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., Testicular Cancer (Seminoma), Stage 1
Symptoms: Noticed one testicle larger than the other, dull pain
Treatments: Orchiectomy (surgical removal of one testicle), chemotherapy
Non-Seminoma
Matt B., Testicular Cancer (Embryonal Carcinoma, Metastatic)
Symptoms: Severe lower back pain, loss of sensation in left leg, dizziness, fatigue, night sweats, heart complications
Treatments: Surgeries (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection or RPLND, orchiectomy, liver resection, hernia repair surgery), chemotherapy
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
Steven C., Testicular Cancer (Non-Seminoma), Stage 2B
Symptoms: Enlarged left testicle, tenderness in left testicle, lump in back (retroperitoneum)
Treatments: Surgery (orchiectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection), chemotherapy
Matthew O., Testicular Cancer (Non-Seminoma), Stage 3C
Symptoms: Fatigue, one swollen testicle
Treatments: Chemotherapy, surgery
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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