs of survivors, including managing long-term side effects, emotional recovery, and the importance of personalized survivorship care plans. Survivorship is not a finish line—it’s a lifelong process of healing, adapting, and staying vigilant. Read the article here.
Testicular cancer survivor, Tristan, has experienced permanent hearing loss as a side effect from the cisplatin treatments he received.
According to the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute, anyone diagnosed with cancer is considered a survivor—whether they’re newly diagnosed, in treatment, or years into remission. For testicular cancer, which has high survival rates, this means there are thousands of men each year who are learning how to navigate life after cancer; these men all have important questions about their health, fertility, mental well-being, and future.
Survivorship care is essential. While surgery, chemotherapy (like cisplatin), and other treatments can be lifesaving, they often come with lasting side effects—such as neuropathy, hearing loss, fertility issues, or anxiety. Survivorship plans help address these challenges through regular follow-ups, mental health support, lifestyle guidance, and preventive care.
An effective survivorship plan for testicular cancer survivors might include:
Monitoring for recurrence with scheduled scans and labs
Support for fertility preservation and sexual health
Managing physical effects like fatigue, nerve damage or hearing loss
Mental health care to address trauma, anxiety, or identity changes
Healthy lifestyle habits: exercise, balanced nutrition, stress management, and strong social support
As the Harvard article notes, survivorship is not one-size-fits-all. Age at diagnosis, treatment type, and long-term risks all influence the care survivors need—and testicular cancer survivors often carry these concerns for decades into their futures.
National Cancer Survivors Month offers a time to celebrate those living beyond cancer and raise awareness of the ongoing needs they face. For our community, it’s also a time to recommit to providing resources, connection, and support for every step of survivorship.
This insight couldn’t come at a more relevant time for us at the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. We’re proud to share that Harvard University will host our Testicular Cancer Conference Boston 2025, taking place September 25–26. This event is specifically designed for testicular cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, and medical professionals to come together in support, education, and shared experience.
The conference will include expert panels on survivorship topics like fertility, mental health, long-term side effects, and life after treatment. We believe that by continuing the conversation—just as Harvard’s article does—we can build a stronger, more informed community of survivors who feel heard, equipped, and empowered.
If you're a survivor, caregiver, or healthcare professional, we invite you to join us in Boston. Let's honor the journey and keep moving forward, together.
Additional resources:
Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation Survivorship Guide
Survivorship Care for Healthy Living, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2024
Survivorship Care for Cancer-Related Late and Long-Term Effects, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2024
Survivorship Care Plans, American College of Clinical Oncology