Don’t Give Up on Testicular Cancer

Join Andy Hood, an avid runner who used his testicular cancer diagnosis as a positive, next step as a runner. While he has never competed in or run a marathon, he has been running for years at the same 26-mile distance on trails around his home in North Devon in the United Kingdom. He is the father of three boys, and at age 48, he learned he had testicular cancer. After an orchiectomy and chemotherapy, he came back, he says, as Andy 2.0  ready to run on the beautiful trails he knows and at the same time, raise awareness about testicular cancer. Listen to Andy, known as runningwestwardho on Instagram, and his positive approach to testicular cancer on this episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer from the Max Mallory Foundation. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Host Joyce Lofstrom talks with Alex Tothill-Brown, a 10-year testicular cancer survivor. He shares his story of finding a lump on his testicle during his college years and then navigating the Canadian healthcare system for outstanding care.  His journey covers the different treatments for metastasis to his lungs and brain, as doctors gave him a 30% chance of survival. Listen to this episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer, a podcast from the Max Mallory Foundation. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Hear from Michael J. Rovito, Ph.D., and his research on the use of humor in discussions about testicular cancer. Dr. Rovito is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida.  He is a certified health education specialist. His work specializes in testicular self-examination and testicular cancer, male health behavioral change, and formative research, including theory, instrument development, and intervention design.Dr. Rovito talks with host Joyce Lofstrom about his research paper, Humor-Based Messaging in Testicular Cancer Awareness Campaigns: A Comparative Critical Review, published in the November/December 2023 edition of the American Journal of Men's Health.This discussion gets to how people discuss men's health, in general, and testicular cancer, specifically. Sometimes, humor works, but basically, it comes down to basic communication.  The context and the audience matter when talking with humor - or not - about testicular cancer...Hear more from Dr. Rpvito in this episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer, the first 2024 podcast from the Max Mallory Foundation.  Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Chris Ho survived testicular cancer twice, losing both testicles to the disease. He shares the path he navigated to learn gratitude, become a certified coach, enjoy fatherhood with his wife and his two sons, and be open to what life might offer.In this podcast, he details his journey that began in 2013 with his first diagnosis of testicular cancer. At the same time, he learned his wife was pregnant with their first son. His father shared that he had Stage 4 lung cancer in 2016 and then passed in 2018 after meeting his first grandson.  Chris received his second diagnosis in 2020 with surgery to remove his second testicle.   Learn how Chris navigated his life after testicular cancer, including insights on his career, and his family with a second son born via IVF treatment in 2021.  He tells listeners about his job with FranklinCovey in Canada and then the start of his business Conscious Studio.The bottom line is that Chris strives to live his life and help others to live with purpose.Enjoy this episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer from the Max Mallory Foundation. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

At 18, Chuck Boynton knew he wanted to fly, so after graduating high school, he enlisted in the Air Force Reserves as an aircraft mechanic, and he attended the University of South Florida Reserve Officers Training Corps. He was enrolled in a 55-week, three-phase training program as a First Lieutenant when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July 2018.Now, Captain Chuck Boynton, an F-16 pilot at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, will share his testicular cancer journey with us. And tell us how he returned to the cockpit, where he is known by his callsign Atlas, the Greek mythology figure tasked with carrying the sky on his shoulders. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

The Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer podcast continues with an update from podcast host Joyce Lofstrom. This brief episode assures listeners interviews will continue with testicular cancer survivors, caregivers, researchers, and others touched by cancer. Hear about upcoming podcasts and be ready to listen to learn more about testicular cancer from the Max Mallory Foundation.  Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Stephen Heaviside is a musician, writer, and adolescent and young adult - or A-Y-A - advocate. He's deeply passionate about helping to create community support, especially for those who've experienced challenging health and life situations. A testicular cancer survivor, Stephen is now the program coordinator with the Cactus Cancer Society, where he volunteered before joining the staff. He has been involved with the AYA community for about eight years. In addition, he has worked with and volunteered for several organizations, including Stupid Cancer and Elephant and Tea. In the podcast, he shares his testicular cancer journey with insights about the people he met and lost as friends and the healing role of music in his life. Music continues as a focus for Stephen, which he describes during this episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer from the Max Mallory Foundation. Find his music on Spotify at Stephen Heaviside.Learn more about the Cactus Cancer Society. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Matt Cross lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, his adopted city, after leaving Canada in 2010 to coach youth hockey. At age 35 on December 25, 2019, he learned he had Stage 2B testicular cancer.He shares his story of testicular cancer survival after finding a lump on his testicle, waiting a few months, and then visiting the doctor.  During his cancer journey, he found little support for men with testicular cancer in the Raleigh area. So, he created the Raleigh Testicular Cancer Foundation, a support and educational nonprofit to help men navigate their cancer journey and raise awareness about the disease.Listen to Matt talk about his testicular cancer survival and the men he has helped since 2019.  He continues to coach his youth hockey players and provide ongoing support for men with testicular cancer.The Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer podcast comes from the Max Mallory Foundation.Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Doug McArthur was 20 years old when he was a junior in college and found a lump on his testicle. He waited a few months before heading to the student health clinic, where the doctor suspected cancer. He told Doug to go home, confirm the cancer diagnosis, and set up a treatment plan.Doug left his college dorm in central California and headed home to follow his testicular cancer treatment plan. Now, four years later, this structural engineer has just returned from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at the top of Africa. He made the trip with 10 other men from ages 22 to 61, all cancer survivors raising funds for Movember, the charity focused on men's health.Doug McArthur shares his cancer and mountain climbing journeys in this episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer, a podcast from the Max Mallory Foundation.Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Will Thompson talks about losing his stepbrother Max Mallory to testicular cancer, the drug-related death of a close friend, and then dealing with life after these losses. An accomplished musician and sound professional, Will talks about the role of music in his life and happiness. [00:01:03] Coping with loss. [00:05:11] Testicular cancer awareness. [00:07:39] Undiagnosed illness and healthcare. [00:10:58] Raising awareness for cancer. [00:14:40] Testicular cancer awareness. [00:18:55] Recording studio venue dream. [00:21:28] Learning video editing skills. [00:25:46] Favorite song. [00:27:53] Creativity and life. Enjoy this episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer from the Max Mallory Foundation.   Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

A singer and performer from Spain, Alberto Sogorb shares his perspective on surviving testicular cancer diagnosed five years ago in 2018. He found a lump on his left testicle and visited two physicians before he received the correct diagnosis.He explains his treatment of surgery and surveillance, including an interruption to his career due to one employer's restrictions. But Alberto continued singing and has become a recognized performer in Spain, his home country, and Europe. Learn more about Alberto Sogorb's testicular cancer journey and how he effectively navigated it through the Spanish healthcare system. And listen to Alberto's singing and see him perform at https://www.albertosogorb.com/ on his website.Listen to past episodes of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer, a podcast from the Max Mallory Foundation. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Join Matt Ode in part 2 of Life, Faith and Surviving Testicular Cancer, where he shares more about the path to healing from his testicular cancer treatment. In this segment, Matt talks about treatment, the power of his family's support and prayer, and his strengthened connection with his girlfriend Lauren, who Matt married in the summer of 2022. At age 24, Matt had to learn to walk again and rebuild his physical strength. He talks candidly about his faith and its pivotal and ongoing role in his life then and now. Connect with Matt Ode on his Facebook community - Cancer Patient/Survivor Network: Taking Back Your Life From Cancer. Listen to this podcast from the Max Mallory Foundation, and other Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer episodes. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Meet Matt Ode, now 31 at the recording of this podcast, married, and a man who survived Stage 3C testicular cancer. Diagnosed at age 24, Matt was a personal trainer in excellent shape and enjoying life until he received his cancer diagnosis. His treatment began with chemotherapy, and then, surgery to remove an 11-centimeter tumor in his small intestine followed by multiple complications.  Faith played, and continues to  play, a vital and primary role in Matt's story, details he shared in this podcast. Matt's mom had people praying all over the world for his recovery. He endured two comas - one that happened on its own, and later, an induced coma after cardiac arrest. His girlfriend, now wife Lauren, traveled this journey with him, and listeners will learn more about her support. And now, after years of hard work and internal discovery, Matt gives back to those with cancer in many ways.His Facebook group - Cancer/ Patient Survivor Network: Take Back Your Life From Cancer- began in 2020 and has more than 6,000 followers. In 2023, he introduced a second Facebook group to help cancer survivors find the path they want to take using their own unique talents.This is Part 1 of Matt Ode's story. Learn more about this vibrant, enthusiastic, and energetic young man, helping people transform their minds, body and spirit as a testicular cancer survivor.VIsit the Max Mallory Foundation to listen to this and past episodes of Don't GIve Up on Testicular Cancer.Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

