In this powerful episode of It Takes Balls, Justin Sandler shares his extraordinary journey with a primary mediastinal germ cell tumor, a rare form of testicular cancer that developed in his chest — not his testicles. After months of unexplained chest spasms and being told it was muscular, a CT scan revealed a rapidly growing 14cm tumor pressing against his heart and lung. Doctors at UCLA delivered a sobering reality: without aggressive treatment, the tumor could crush his heart.

Justin underwent four rounds of VIP chemotherapy (cisplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide), administered inpatient 24 hours a day for a week at a time. He openly discusses the brutal side effects of chemo, including severe pain, tinnitus from cisplatin, dangerously low platelet counts, and the emotional toll of living in the oncology ward.

After chemo reduced the tumor to a dead mass, he endured an 8.5-hour open chest surgery, losing two-thirds of his right lung, part of his heart wall, and major veins that had to be reconstructed.

But the fight didn’t end there. Just months later, Justin experienced a life-threatening cardiac tamponade, requiring emergency heart surgery while awake. Through it all, he leaned on a philosophy he calls “Embrace Love Free” — choosing acceptance, mindset, movement, and service over anger and victimhood. From walking hospital laps with his chemo pole to performing a one-man show about his experience, Justin transformed trauma into purpose.

This episode explores rare extragonadal germ cell tumors, aggressive chemotherapy for testicular cancer, major thoracic surgery, survivorship challenges, post-cancer depression, and the mental resilience required to rebuild life after treatment. It’s a must-listen for anyone facing testicular cancer, rare cancers, chemotherapy, or long-term cancer recovery.

Provide your feedback on the podcast:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/itbsurvey

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.instagram.com/stevencrocker

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

Connect with Justin:

justinsandler.com

https://www.facebook.com/justinsandler

https://www.instagram.com/justinsandler

https://www.youtube.com/justinjsandler

https://www.tiktok.com/@justinjsandler

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

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