December 23, 2025

“There’s A Whole Life Waiting For You:” Ryan’s Metastatic Testicular Cancer Experience at 25

At just 25, Ryan was thriving as a young actor in New York City, working at Orangetheory Fitness, and fully immersed in his passion for theater. One day in May 2024, he noticed lower back pain, and by the next morning, his left testicle had doubled in size. While visiting family in Arkansas for his great-grandmother’s funeral, Ryan’s father encouraged him to seek care immediately, which led to an ultrasound, a fast urology consult, and a diagnosis that left Ryan in shock. He says, “I always thought cancer was for older people. I was shocked, crying, and couldn’t process it.” Ryan’s testicular cancer diagnosis was about to turn his life upside down overnight.

Interviewed by: Carly Knowlton
Edited by: Chris Sanchez

This testicular cancer experience unfolded with rapid decisions and tough emotions. Ryan learned that the cancer had spread to his abdomen, making chemotherapy inevitable following surgery. He faced complications and underwent four intensive rounds of chemo, during which he struggled with side effects like nausea and the loss of hair, stamina, and muscle. The emotional toll was considerable; he found informing friends and family painful each time, and his self-confidence waned as his body changed.

Ryan’s testicular cancer story led to an entirely new perspective. Although he had strong support in both New York and Arkansas, much of what he endured felt isolating. Survivorship has been its own challenge, with ‘scanxiety’ lingering and daily routines forever altered. The experience steered him toward advocacy: founding Ballin Studios, he now creates projects to raise testicular cancer awareness and donates proceeds to nonprofit work.

Despite these challenges, Ryan’s testicular cancer experience has also brought personal growth. He now lives more unapologetically, has let go of people-pleasing, and works to create a meaningful community.

Watch Ryan’s video and browse the edited transcript of his interview. You’ll take a deeper dive into how:

Early symptoms can be abrupt; act immediately if you notice swelling or unusual pain
Self-advocacy and family support are critical to navigating sudden health crises
Survivorship can be its own challenge; recovery is more than “beating” cancer, it’s about learning a new way to live
Emotional openness can build community and help others feel less isolated
Ryan’s transformation: From thriving actor interrupted by diagnosis to fierce advocate and creative community leader

Name: Ryan L.
Diagnosis:
- Testicular Cancer (Metastatic)
Age at Diagnosis:
- 25
Symptoms:
- Strange feeling in lower back one night
- Left testicle swollen to twice normal size
Treatments:
- Surgery: orchiectomy
- Chemotherapy

This interview has been edited for clarity and length. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider to make informed treatment decisions.

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect those of The Patient Story.

Transcript of Ryan’s Interview

Hey guys, my name is Ryan
My first signs and symptoms
Diagnosis process and tests
How I reacted to the diagnosis
Surgery and my next steps
My chemotherapy regimen and its side effects
After my diagnosis versus before it
The impact of my diagnosis on myself, and my daily and social life
Ringing the bell to celebrate remission, and ongoing monitoring
I now do awareness and advocacy work
How testicular cancer has changed my perspective and affected my mental and emotional health
What I want other cancer patients to know

Hey guys, my name is Ryan

I live in New York City, and I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in May of 2024.

Obviously, as an actor, performing and theater are a big part of my life. They take up a lot of my time, so I don’t have too much time for hobbies, but I do enjoy working at Orangetheory Fitness here in the city, and I love to go and work out in those classes. I also like to do a little fun craft now and then. I love a puzzle; I don’t really finish them too often, but I love to start them.

I’m also a big nature guy. I love to hike, and I love to go in the mountains. We just climbed the Red Rocks a few weeks ago, which was beautiful. You don’t get a lot of that in New York City, but it’s nice to get out and go upstate now and then.

Besides that, I enjoy hanging out and spending time with my friends and family. Also, I love to listen to podcasts.

I think my friends would describe me as a fun guy, a funny dude, and kind. I would hope a little bit crazy, but I’m also somewhat closed off at first. Once you get to know me, I really open up and just let the crazy out.

My first signs and symptoms

For me, it was pretty immediate. I got diagnosed on a Friday, and the Tuesday before, my lower back felt a little weird. I wondered if it was a UTI or something; it just felt odd.

The next morning, I woke up and my left testicle was twice its size.

That’s when I knew I had to get this checked out. It all happened very quickly.

Diagnosis process and tests

It was an interesting story because I live in New York City, but I actually got diagnosed in Arkansas, where I’m originally from. My great-grandmother had just turned 100 a few months before, and unfortunately, she passed away. I got the news on a Monday, and the funeral was set for Friday. I booked a ticket home for Wednesday. That morning, I woke up, and my testicle was twice its size.

I went to work because I had to open the gym, and I called my dad; my flight was booked for that afternoon. I told him I was freaking out. He told me just to get on the plane and we’d deal with it when I got there. I’m very glad I did that because I was able to be around my family during this time.

I got on the plane and we went to the emergency room when I arrived at 10:00 at night. They looked at it and said they’d need to do an ultrasound, which I didn’t realize was for anything other than pregnant women. The ultrasound was very uncomfortable. After the scan, they said I’d need to see a urologist. I set up the meeting for Friday, went in with my dad, and almost immediately, after seeing the ultrasound, the doctor said, “Yeah, it’s cancer.”

