Testicular Cancer Stories
Explore below for in-depth testicular cancer stories from patients and survivors who share everything from first symptoms, treatment timeline, to navigating life with cancer.
Testicular cancer most often begins in germ cells (cells that make sperm). It is rare and is most frequently diagnosed in men 20-34 years old. Most testicular cancers can be cured, even if diagnosed at an advanced stage. (National Cancer Institute)
Patient Stories
Explore the stories and hear directly from the men who’ve been diagnosed with testicular cancer and have undergone various types of treatment, including orchiectomy, reconstruction, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy.
We’ve categorized the stories according to the major subtypes, including seminoma and non-seminoma.
Seminoma
Rick H., Seminoma, Stage 1
Age at Diagnosis: 34
1st Symptoms: Noticed one testicle larger than the other, dull pain
Treatment: Orchiectomy (surgical removal of one testicle), neoadjuvant chemo (1 infusion of Carboplatin)
Non-Seminoma
Mikael H., Non-Seminoma, Stage 1
Age at Diagnosis: 32
1st Symptoms: Fatigue, one swollen testicle
Treatment: Surgery (removal and reconstruction), radiation, hormone therapy
Steve L., Non-Seminoma, Stage 4
Age at Diagnosis: 25
1st Symptoms: Grape-sized tumor on neck; hip and pelvis pain; ultrasound revealed tumor on right testicle
Treatment: Chemotherapy (BEP), removal of right testicle, lymph node resection (RPLND), and tumor dissection in the neck
Hugo T., Non-Seminoma, Stage 2B
Age at Diagnosis: 21
1st Symptoms: Pea-sized lump on right testicle
Treatment: Surgical removal of right testicle, lymph node resection, chemotherapy
Matthew O., Non-Seminoma, Stage 3C
Age Diagnosed: 24
1st Symptoms: Fatigue, one swollen testicle
Treatment: BEP chemotherapy, surgeries (including complications)
Steven C. Diagnosis: Non-Seminoma Testicular Cancer Symptoms: Enlarged left testicle, tenderness in left testicle, lump in back (retroperitoneum) Treatment: Orchiectomy, chemo, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection
Metastatic
Ben F., Testicular Cancer, Metastatic Symptoms: Hard, swollen testicleTreatment: Surgery, laparoscopy, orchiectomy
Callan R., Testicular Cancer, Stage 3
Symptom: Lump in right testicle
Treatments: Chemotherapy (cisplatin, doxorubicin, BEP, GemTaxol, TopCaT), surgery (orchiectomy), clinical trial (BNT142)
Josh T., Testicular Cancer, Stage 3A
Symptoms: Pain in his chest, lower back, and abdomen. Shortness of breath, especially during exercise. Mass found on one testicle.
Treatment: Chemotherapy: bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP)