It Takes Balls

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 RPLND at the University of Pennsylvani...

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 his initial orchiectomy to his choic...

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 testicular cancer - can quietly weaken ...

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 suspicious for cancer. While the orchiectomy ...

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 wrote off as “just getting older.” ...

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 for more answers, only to hear the ...

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 regimen after a recurrence. He talks abo...

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 blood markers shape decisions about...

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 from first being diagnosed with epididy...

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 whirlwind year. He explains how he turne...

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 flawed healthcare system, Bob share...

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 testicular cancer as we typically know ...

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 active surveillance, he demystifies th...

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 conversation dives into the challenges of reco...

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 routine scan revealed something even mor...

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 to a new reality, balancing treatmen...

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 series of tests confirming his diagn...

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 happens before, during, and after surg...

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 emotional hurdles he faced along the...