Testicular Cancer, Fertility & Balls Like Oranges with Jack Burke

This week, Ciaran and Shaun are joined by Jack Burke — journalist, writer, and testicular cancer survivor. Diagnosed at just 26 during the tail end of COVID, Jack's story is one of gut-wrenching fear, remarkable resilience, and a candid look at what happens to your fertility when cancer enters the picture.

For the first time, Jack opens up in real detail about finding the lump, navigating the NHS in a pandemic, enduring three brutal rounds of BEP chemotherapy, and the strange, often darkly funny reality of being a young man suddenly confronting his own mortality — and his fertility.

This is raw, honest, and exactly the kind of conversation that doesn't happen enough.

💬 What to Expect:

• Jack's full story: from finding the lump in the shower to a stage 3/4 diagnosis and three rounds of BEP chemotherapy
• The link between testicular cancer and infertility — and why it's not spoken about enough
• The "wank bank" experience: the bizarre, funny, and deeply human reality of sperm banking at the NHS
• Why the hardest part of cancer isn't the treatment — it's what comes after
• The IVF funnel problem and how the male factor is so often overlooked in fertility pathways
• What Jack wishes oncologists and andrologists had told him about preserving his fertility
• The power of peer support: why talking to a man five years ahead of you beats any doctor's reassurance
• Jack's open invitation to anyone going through testicular cancer to reach out to him directly

🏁 Episode Sponsors

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What we really like is that behind the science are real stories from real people.

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📲 Connect & Follow

• 🌐 Community: nexysfertility.com
• ▶️ YouTube: The Male Fertility Podcast
• 📷 Instagram: @themalefertilitypodcast
• 👤 Ciaran: @themalefertilitypt
• 👤 Shaun: @knackered_knackers
• 👤 Jack Burke: @jsburke
• 📧 Email: themalefertilitypodcast@gmail.com

⚠️ Disclaimer

This podcast provides information and support but should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised care.