It Takes Balls

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...

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 intuition and determination to seek answ...

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 of navigating a life-threatening il...

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 conversation explores Randy’s unwavering commi...

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 https://grabdeesnuts.com

Have a ...

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:

⁠https://www.testicularcancerawarenes...

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 "nutcheck" at checkout on https://grabde...

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

Want to be a guest? Apply here:

⁠ht...

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.testicularcancerawarenessfoundatio...

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 "nutcheck" at chec...

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.com

Want to be a guest? Apply here: ...

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 checkout on https://grabdeesnuts.com

Want ...