Josh’s Stage 3A Testicular Cancer Story

Interviewed by: Taylor Scheib
Edited by: Chris Sanchez

When he was just 24, Josh was diagnosed with stage 3A testicular cancer.

Josh’s diagnosis came as a rude shock given his youth and excellent physical condition. He maintains a healthy lifestyle, has no vices, and loves to join triathlons. That said, he had been experiencing several symptoms for some months before his diagnosis, including pain in his torso and shortness of breath, which were easy to shrug off but in retrospect were suspicious.

Armed with a positive attitude, Josh decided to fight his cancer by undergoing chemotherapy. The succeeding months of his life were traumatic and difficult. Among other things, he experienced serious side effects, including a significant reaction to a medicine there was no substitute for. He also had to face the possibility of becoming infertile. However, his good attitude combined with successful treatments helped him get through those challenging days.

Josh now shares his story with us to grow awareness of testicular cancer and to fight the stigma attached to it; the importance of finding a community that can provide support, and of giving back to said community as well; and the significance of staying positive even when times get tough.

Name: Josh T.
Diagnosis:
- Testicular cancer
Staging:
- Stage 3A
Initial 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)