Libsyn Directory

Release Date: 12/27/2025

172: Cindy Koerner survived breast cancer | epirubicin | zoladex | cyclophosphamide | estradiol

Cancer Interviews

In 2018, for Cindy Koerner, pain in her right breast led to a diagnosis of Stage 3A breast cancer. She was put on a three-pronged, high-dosage chemotherapy regimen of epirubicin, nab-paclitataxel and cyclophosphamide. The cyclophosphamide compromised her immune system, resulting in fatigue and fever. The chemo regimen shut down her ovaries, but when they became active about a year later, Cindy was told if they remained active, the possibility of a relapse would increase, so she opted to have them removed. These days, Cindy believes her health is at approximately 80...

171: Hope Nightingale survived osteosarcoma | neoadjuvant chemotherapy | cisplatin | doxorubicin

Cancer Interviews

At age four, Hope Nightingale complained of severe pain in her legs. At first, her parents thought she was just being a hypochondriac. That changed when she fell off her scooter and broke the distal femur in her left leg. The following year, 2011, this led to a diagnosis of Stage II osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. After a regimen of neoadjuvant chemotherapy featuring cisplatin and doxorubicin, Hope underwent a surgical procedure, a vascularized fibula transplant. Her left femur was removed, and her right fibula was inserted in its place. Confined to a...

170: Jess survived myxopapillary ependymoma | pregabalin | duloxetine | spinal cord stimulator | lower lumbar

Cancer Interviews

When Jess began to feel pain in her right leg in 2020, she thought it was sciatica. When extreme pain radiated to her lower back, a physical therapist thought she had a bulging disc. However, her condition worsened, she went in for an MRI, and it revealed a tumor originally thought to be on her spinal cord. Further tests indicated the tumor was inside her spinal cord and a diagnosis of myxopapillary ependymoma, a rare cancer. The tumor was surgically removed, but her post-treatment life was very difficult. There were prolonged instances in which she could not move...

169: Adam Deans survived osteosarcoma | bone cancer | distal femur | prosthetic leg

Cancer Interviews

Adam Deans was an athletic teenager and had aspirations of becoming a professional athlete. However, all that changed when he fell down a flight of stairs at school. At first, doctors thought Adam had dislocated his left knee, but upon getting further medical attention, tests showed he had cancer, known as osteosarcoma in his distal femur. Doctors recommended chemotherapy, but when that was ineffective, the leg was amputated in 2005. In 2008, a friend introduced Adam to wheelchair basketball. Still with his athletic prowess, he learned the sport quickly and became...

168: Kevin Donaghy twice survived skin cancer | immunotherapy | pembroluzimab | metastatic melanoma

Cancer Interviews

What began as a harmless looking spot on Kevin Donaghy’s forearm turned into a pair of diagnoses of skin cancer. The first was Stage II in 2018, but 18 months later, it returned and was diagnosed Stage IV metastatic melanoma BRAF+. The urologist said Kevin, an IT specialist from Melrose, Scotland, may have six months to live unless he underwent a newly-approved immunotherapy known as pembroluzimab. That was in 2020, and Kevin is still with us. The immunotherapy triggered a bout of ulcerative colitis, which left him bedridden for six months, but Kevin says his health...

Cancer Interviews

Blood detected in Bob Schreiber’s urine led to a diagnosis of Stage IV bladder cancer. This came after a cystoscopy, in which a tube is inserted into his urethra, taking a picture of the bladder. Twice without success, Bob hoped BCG treatment would address the cancer by instilling a set of chemicals inside the bladder to strengthen the immune system. As a result, he had to get his bladder removed. It was replaced with a neobladder, which was made from his small intestine. His recovery took close to a year, he has to deal with incontinence at night, but would his...

Cancer Interviews

Beth Lehman went through a tumultuous year in 2020. Thanks to heavy drinking, she was diagnosed with cirrhosis, then basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, followed by hepatocellular carcinoma, a form of liver cancer. She underwent radioactive embolization in order to get a liver transplant. Beth said the two-hour operation wasn’t so tough, but the after-effects were difficult, including nausea and vomiting. Then she experienced a procedure to get rid of the skin cancer on her right temple. She says between her physical and emotional recovery, she...

