It Takes Balls

Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

It Takes Balls is a podcast for testicular cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and families. Through conversations with survivors, oncologists, urologists, and medical experts, we discuss testicular cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, chemotherapy, fertility, mental health, survivorship, and recovery. Our mission is to raise awareness, support men’s health, reduce stigma, and help people feel less alone during and after a testicular cancer journey. Early detection and self-exams save lives.

  1. 4d ago

    Platinum-Resistant Testicular Cancer: BEP, VIP, ToPCaT and a Stem Cell Transplant

    When Phil Mamwell first felt sharp, shooting pains, he did what too many men do — he told himself he'd be all right and hoped it would pass. By the time the excavator driver from rural Lincolnshire, England, was diagnosed with testicular cancer in his late 30s, it had already metastasized. In this raw and honest episode of It Takes Balls, Phil shares two years of hell — and the hard-won perspective that came with surviving against the odds.Phil's story is a powerful reminder of why early detection matters. Testicular cancer had never been on his radar, and he's candid that had he been seen sooner, he might have needed nothing more than an orchiectomy. He could feel the BEP working almost immediately as his tumor shrank — only for the cancer to return six weeks later, right around Christmas. From there, Phil faced relapse after relapse. His orchiectomy came after his first chemo, with tumor markers still rising. Second-line VIP chemotherapy followed, along with a stem cell harvest he was certain he'd never need. When the disease came back yet again, he was given a roughly 20% chance of survival and chose high-dose ToPCaT chemotherapy, followed by a stem cell transplant and, finally, an RPLND to remove the residual tumors. The pathology came back with no evidence of disease. Phil doesn't sugarcoat survivorship. He lives with chemo brain, ringing in his ears, and neuropathy, and his hair never fully grew back. He speaks movingly about the survivor's guilt he carries after losing a fellow patient from his own town — a young man with the same embryonal carcinoma diagnosis whom he'd befriended and encouraged. And he's honest about how disorienting remission can be, describing himself as "a dog on a lead" suddenly let loose, not quite trusting it's over until he reaches the ten-year mark at 50. Through it all, Phil credits his wife — who graduated as a nurse mid-treatment — along with his kids, parents, friends, and employer for carrying him through. His advice to men in their late 30s and beyond is simple and urgent: don't make the mistake he did. Check yourself, see a doctor, and don't leave it. Look after your balls. Provide your feedback on the podcast: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/itbsurvey Join The Ball Room: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions Connect with Phil: https://www.facebook.com/philmamwell Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation: ⁠https://www.testescancer.org https://www.x.com/testescancer ⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer https://www.facebook.com/tca.org Follow Steven Crocker: https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2 Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

    Platinum-Resistant Testicular Cancer: BEP, VIP, ToPCaT and a Stem Cell Transplant

  2. Sep 8

    Dr. Pam Swartz - Dealing With Hearing Loss After Cisplatin

    Cisplatin is one of the most powerful, life-saving drugs in testicular cancer treatment — but it comes with a lasting side effect that too few patients are warned about. In this episode of It Takes Balls, audiologist Dr. Pam Swartz unpacks how cisplatin damages hearing, why it's permanent, and what young survivors can do to protect their quality of life for the decades ahead. Dr. Swartz starts with the basics of how we hear — from the eardrum and the body's three smallest bones to the roughly 30,000 hair cells in the cochlea — and explains a key truth: we hear with our brain, not our ears. She then breaks down why cisplatin is classified as highly ototoxic (a "class five" medication affecting hearing, balance, and tinnitus), how it accumulates around and kills the outer hair cells, and why that damage can't be reversed. Roughly 40% of patients on high doses experience some hearing loss, often in the high frequencies first — which is why voices can start to sound mumbled, women and children become harder to understand, and the TV keeps creeping louder. This conversation is packed with practical, actionable guidance. Dr. Swartz explains why every patient should get a baseline audiogram before starting treatment (tested out to 20,000 Hz, not the standard 8,000) and a follow-up 6–8 weeks after finishing, how to protect the hearing you have from added noise damage, and how far modern hearing aids have come — now rechargeable, Bluetooth-enabled, and self-adjusting thousands of times per second. She also covers cochlear implants, listening strategies (sound bars, closed captioning, choosing the restaurant booth), and how partners and family can become better communicators. A large part of the episode focuses on tinnitus — the ringing so many survivors live with. Dr. Swartz, who has tinnitus herself, explains what it is, why the emotion you attach to it makes it louder, and why sound therapy is the most effective tool we have. She shares how a simple air purifier changed her own experience, common triggers to watch (salt, caffeine, alcohol, stress), and why CBT, deep breathing, and mindfulness genuinely help. She also recommends the ReSound Tinnitus Relief app — the same sound-therapy tool used by the VA — which runs all night and layers multiple sounds to help mask the ringing. Whether you're about to start chemotherapy, already noticing changes in your hearing, or supporting a survivor, this episode is an essential guide to advocating for your ears — because surviving testicular cancer means living well for the long haul. Resources mentioned: ReSound Tinnitus Relief app | American Tinnitus Association (ata.org) | Find an audiologist through ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) or the American Academy of Audiology Provide your feedback on the podcast: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/itbsurvey Have a question for a future expert guest? Submit here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-question-submission 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.twitter.com/testescancer⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer https://www.facebook.com/tca.org Dr. Swartz: https://www.easternvaent.com/providers/dr-pamela-swartz/ Follow Steven Crocker: https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2 Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

