It Takes Balls

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Matt Guilloty shares his intense journey through stage IIIB non-seminomatous testicular cancer. What he believed was a hydrocele kept growing until his testicle reached “the size of an avocado,” eventually leading to a shocking diagnosis delivered while he was driving on the highway. Matt describes the moment he learned his AFP tumor markers were 3,389, his cancer had spread to lymph nodes and lungs, and he needed BEP chemotherapy.

Matt opens up about the physical and mental toll of four rounds of chemo - nausea, hiccups, fear before each cycle - and how he juggled treatment with grad school. He reflects on finding support through nurses, fellow survivors, and online communities, and how skateboarding helped him stay grounded. Matt also revisits his major post-chemo RPLND surgery and his long recovery back to mobility and strength.

Now nearly three years into surveillance, Matt shares what the experience taught him about early detection, trusting his oncology team, and staying positive through fear.

Join The Ball Room:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom

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https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

⁠https://www.testescancer.org

https://www.x.com/testescancer

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Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

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Connect with Matt:

https://www.instagram.com/gatt.muilloty/

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

In this powerful episode of It Takes Balls, testicular cancer survivor Jon Reiner shares his rare experience battling the disease twice, 15 years apart. Jon explains how he first noticed symptoms, what his testicle felt like, and he walks through ultrasound, tumor markers, orchiectomy surgery, radiation therapy, and the shock of recurrence after more than a decade.

Jon also explores life after losing both testicles — including testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), injections vs topical gel, hormone swings, mood changes, sex drive considerations, and insurance frustrations.

He shares how he protected his daughters emotionally, how anxiety and scanxiety impact families, and the importance of community support. Jon talks about empathy, masculinity, vulnerability, and advice for newly diagnosed testicular cancer patients: take symptoms seriously, fight early, and let people help you.

Join The Ball Room:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom

Want to be a guest? Apply here:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

⁠https://www.testescancer.org

https://www.x.com/testescancer

⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer

https://www.facebook.com/tca.org

Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker

https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2

Connect with Jon

https://www.thejonreiner.com

https://www.instagram.com/thejonreiner

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

Freshly into adulthood, Peyton Dickinson was balancing school and setting new PRs when a sudden swelling in his testicle turned out to be testicular cancer. What followed was an unexpected journey through diagnosis, surgery, and chemotherapy.

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Peyton shares his raw and honest story — from early symptoms to learning the importance of self-exams and early detection. He opens up about what it was like losing his hair, managing treatment fatigue, and finding motivation in the support of family, teammates, and faith. Peyton’s story sheds light on the physical and mental toll of testicular cancer in young men, while offering hope and perspective to anyone facing it today.

Join The Ball Room:https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom

Want to be a guest? Apply here:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

⁠https://www.testescancer.org

https://www.x.com/testescancer

⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer

https://www.facebook.com/tca.org

Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker

https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2

Connect with Peyton:

www.youtube.com/ ⁨@PeytonDLifts⁩

https://www.instagram.com/peytond_lifts/

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

Celebrate 100 episodes of It Takes Balls, the podcast dedicated to raising awareness and sharing real stories from men affected by testicular cancer. Recorded live at the 10th Annual Testicular Cancer Conference in Boston, this milestone episode features survivors, past guests, and medical experts reflecting on the impact of the show and the progress made in testicular cancer education, treatment, and survivorship.

Hear inspiring updates from past guests like Brian Vesall, Nickalaus Goodman, Zak Dahlheimer, and Cristian Alvizo, along with insights from Dr. Rich Matulewicz on survivorship and quality of life. This episode captures what It Takes Balls is all about — connection, awareness, and hope for every man facing this disease.

Join The Ball Room:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom

Want to be a guest? Apply here:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

⁠https://www.testescancer.org

https://www.x.com/testescancer

⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer

https://www.facebook.com/tca.org

Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker

https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

At just 15 years old, Mike Oshinski was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer — at a time when awareness was almost nonexistent. In this powerful episode of It Takes Balls, Mike shares his journey from a small-town high school athlete to surviving stage 3C metastatic testicular cancer with the help of Dr. Lawrence Einhorn’s groundbreaking cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

He describes months of grueling treatment, multiple surgeries including a partial liver resection and RPLND, and the emotional toll of fighting for survival as a teenager. Mike also reflects on the legacy of that battle from the long-term side effects and emotional healing to the incredible full-circle moment when his own son faced a testicular cancer diagnosis decades later.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone affected by testicular cancer, offering insight, hope, and perspective from one of the early success stories of modern testicular cancer treatment.

Join The Ball Room:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom

Want to be a guest? Apply here:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

⁠https://www.testescancer.org ⁠

https://www.x.com/testescancer

⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer

https://www.facebook.com/tca.org

Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker

https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2

Connect with Mike:

[email protected]

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

When Australian doctor Steve Coates suddenly developed severe abdominal pain during a hospital shift, he never imagined he’d become the patient himself. Diagnosed with testicular cancer that had already spread to his retroperitoneal lymph nodes, Steve’s experience as both physician and patient offers a rare, deeply human perspective on the realities of testicular cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, and recovery.

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Steve shares how his unique vantage point reshaped the way he practices medicine, from understanding the emotional toll of cancer treatment to recognizing the long-term anxiety that follows remission. He also discusses the challenges of balancing fatherhood, mental health, and vulnerability while going through orchiectomy, BEP chemotherapy, and the ups and downs of follow-up scans and tumor markers.

