It Started in Biology Class – A Dad Shares His Testicular Cancer Story

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.  

Transcript

Don’t Give Up on Testicular Cancer – The Max Mallory Foundation

It Started in Biology Class – A Dad Shares His Testicular Cancer Story – Season 2, Episode 18

Interview with Matt Froestad - 28:48

Keywords: testicular cancer, cancer, surgery, testicle, sperm, cancer survivor, chemo, IVF, Max Mallory Foundation

Introduction

Welcome to Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer, a podcast where testicular cancer survivors, caregivers, and others who have navigated the cancer journey share their stories. The podcast comes to you from the Max Mallory Foundation, a nonprofit family foundation focused on education about testicular cancer in honor and in memory of Max Mallory, who died in 2016 at the young age of 22 from testicular cancer. Had he survived, Max wanted to help young adults with cancer. This podcast helps meet that goal. Here now is your host, Joyce Lofstrom, Max's mom, and a young adult cancer survivor.

Joyce Lofstrom 1:05  

Hi, this is Joyce and with me today is Matt Froestad, a two-time testicular cancer survivor. He received his diagnosis as a freshman in college and also as a senior in college. That's more than 10 years ago. He tells his story not only of survival but life after cancer with marriage, IVF, and giving back to others with testicular cancer. 

So Matt, thanks for joining me today. I'm glad that we can talk. 

Matt Froestad

Thanks, Joyce. I'm excited to be here. 

Joyce Lofstrom

I always start with having my guest tell his story about what happened with testicular cancer. And I know you had two different diagnoses. And so, tell us about the first one when you were a freshman in college.

Matt Froestad

I was taking freshman biology or Biology 101. And we had gotten on the topic of talking about cancers, or on the subject of talking about cancers. And I remembered that I was always taught to check myself for testicular cancer. 

And I just so I happened to feel a lump, very small lump, while I was in the shower later that evening. I didn't think too much of it. And I thought it was probably just overreacting or me being a hypochondriac because we're literally talking about that in biology during the lecture. And didn't give it much thought until after the weekend, it was still there. And it seemed, or appeared to be, growing, 

Matt Froestad

My biology lab was actually canceled that day. So, I took that as a sign to go to the emergency room to get it checked out because, quite honestly, I didn't know what else to do at that point. 

So, I got it checked out. And they ran some tests, ultrasound, things of that nature. And the neurologist walks in and says, It looks like you have cancer, but the only way to know definitively is if we go in and remove it. So, I've scheduled you for surgery first thing tomorrow morning. So just like that, I was told I had cancer. And you know, went through the surgery the next day. Of course, for my parents, everything was going on, and I think it was all just a shock to everybody around me. 

But it was caught early. It was stage 1A and a mixed germ cell tumor that, you know, we didn't continue with any other form of treatment, no chemo, no additional surgeries, or anything along those lines. And I entered the surveillance phase, which I thought would be for the next five years or so. 

Joyce Lofstrom

So, I just want to comment on one thing that you said about being taught to check yourself. Was that your pediatrician that did that? 

Matt Froestad

No, that was actually my stepdad. He was in the Navy. But, you know, raising my brother and I, he always kind of gave us the talk of the importance of checking yourself and making sure that everything is as it's supposed to be. 

Joyce Lofstrom

Well, I appreciate you sharing that because I think that's so important for people to hear because a lot of the men I've interviewed don't have that advantage. Nobody told them, the doctor, or their parents to check. So, I just wanted to ask you about that because I think it's important to know. 

Well, let's move on to your second diagnosis. 

Matt Froestad

So, as I entered the surveillance phase, and for the first year-and-a-half, two years, almost everything was going fine. I was having regular labs checked, and regular imaging. Everything was coming back as it should--clean. 

Moving into college my senior year, I noticed some swelling, some discomfort in the remaining testicle, and I immediately scheduled an appointment with my neurologist. At this point, you know, kind of had a little bit of knowledge and what to do. So, I had an appointment with my neurologist probably the next week, and he did some tests.

Matt Froestad 5:00  

He did an ultrasound and didn't think anything in terms of testicular cancer. But he thought that while I was moving in, maybe I bumped it on something, and the swelling was causing the swelling. Ultimately gave me an antibiotic for epididymitis, which is a very long, thin tube on the backside of the testicle that sometimes can get swollen. It was tender, and you know, all those things I was experiencing. But knowing that was my only testicle remaining, you know, gave me some pause for concern, I took the antibiotics. 

And maybe a month or so later, I went back, the swelling was still there, and not necessarily feeling a lump, but it definitely didn't feel like it should. So, the doctor repeated the ultrasound and noticed that there was some growth in what could be a mass. 

Again, this is the same neurologist that diagnosed me the first time, and his diagnosis was very similar. It looks like there might be something there, but the only way to know is to go in and remove the testicle. And at that point, he didn't feel comfortable scheduling the surgery, I didn't feel comfortable with him scheduling the surgery without getting a second opinion. 