165: Athena Porter survived cervical cancer | radical hysterectomy | endocervical adenocarcinoma | HPV+

Cancer Interviews

After close to a decade of abnormal pap smears, a Cone Biopsy indicated Athena Porter had cervical cancer. To make sure her diagnosis of endocervical adenocarcinoma didn’t spread, she opted for a radical hysterectomy. With the procedure, her cervix was not the only vital organ removed. A wife and mother to two daughters, Athena feels blessed that she can return to work on her Iowa farm. In 2012, she went in for an annual wellness exam. A pap smear indicated she was HPV+. Her doctor told Athena a worst-case scenario was cancer, but the virus would...

164: Joshua Silva survived clear cell renal cell carcinoma | partial nephrectomy | appendectomy | kidney cancer

Cancer Interviews

Joshua Silva did not take lower back pains and gastrointestinal issues seriously until they worsened, forcing him to visit an emergency room. A CT scan revealed inflammation of his appendix, necessitating an appendectomy. A urologist said the scan also showed a problem in his left kidney, later diagnosed as clear cell renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. Joshua underwent a partial nephrectomy knowing before the procedure he may lose the kidney. When he regained consciousness after the procedure, a nurse told him the kidney was spared. Post-treatment...

163: Tessa Parry-Wingfield survived Ocular Melanoma | Eye Enucleation | Uveal Melanoma | Monocular Vision

Cancer Interviews

While jogging in 2023, Tessa Parry-Wingfield felt an unusual sensation in her left eye. It wasn’t painful but merited medical attention. She was seen by three doctors before learning she had ocular melanoma, a form of eye cancer. Because of the particulars of her diagnosis, she had to undergo an enucleation, the removal of her cancerous eye. With an acrylic implant taking the place of the cancerous eye, Tessa had an enormous amount of learning ahead of her, most notably what is known as monocular vision. Amazingly, Tessa has adjusted to...

More Episodes

In 2021, Brian Vesall noticed some pain in one of his testicles when getting in his car. He sought medical attention, which led to his getting an ultrasound. After briefly looking at the scan, a urologist confirmed to Brian that he had Stage 2A testicular cancer. He underwent an orchiectomy to remove the cancerous testicle, followed by an aggressive chemotherapy regimen of bleomycin, etopiside and cisplatin. But he wasn’t done. Brian also underwent an additional surgical procedure to remove approximately 30 lymph nodes. As daunting as his treatment was, Brian chose to address it with a sense of humor, which he still has after achieving survivorship and advocating for other men diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Brian’s cancer journey began when he felt pain in a testicle as he was getting in his car. Upon further inspection, he noticed a “hard spot on one side.” He immediately went to see his primary physician, who sent him to a urologist. The urologist called for an ultrasound and only minutes after seeing its results told Brian he had Stage 2A testicular cancer. The diagnosis was confirmed with Alpha-Fetaprotein and BHCG, or, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin tests, whose results were far above the normal range.

Addressing his cancerous testicle meant just one remedy, an orchiectomy, surgery that would remove the testicle. Diagnosed on September 27, 2021, Brian had the procedure done just three days later. He was told to avoid any lifting and really, just about any type of strenuous physical activity.

In November 2021, the surgery was followed by three rounds of BEP chemotherapy, which stood for bleomycin, etopiside and cisplatin. Brian said he suffered the usual side effects, including cognitive issues, fatigue and hair loss.

In addition, Brian Vesall had to undergo an additional surgical procedure known as RPLND, or Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in June 2022, to remove approximately 30 lymph nodes

Brian’s health is pretty much back to normal, but a byproduct of his treatment regimen is that he suffers from retrograde ejaculation, meaning that semen travels backward into the bladder during orgasm instead of exiting the penis.

By way of advice, Brian Vesall says if you experience the symptoms of testicular cancer, you should act right away, and at all times, be your own advocate

Additional Resources:

Support Groups:

Man Up To Cancer: https://www.manuptocancer.org

The Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation: https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org

Brian’s Speech at TCAF’s San Diego Conference:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/blog/tcc-2024-vesall

Brian’s Appearance on the TCAF “It Takes Balls” podcast:

https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/blog/brian-vesall-it-takes-balls-podcast-guest

TOPICS