Join The Ball Room:https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom

Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

https://www.testescancer.org

https://www.x.com/testescancer⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer

https://www.facebook.com/tca.org

Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker

https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2

Connect with Steve:

https://www.instagram.com/bris_steve

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Alex Skerget shares his candid journey from first symptoms of testicular cancer, through diagnosis, surgery (orchiectomy), and the anxiety of nearly starting chemotherapy as his tumor markers stayed high.

Alex opens up about navigating cancer as a young adult in college, the challenges of sperm banking and fertility decisions, and how his medical history complicated treatment choices. Nearly five years later, he reflects on survivorship, the mental health toll of testicular cancer, and why young men must learn to check themselves and speak openly about their health.

Alex is also writing a book, "Where’d Your Balls Go?," about the emotional side of testicular cancer and the importance of vulnerability, mental health, and community for young survivors. His story is a powerful reminder that early detection saves lives — and that healing is about more than just surviving physically.

Join The Ball Room:https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom

Want to be a guest? Apply here:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

⁠https://www.testescancer.org ⁠⁠

https://www.x.com/testescancer⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer

https://www.facebook.com/tca.org

Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker

https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2

Connect with Alex:

https://www.instagram.com/wheredyourballsgo/

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

Jesse Beck’s journey with stage 3 testicular cancer began in an unexpected way: persistent back pain. At first, he chalked it up to getting older or from dancing again after years away, but the pain escalated until he could hardly walk or sit. Doctors initially suspected autoimmune issues, but tests eventually revealed enlarged lymph nodes, a tumor pressing into his spine, and dangerous blood clots in his iliac veins.

His diagnosis of 100% seminoma was both devastating and a relief - devastating because the tumor had spread, but a relief because seminoma typically responds well to chemotherapy. Jesse endured multiple ER visits, a painful orchiectomy, blood thinners, and three rounds of BEP chemotherapy. Within days of starting treatment, he felt the first real relief from the crushing spinal pain.

Throughout his journey, dance became his anchor. Even while using a cane and conserving energy, Jesse continued choreographing and teaching ballet classes as a way to hold onto joy and creativity during treatment. Support from his family and friends in both California and New York helped carry him through long hospital stays, setbacks, and scanxiety.

Now in remission but still managing lingering blood clots, Jesse is focusing on rebuilding both physically and mentally. His story is a reminder that back pain can be an overlooked symptom of testicular cancer, and that recovery is not just about being “cured," it’s also about navigating life after treatment with patience, resilience, and support.

Join The Ball Room:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom

Want to be a guest? Apply here:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

⁠https://www.testescancer.org ⁠

https://www.x.com/testescancer⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer

https://www.facebook.com/tca.org

Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker

https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2

Connect with Jesse:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-beck/

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

In this episode of It Takes Balls, Monica Bryant, Esq., Chief Mission Officer of Triage Cancer, unpacks the legal and financial rights that every patient, survivor, and caregiver needs to know.

Drawing on her expertise as a lawyer and nationally recognized speaker, Monica breaks down how critical protections like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) work in real life for cancer patients. She explains the nuances of job protection, paid and unpaid leave, and disclosure in the workplace—topics many survivors struggle to navigate while undergoing treatment or returning to work.

The conversation also dives into the complexities of health insurance. From understanding the differences between HMOs and PPOs to spotting common medical billing errors, Monica provides clear guidance to help patients avoid financial traps during treatment. She also sheds light on disability insurance and financial assistance programs that can ease the crushing costs of cancer care.

Monica doesn’t stop at the immediate challenges - she stresses the importance of planning for the future through estate planning, powers of attorney, and advance directives, tools that can provide peace of mind for patients and their families. With a focus on empowerment, she encourages survivors to see themselves not just as patients but as advocates who deserve to understand and exercise their rights.

This episode is packed with practical information. Monica Bryant’s message is clear: the non-medical side of cancer is just as important as the medical one, and knowing your rights is the first step in taking back control.

Have a question for a future expert guest? Submit here:https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-question-submission

Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

https://www.testescancer.org

https://www.x.com/testescancer⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer

https://www.facebook.com/tca.orgLearn more about Triage Cancer:https://triagecancer.org

Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

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https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com

In this episode of It Takes Balls, 26-year-old survivor Jonny King shares his powerful story of discovering a testicular lump, receiving a cancer diagnosis, and navigating treatment through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

Jonny first noticed his symptoms during a self-exam - an essential tool in the early detection of testicular cancer. Within weeks, he was on the urgent cancer pathway, undergoing blood tests, scans, and ultimately an orchiectomy (orchidectomy) to remove the testicle. While the initial surgery was successful, his tumor markers continued to rise, leading to chemotherapy and later an RPLND (retroperitoneal lymph node dissection) to remove residual disease.

He opens up about the emotional and physical challenges of treatment, including hair loss, isolation during chemo, recovery after major surgery, and the lasting impact on fertility and body image. Jonny also reflects on what it means to navigate survivorship as a young gay man, underscoring the importance of mental health support and community connection after cancer.

Now in remission, Jonny is determined to raise awareness by sharing his story, encouraging monthly self-exams, and reminding others that early detection of testicular cancer saves lives. His journey offers valuable insights for anyone searching for answers about testicular cancer symptoms, treatment, or life after cancer.

Join The Ball Room:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/theballroom

Want to be a guest? Apply here:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/it-takes-balls-submissions

Follow Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation:

⁠https://www.testescancer.org

https://www.x.com/testescancer⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/testescancer

https://www.facebook.com/tca.org

Follow Steven Crocker:

https://www.twitter.com/stevencrocker

https://www.instagram.com/stevencrocker

https://www.facebook.com/steven.crocker2

Connect with Jonny:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathankingbio/

Theme song: No Time Like Now - Tom Willner www.tomwillner.com