In 2019 at age 39, Chris Smith, a father of three boys, learned he had advanced testicular cancer. He started treatment, and then, with only three sessions left, his blood markers increased. The chemo had stopped working.  Chris moved ahead with advanced treatment, including high-dose chemo and a stem cell transplant. It worked.In 2023, he continues to give back to other cancer patients near Asheville, North Carolina.  He visits the hospital where he had treatment twice a month and delivers warm blankets and snacks to cancer patients. As a successful real estate entrepreneur, Chris owns Modern Mountain Real Estate and hosts an annual golf tournament that his coworkers started during his treatment. All proceeds go to cancer patients.Listen as Chris shares his story of survival in this episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer from the Max Mallory Foundation.  Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Daniel Makarewicz was diagnosed with testicular cancer on August 11, 2010, at the age of 24. At the time, he was a sports reporter at the Dispatch and the Rock Island Argus in Moline, Illinois. His urologist recommended emergency surgery to remove his left testicle, which was eventually classified as Stage 1. Following chemo and surveillance, he was deemed a survivor on June 11, 2020, his last checkup with oncologists. Daniel shares many stories of his life before, during, and after his testicular cancer diagnosis, including that of a mysterious donor who left envelopes for him at his parents' house with brief but meaningful messages and cash over a two-year period. Learn more about his transition from journalism to teaching and his perspective on life worth hearing. Thank you for listening to Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer from the Max Mallory Foundation. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

For our Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer podcast during Movember 2022, the Max Mallory Foundation talked with Jordan Stine who found a lump on his testicle two weeks after his wedding. He knew about testicular cancer because his dad and his younger brother survived this disease. Jordan followed the advice of his sibling, who told him to get through the day and what was right in front of him. He did, and he banked sperm as well. Now, eight years after his diagnosis and the father of three children, Jordan tells his story of cancer treatment, IVF, the grant he and his wife received to help cover IVF expenses, and life with a young family. After his testicular cancer journey, he looks forward to T-ball practice and living life where his feet are that day. From the Max Mallory Foundation team: We met Jordan Stine through our support for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where Max Mallory earned his bachelor's degree in Media Arts and Game Development (MAGD) in 2015. The Foundation provides an annual, two-year scholarship for a junior in the MAGD program and a cash prize for the annual MAGD Expo. Jordan is the Director of Philanthropy at the university.Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Something in his first semester, freshman college biology class, triggered Matt Froestad to visit the local hospital emergency department and ask about the lump on his testicle. His intuition paid off because he had testicular cancer- Stage 1A diagnosed in 2009. He returned to the hospital in 2011, his senior year, to learn cancer had returned in his other testicle – again Stage 1A. But Matt banked sperm before his surgery for this second go-round with cancer. Listen to Matt’s story of cancer, sperm banking, IVF with his wife, and the birth of his daughter.  Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Matt Finch grew up in a family that rode and raced motorcycles. He continues this tradition that helped him heal from his testicular cancer diagnosis and treatment at age 29. He had two children, aged 7 and 5 when he learned about his cancer. Four years later, he’s added another child to his family and spends his time as a police officer in Woodbridge, Suffolk, in the UK, with his children and partner Lucy, and on his bike to help raise awareness about this disease. Find Matt on Instagram at 445oneballracing.  Listen to this episode of the Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer  from the Max Mallory Foundation. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

Caleb Kerbs played second base for a Division 1 baseball team at the University of Maine. His testicular cancer diagnosis happened during his junior year of college in 2018. He was lucky since his cancer was at Stage 1. Now, four years later, he tells his story of survival, meditation with Buddhist monks in Thailand, and culinary school. Listen to Caleb’s story on Don’t Give Up on Testicular Cancer from the Max Mallory Foundation. Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.

With a master’s degree in social work, Christina Merrill saw how managing a transplant diagnosis upended the lives of patients and their caregivers. She founded the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation (BMCF) in 1992 to help patients and their caregivers facing bone marrow and other transplants. In 2018, she expanded all services to cancer patients and their caregivers. In 2022, BMCF introduced Cancer Buddy, an app to connect transplant and cancer patients across the globe with another person, a cancer buddy, facing the same diagnosis. Christina talks about the BMCF financial and community services available to cancer patients, including testicular cancer patients, in this episode of Don’t Give Up on Testicular Cancer from the Max Mallory Foundation.Support the showFind us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Linkedin. If you can please support our nonprofit through Patreon.