It Takes Balls - Podcast

Whether you're a testicular cancer patient preparing for surgery or simply curious about the science behind going under, this episode offers an engaging and informative look at the crucial, yet often overlooked, role of anesthesiology in patient care.

With symptoms that didn’t point to his testicles at first, Surendr’s diagnosis came late—forcing him to make tough decisions about treatment.

Growing up in a culture where health discussions were often taboo, Arjun had to navigate uncharted waters, leaning on intuition and determination to seek answers. He reflects on the emotional toll of his diagnosis, the resilience it demanded, and the unwavering support of his family and community.

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 of navigating a life-threatening illness at such a young age.

As a fitness enthusiast, author, and father, Randy reflects on how cancer shaped his outlook on health and resilience. He offers heartfelt advice to anyone facing a diagnosis, encouraging them to take charge of their health and embrace the power of a positive mindset.

The discussion dives into how testicular cancer’s high survival rates make addressing long-term challenges—like financial burdens, fertility concerns, and post-treatment anxieties—more important than ever. Dr. Matulewicz shares insights on innovative tools, including patient-reported surveys and proactive recovery trackers, designed to capture the full spectrum of patient experiences and improve outcomes beyond physical health.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Dr. Kern shares his experience going from testicular cancer provider to testicular cancer patient after completing his fellowship at Indiana University, plus information about the military's TESTIS program and how it can help those diagnosed with the most common cancer in active duty men.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

Fennec Pharmaceuticals joins to talk about ototoxicity (hearing loss) caused by the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin.

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!

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!

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!

Dr. Helen Bernie is a board certified, fellowship trained urologist and the Director of Sexual and Reproductive Medicine at Indiana University. Dr. Bernie talks about what testosterone is, various types of testosterone replacement therapy and their pros and cons, men's health clinics, testosterone ranges, and much more!

Brian Sluga talks about being diagnosed with testicular cancer over 40 years ago, having his orchiectomy and lymph nodes removed in his torso, getting a lymphangiogram, the life he’s lived in the last 4 decades, going back to school later in life, writing about his TC, and more!

Trent Melsheimer talks about missing his best friend's wedding because the back pain he was feeling ended up being testicular cancer, having an HCG level well over 100,000, Dr. Einhorn telling him he needed to start chemo "yesterday," having 4xBEP and a post-chemo RPLND, survivorship, and more!

John Rezendes is a member of the US Navy Reserves and a testicular cancer survivor. John talks about being diagnosed when he returned to the US after having a vasectomy while deployed in Bahrain, having a large hydrocele, getting his RPLND done at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center by Dr. Sean Q. Kern, survivorship, and more!