Joyce Lofstrom

Right.

Matt Froestad

So, he referred me to another urologist, one that does see more patients, more testicular cancer patients, on a yearly basis. And ultimately, I went in and had a second opinion with that doctor as well.

He came to the same conclusion that it looks like, you know, there's testicular cancer in there, but the only way to remove it, or only way to know is to remove it. And that's when the conversation started about family planning and what the future might look like, 

Keep in mind, I'm 22 years old at the time, and not really sure what the future holds for me. I just want to graduate college and start my career at that point. So, there are some larger life decisions to be made before surgery could take place. 

Joyce Lofstrom

So, what did you do then? So, you are facing surgery? And then also, you know, what to do about long-term outcomes that you know about, with a family and children and so forth. So that's one question like, what was the next step? But I am curious, did you do all this in your college town? Or did you have to go home and quit school for a while? Or how did that work? 

Matt Froestad

Ultimately, it ended up lining up perfectly with the winter break, that I was able to get my second opinion. 

And then, you know, having the conversations with the doctor there, but I ultimately sperm banked. So, we did schedule surgery for about two weeks after that follow-up appointment. And that allowed me to bank sperm twice. 

Fortunately, back in my hometown, that's where I was going to see this doctor, there's a large fertility center that, you know, offered sperm banking and storage. Because that was one of the things that my urologist talked to me about was a company or two that he had known about. You would basically collect sperm at home and then send it away to a lab. And that gave me some discomfort and just, you know, trusting the logistics of shipping and third parties being involved, whereas I was able to go to the clinic in town. They were able to do everything kind of in-house and store that for me. 

Joyce Lofstrom

So, what did they find with the surgery? You had that second surgery? Was it a lot? You know, you said it was swelling, so there was a mass. 

Matt Froestad

And in the second surgery, after the biopsy and pathology report came back, it was a completely different tumor makeup. Both cancers were completely separate from each other. And that, I'm told, is a 0.2% chance of that happening. So, it wasn't necessarily a reoccurrence, but a new cancer mass on the left testicle, at that point. 

Joyce Lofstrom 9:04  

So, did you have to do chemo? 

Matt Froestad

This is where things got a little bit tricky. And I didn't know at the time, you know, what the decision I was making was like I said, I was trying to finish college and start my career. So, knowing that this was a second type of cancer, you know, again, it was caught at stage one. It was early, and talking with the doctor…if this were your first occurrence of cancer, then, I would just recommend surveillance. But given that this is now your second time getting testicular cancer, the doctor was recommending possibly a lymph node surgery, removal, and some type of localized radiation and chemotherapy. 

Matt Froestad 10:00  

However, being stubborn and going into my senior seminar and the last semester of my senior year, I wanted to finish college. And there were a lot of conversations that went back and forth. 

He, the doctor, ultimately brought it to a tumor board at the cancer institution or cancer center. And it was a 50/50 split.

Joyce Lofstrom

So wow. Oh, boy, it's surprising.

Matt Froestad

So, he gave me the choice, and I opted to finish college. Thankfully, that ended up being an okay decision. However, I didn't realize the mental kind of stress that that would put on me years later.

I would say after I graduated and really hit that two-year mark of okay, well, this is when I got cancer the last time was two years into, you know, my surveillance, is something going to happen? Is the other shoe going to drop? 

That probably went on for a couple of years where, you know, having the scanxiety, go getting bloodwork done, and having an ultrasound done. My urologist, after her, my oncologist, I'm sorry, after, you know, finally settling down and moving to Williamsburg, Virginia, my oncologist who I had been going to see, and kind of completed my five-year surveillance with, said, 

“You know, look, we can continue to do these annually, or you really don't have to come back and see me.”

I opted to continue to see him and have tests done annually, and I still have bloodwork done. I haven't had imaging done in a couple of years. And I know you mentioned it's been over 10 years now. So might be time for just peace of mind getting some imaging done. 

Joyce Lofstrom

Right, right. 

Matt Froestad

But as of last month, my tumor markers and everything was stable.

Joyce Lofstrom

So, you never did chemo or radiation, you have always been under surveillance, is that correct? 

Matt Froestad

Right, exactly. 

Joyce Lofstrom

So, you know, I listening to you, it tells me again how personal this disease is. And it's true of any cancer, it affects each person differently. But you had two different cancers and, you know, the surgery works, you didn't have to do chemo or anything. And so far, 10 plus years of surveillance, you stay on top of it. 

And you know, I just find it always just fascinating because everybody's story is different how, how it works out, I guess, is what I'll say. So, I'm glad you're okay, that's just a lot to go through so young.

Through all of this, what was your biggest challenge? 

