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. His doctors put him on 3 cycles of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP).
The succeeding months of Josh’s 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.
In addition to Josh’s narrative, The Patient Story offers a diverse collection of stories about testicular cancer. These empowering stories provide real-life experiences, valuable insights, and perspectives on symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for cancer.
- 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)
This interview has been edited for clarity. This is not medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider for treatment decisions.
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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)
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)