    Dr. Pam Swartz - Dealing With Hearing Loss After Cisplatin

  3. Sep 1

    Kicking & Screaming Through Seminoma

    Bray Hansel thought he was done. After a swollen left testicle led to an orchiectomy and a pathology report showing an eight-centimeter pure seminoma contained to the testicle, the 37-year-old financial advisor, husband, and father of three from outside Philadelphia went on surveillance feeling like a survivor — proud of what he'd gotten through and ready to move on. But testicular cancer had other plans. In this episode of It Takes Balls, Bray shares a story that captures just how unpredictable seminoma can be. What started as a borderline stage 2B diagnosis became months of confusing scans: a scan showing no active cancer, a blood test reading 0.00 cancer DNA, and normal tumor markers — all while a lone lymph node in his abdomen quietly kept growing. His care team's honest conclusion was that the cancer was declaring itself, landing Bray in the group of seminoma patients who need further treatment after an orchiectomy. Faced with several paths — BEP chemotherapy, carboplatin plus radiation, or a robotic RPLND — Bray walks through one of the most difficult decisions of his life. He explains why he had concerns about the long-term risks of chemo and radiation, and chose a robotic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection Penn. Of the 15 lymph nodes removed, five contained cancer — more than expected, but still low-volume, with no adjuvant therapy needed and roughly an 80% chance of staying recurrence-free at two years. Beyond the medicine, this is a conversation about perspective, humor, and community. Bray talks about coaching his undefeated soccer team through treatment, making an "RPLND playlist," showing his testicle to his buddies in a parking lot before surgery, and how a whole network — from his wife and friends Brandon, Alex, and Ryan to strangers who never knew they were helping — carried him through. He reflects on the phrase "a problem shared is a problem halved," how cancer deepened his marriage and relationships, and his desire to follow in the footsteps of TCAF's Jordan Jones by being a resource for the next guy. Whether you're navigating a seminoma diagnosis, weighing treatment options after an orchiectomy, or supporting someone through testicular cancer, Bray's story is a moving reminder that survivorship can add depth, connection, and even joy — and that no one has to face it alone. Provide your feedback on the podcast: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/itbsurvey Join The Ball Room: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions Connect with Bray: https://www.instagram.com/haaaaaaaaansel/ brayhansel@gmail.com Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation: https://www.testescancer.org https://www.x.com/testescancer ⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer https://www.facebook.com/tca.org Follow Steven Crocker: https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2 Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

    Kicking & Screaming Through Seminoma

  4. Aug 15

    The Tumor Was Near His Aorta, Not His Testicles

    Attend the 2026 Testicular Cancer Conference: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/tcc-indianapolis-2026 At just 24, personal trainer Andrejs Lejietis was building a business and living what he thought was a healthy, active life in Stockholm, Sweden — until a strange abdominal pain that kept returning after lunch led to one of the most confusing diagnoses in testicular cancer. In this episode of It Takes Balls, our first-ever Swedish guest shares a remarkable story about an extragonadal germ cell tumor: testicular cancer with no primary tumor in the testicles at all. Andrejs describes months of uncertainty as recurring pain near his aorta sent him from ultrasound to CT scan to a bone marrow biopsy, with doctors ruling out lymphoma before finally landing on a testicular cancer diagnosis. Encouraged by his girlfriend Emily to stop putting it off, he learned the value of self-advocacy the hard way — and discovered that a "good cancer to have" still hits hard when you're 24 with corporate clients lined up and a future you'd just started building. He opens up about four rounds of BEP chemotherapy at Karolinska University Hospital, an initial AFP tumor marker of 21,000, and stage 2C disease. Andrejs shares the realities of inpatient chemo, losing his hair, sperm banking and stem cell harvesting before treatment, and the unexpected gift of community — meeting other young men going through testicular cancer treatment at the same time. The conversation also covers his open RPLND (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection), a surgery Sweden has centralized to two hospitals for the best outcomes. Andrejs recounts a tumor wrapped around a vein near his left kidney, a difficult six-week recovery, neuropathy, retrograde ejaculation, and being discharged on Christmas Eve. Fourteen lymph nodes were removed — all clear. Andrejs and host Steven Crocker also dig into the Scandinavian healthcare system, where treatment, surgery, sperm banking, and even taxis to chemo are largely covered by taxes — and how testicular cancer, one of the most common cancers among young men, is treated across Europe. Now cancer-free and back to work, Andrejs reflects on how the journey reshaped his path toward becoming a physical therapist, the scar he wears with pride, and his advice for anyone newly diagnosed: take it one day at a time, stay as physically active as you can, and don't wait to get checked. Whether you're a testicular cancer patient, survivor, caregiver, or want to understand rare presentations like extragonadal germ cell tumors, Andrejs's story is a powerful reminder that early detection saves lives — and that you should never ignore symptoms that keep coming back. Provide your feedback on the podcast:https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/itbsurvey Join The Ball Room:https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions Connect with Andrejs:https://www.instagram.com/stepsforimprovement Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation: ⁠https://www.testescancer.org https://www.x.com/testescancer ⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer https://www.facebook.com/tca.org Follow Steven Crocker: https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2 Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