How I reacted to the diagnosis

I always thought cancer was an old man’s disease; you don’t really hear much about people in their 20s, 30s, or 40s getting it. It was a shock. I cried my eyes out; I was freaking out and didn’t know what was happening. I’m so grateful my dad was with me in the room. I just took it all in and tried to process it.

Thankfully, the doctor told me that testicular cancer has a 98 percent survival rate. Everything would function as normal, except I’d have one less testicle.

After hearing that, I was able to process and feel a bit better, but I was not ecstatic.

Surgery and my next steps

The doctor basically told me I could just have surgery to remove the tumor, unless it had spread, in which case we’d discuss further options. I got a CT scan done in the office. By the end of the day, they called and said it looked like it had spread to my abdomen, so I’d need chemo. I said, “Alright. One step at a time, surgery first.”

Since it was a holiday weekend, they couldn’t schedule surgery until after Tuesday. The doctor told me to show up on Tuesday and they’d fit me in.

They removed the tumor after a few hours. The first surgery was outpatient, thankfully; I was able to go home and sleep it off. I had some healing complications, so it took an extra two or three weeks to recover.

We then got a second opinion on treatment. The first doctor suggested a highly invasive surgery to remove lymph nodes. The second opinion recommended trying chemo instead, and we decided to go with chemo; four rounds, and it worked.

My chemotherapy regimen and its side effects

I did about three months of chemo through July, August, and September in 2024. I was 25 at the time.

My chemo schedule was Monday through Friday for one week, about six hours every day, then two weeks off, and then I’d go back. I did that four times, so about three to four months total.

The biggest side effects. My urologist, Dr. Y, gave me two chemo options. One was shorter, three rounds, but carried a chance of permanent lung damage, which, as a singer, I wanted to avoid. I opted for the other, which was one more round, but it’s notorious for severe nausea; people joked about how much they would vomit. I constantly had nausea, took medicine, drank ginger ale, and ate crackers to help suppress it.

After my diagnosis versus before it

I was working and pursuing acting. I had just turned 25 in January, signed with my first agent, and was auditioning and meeting casting directors. I kept wondering why I wasn’t getting callbacks or offers, and even turned some roles down on gut feeling.

In hindsight, it felt like intuition, as if the universe knew I would need to take a break for cancer treatment. I was in the best shape of my life at Orangetheory Fitness, and I am still fighting to get back there even a year later.

Now, things have shifted. I started a production company here, Ballin Studios, focused on raising awareness for testicular cancer through art, storytelling, and content. We hosted our first show in August; it was a huge success. We have a Christmas show planned for December.

I’ve really focused on this side of theater, less on performing, but still auditioning. I’ve found a new passion in raising awareness and funds.

After processing it, the hardest part was telling everyone. Calling my roommate and best friends, telling them I wouldn’t be around for six months because I had cancer, especially after making peace with it, was tough. I didn’t want them to find out on social media, so I had to tell each one personally.

Thankfully, I have a great support system in New York City, with friends and coworkers, and also with family and old friends back in Arkansas. They checked in on me constantly.

The toughest part was that none of my friends really knew what it was like to go through cancer at this age. After finishing chemo, a good friend of mine was also diagnosed, so I could be there for him and help, which inspired me to start Ballin Studios to try to help others. He’s in remission as well, about eight months now. He had to go through the same surgery and chemo.

As for the impact on myself. I try to laugh about it, even during chemo, but it has affected my confidence. My body changed; I lost the best shape of my life and my stamina. It took a long time to recover. All my hair went away during chemo and hasn’t grown back as thick, which is why I wear a hat a lot. It’s affected my body image, but I’m working on self-acceptance.

Ringing the bell to celebrate remission, and ongoing monitoring

After two rounds of chemo, my oncologist said it was looking great, but I still had to do two more rounds as a precaution.

My last day of chemo was delayed by Labor Day, but I got to ring the bell once treatment was over.

The nurses cheered, my mom took a picture, and we finally got to go home.

I just passed the one-year remission mark. I had to switch insurance after turning 26 and am now on New York State health insurance. Now I get scans every six months instead of every three. All scans have been clear, and bloodwork is checked every couple of months.

I get anxiety walking out the door, especially when I pull a muscle or something feels off. I call my oncologist or urologist every time I worry, but usually, I’m fine. I’ve always been a hypochondriac, so it’s a journey to calm myself and not worry unless there’s a real reason.

I now do awareness and advocacy work

Ballin Studios started as the idea for a podcast last January and has grown into a production company producing shows in New York City. They’re more like cabaret shows, and I always use the opportunity to talk about testicular cancer. A percentage of the income goes to the Testicular Cancer Society. We’re launching a podcast soon and want to build a stronger online presence, maybe by filming specials with other survivors who perform.

The name came from seeing a tattoo a guy had with two cherries, one of which was missing, represented by the stem. That inspired our logo and references testicular cancer.

How testicular cancer has changed my perspective and affected my mental and emotional health

I think I do look at life differently now. I grew up a people-pleaser, but now live a bit more unapologetically and gratefully.

This last year in remission has been really tough. Sometimes survivorship is harder than treatment.

During chemo, I had a clear goal: to survive. Afterwards, rebuilding a new life was difficult, but now, a year later, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and grateful every day.

To me, survivorship means living my life without letting cancer have power over my emotions or anxieties. It’s about using art, performing, and storytelling to raise awareness and hopefully support other young men facing similar challenges.