    The Tumor Was Near His Aorta, Not His Testicles

  5. Aug 8

    Legally Blind Athlete Fights for His Testicular Cancer Care

    Attend the 2026 Testicular Cancer Conference: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/tcc-indianapolis-2026 When David Smith woke in the middle of the night with searing lower-back pain, he was two weeks out from the Beep Baseball World Series and in the best shape of his life. A legally blind wellness coach, nurse, and competitive adaptive-sports athlete, David assumed it was a kidney stone. Instead, an ER scan revealed a large mass near his kidney — and with no primary tumor found on ultrasound, doctors diagnosed him with testicular cancer at 41. In this episode of It Takes Balls, David shares one of the most powerful stories of self-advocacy the podcast has featured. Determined not to miss the World Series, he delayed treatment two weeks, then began BEP chemotherapy that quickly went sideways: a wiped-out immune system, terrifying bone pain from shots no one warned him about, and a blood clot in his lung. When bleomycin proved too dangerous, David — drawing on his own nursing knowledge and relentless research — pushed his oncology team to change his regimen himself. David doesn't hold back about the gaps in his care, from "factory"-like bedside manner to Googling his way to a nearby cancer center and an experienced surgeon he'd never been told about. His post-chemo RPLND removed 21 lymph nodes (all negative) but left him navigating a brutal recovery that nearly broke him. But this episode is really about what comes after. David opens up honestly about survivorship — the fear of recurrence, the identity crisis of remission, faith, and the ongoing work of figuring out who he really is. His message to anyone facing a diagnosis: advocate for yourself, do your research without letting it consume you, and hang tight — because far more people survive cancer than don't. Provide your feedback on the podcast: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/itbsurvey Join The Ball Room: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions Connect with David: https://www.instagram.com/dcsmith1006 Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation: ⁠https://www.testescancer.org https://www.x.com/testescancer ⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer https://www.facebook.com/tca.org Follow Steven Crocker: https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2 Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

    Legally Blind Athlete Fights for His Testicular Cancer Care

  6. Aug 1

    From Testicular Cancer to Living with a Brain Tumor for Life

    Attend the 2026 Testicular Cancer Conference: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/tcc-indianapolis-2026 In this episode of It Takes Balls, Taylor Woods shares one of the most extraordinary journeys ever featured on the podcast. What began with sitting on his enlarged testicle and doctors believing he was dealing with a bacterial infection ultimately became a diagnosis of advanced testicular cancer that had already spread throughout his body. After living with symptoms for more than a year, Taylor learned he had a 17-centimeter testicular tumor, cancer in his lymph nodes, multiple nodules in his lungs, and a tumor pressing against his brain. Taylor walks through undergoing an orchiectomy (testicle removal surgery), four rounds of BEP chemotherapy, TIP chemotherapy, multiple rounds of radiation, and several brain surgeries after developing brain metastases. He shares the terrifying experience of seizures, kidney failure that delayed surgery, a stem cell transplant at Fred Hutch, and living with a titanium plate. Despite enduring more treatment than most typical testicular cancer survivors, Taylor continues fighting with remarkable optimism while managing an active brain tumor and ongoing surveillance. The conversation also explores life after cancer, including adapting to permanent disability, returning to school to study graphic design after seizures changed the course of his career, and finding purpose through creativity. Throughout the episode, Taylor repeatedly comes back to one message: self-advocacy matters. Looking back, he wishes he had sought a second opinion sooner after being told his symptoms were caused by an infection, and he hopes others will trust their instincts when something doesn't feel right. Although Taylor refers to himself as a "warrior" rather than simply a survivor, his story is ultimately one of resilience, hope, and perseverance. Whether you're navigating a testicular cancer diagnosis, facing recurrence, supporting a loved one, or learning about brain metastases, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, and survivorship, this episode is a powerful reminder that every day is worth fighting for. Provide your feedback on the podcast: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/itbsurvey Join The Ball Room: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions Connect with Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/tay_bayw/ https://www.instagram.com/sunshinedesign_graphics/ https://www.facebook.com/taylor.woods.985442 Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation: ⁠https://www.testescancer.org https://www.x.com/testescancer⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer https://www.facebook.com/tca.org Follow Steven Crocker: https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2 Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

    From Testicular Cancer to Living with a Brain Tumor for Life

  7. Jul 15

    Dr. Axel Heidenreich - Comparing Treatment in the US & Europe

    In this episode of It Takes Balls, internationally renowned urologic oncologist Dr. Axel Heidenreich joins the podcast for a fascinating conversation comparing testicular cancer treatment in Europe (focused on Germany) and the United States. Although both approaches produce exceptional cure rates, patients are often surprised to learn just how differently experts on opposite sides of the Atlantic make treatment decisions. Dr. Heidenreich explains where the European Association of Urology (EAU), American Urological Association (AUA), and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines align and where they take very different paths. From surveillance and chemotherapy to RPLND imaging, and follow-up care, he shares why there isn't always one "right" answer and how physicians balance curing cancer with preserving quality of life. The conversation also dives into one of the most debated topics in testicular cancer today: the future of surveillance. Dr. Heidenreich discusses emerging blood tests that could reshape how recurrence is detected and monitored, offering his perspective. Rather than accepting the latest technology at face value, he explains why some innovations may hold more promise than others and what that could mean for the future of testicular cancer care. Whether you're newly diagnosed, currently on surveillance, or simply interested in how leading experts think differently around the world, this episode offers an eye-opening look at the evolution of testicular cancer treatment and the questions that could shape the next generation of patient care. Provide your feedback on the podcast: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/itbsurvey Have a question for a future expert guest? Submit here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-question-submission 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.twitter.com/testescancer⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer https://www.facebook.com/tca.org Dr. Heidenreich: axel.heidenreich@uk-koeln.de Follow Steven Crocker: https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2 Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

    Dr. Axel Heidenreich - Comparing Treatment in the US & Europe

  8. Jul 8

    Nate's RPLND: 23 Lymph Nodes Removed

    Attend the 2026 Testicular Cancer Conference: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/tcc-indianapolis-2026 In this episode of It Takes Balls, Nate Edwards shares how finding a lump the day after his 34th birthday led to a testicular cancer diagnosis in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although two people in Nate's life had previously been diagnosed with testicular cancer, including one of his best friends and a former robotics student, he still wasn't convinced it could happen to him. In fact, his primary care doctor initially doubted it was cancer before an ultrasound revealed otherwise. After undergoing an orchiectomy, Nate learned he had 100% embryonal carcinoma, the same aggressive type of testicular cancer that affected Lance Armstrong. As a new father, he suddenly found himself navigating sperm banking, treatment decisions, and the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis. One of the most fascinating parts of Nate's story is his treatment journey. Faced with choosing between chemotherapy and RPLND (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection), he sought multiple opinions before ultimately choosing surgery during the height of COVID. Doctors removed 23 lymph nodes during a nine-hour operation, and remarkably, every single one came back negative for cancer. The conversation also dives deep into fertility after testicular cancer. Nate openly discusses sperm banking, retrograde ejaculation after RPLND, low semen volume, multiple miscarriages, and the emotional roller coaster he and his wife experienced while trying to grow their family. Despite numerous setbacks and fertility concerns, the couple eventually welcomed a second child, a milestone that makes this story especially meaningful. Today, Nate is an active members of the online testicular cancer community, helping newly diagnosed patients navigate treatment decisions, fertility concerns, and survivorship. His story is a powerful reminder that testicular cancer can happen at any age, that self-exams matter, and that a strong support system can make all the difference. Provide your feedback on the podcast: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/itbsurvey Join The Ball Room: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions Connect with Nate: https://www.instagram.com/edwardsnate https://www.reddit.com/user/RelevantFeed495/ https://www.facebook.com/nate.edwards.7315 Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation: ⁠https://www.testescancer.org https://www.x.com/testescancer⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer https://www.facebook.com/tca.org Follow Steven Crocker: https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2 Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

    Nate's RPLND: 23 Lymph Nodes Removed
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About

It Takes Balls is a podcast for testicular cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and families. Through conversations with survivors, oncologists, urologists, and medical experts, we discuss testicular cancer symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, chemotherapy, fertility, mental health, survivorship, and recovery. Our mission is to raise awareness, support men’s health, reduce stigma, and help people feel less alone during and after a testicular cancer journey. Early detection and self-exams save lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    133
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation
  • Show Website
    It Takes Balls

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