Matt Froestad

I would say the biggest challenge was probably just not knowing what the future holds. And I think that still rings true today. While it's not necessarily as top of mind as it was maybe, say, 5, 7, 10 years ago, there's still always that, you know, unknown or uncertainty about, what is my health going to be knowing my past, and just doing everything that I can to make sure that I stay on top of it—and just knowing that I'm doing my part, to make sure that I stay on top of everything.

Joyce Lofstrom 

You know, I think that's very common with cancer survivors. I'm, I feel the same way. I'm a cancer survivor. And you always just, it's always there kind of in the back of your mind, may not dwell on it. But there's that kind of, as you say, that uncertainty of what's ahead. 

And I read about you on the Ballsy Sense of Tumor blog that you wrote, and also, you know, we connected on Instagram. But you were very open in that blog post and talked about what you'd been through, and then you wondered if, getting of age, would somebody really want to get married after you called that castration. Talk about that a little bit. Just how you manage that life after all of this, you know, before you met your wife, I guess? 

Matt Froestad

Yeah, definitely. So, fortunately, and I'll caveat it with this. Fortunately, I was dating my wife, 

Joyce Lofstrom

Oh, good. 

Matt Froestad

Okay, during the second time, so she was there, she was a part of all of it. I couldn't imagine if she wasn't a part of it, and knowing kind of whatever, everything that I was going through, and, and everything.

But I will say the thing that helped me the most, especially after my second surgery, was being in college still and being around all of my friends that could help me make light of the situation. You know, there were never enough ball jokes to go around. And, you know, that was something that helped me get through everything and, you know, still to this day, you know, it's I try to be professional and not, you know, crack a joke in a meeting or something. But, you know, even work, people that that know about everything that I've been through, it's, you know, it's hard not to crack a joke whenever the opportunity presents itself. 

Joyce Lofstrom

I agree. You have to be able to laugh at yourself and that life to survive. 

Matt Froestad

Yeah. I think so. 

Joyce Lofstrom

So, I know you did the IVF, and that was another part of your story. And I'll just comment because you are able to do it twice to, you know, preserve your sperm, and I just think that's another thing: I have stressed as part of this cancer is just that sometimes it's so immediate. 'You have to go do this today.'  And I just think that's hard. I mean, I'm not a guy, so I haven't had to do it. But I just, I know, Max, my son, had to do that and couldn't. And, I just want to comment on that because I know you did do that. And now we're going to talk about what happened because you did. So, tell us about the IVF experience. 

Matt Froestad

Yeah, definitely. Yeah, I will say, you know, growing up quickly is something that cancer has, has caused me to do, and making those decisions about like sperm banking, even where it was going to be done. Those were not easy decisions to make. And then, you know, not knowing, you know, when or if this will ever get used.

Matt Froestad 15:50  

Again, that was, that's kind of one of those unknowns, but like I mentioned, my wife and I were dating at the time of my second surgery and cancer diagnosis. But we ended up getting married about five or six years later. And after we got settled into our careers, you know, saved up some money because we knew that we would have to go through IVF, we started that process. 

And that process was one of, you know, a lot of curveballs, I would say, that were unexpected. And we thought, you know, going into this that, okay, you know, I had testicular cancer; obviously, I'm not producing any sperm. They're going to, you know, create embryos with my wife’s eggs, and then, you know, we'll get pregnant, and it'll be quick, just going to cost a lot of money. But, you know, we'll, we'll get pregnant. And we'll have it done in no time. So, little did we know, it’s not always that simple. 

Joyce Lofstrom 

Right. 

Matt Froestad

And we ended up doing IVF. I think we ended up doing three egg retrieval, egg retrievals, followed by three transfers until the fourth one actually took, and my wife became pregnant. 

Joyce Lofstrom

Wow. 

Matt Froestad

Yes. So this started in 2019. And then, you know, we went into the early stages of the pandemic, going through the transfers and things like that, and ultimately changing clinics that we are going to for IVF. And there are just a lot of, a lot of things out there about the process of IVF that we didn't know, that we quickly educated ourselves on as we went through that journey.

Joyce Lofstrom

And so, it worked? If I can ask.

Matt Froestad

Yes. So, it worked. My wife gave birth to our baby last December. So, time is flying. I can't believe that she will be nine months here soon. But we couldn't be more excited. 

Joyce Lofstrom

That's wonderful. 

Matt Froestad

Yeah. 

Joyce Lofstrom

I think you make a good point about the process. And I mean, I have some girlfriends who have gone through it. And I just talk to other people or read about it, I mean, it really is, it's not like, oh, okay, so here's the egg. And here's the sperm, and we're just going to implant it. I mean, it's like weeks of things you have to do and prep in. And then you have to hope it takes, you know, and so I can't imagine what you went through four times, 

Matt Froestad

The timing is everything because it's based on the body and, you know, the things that she's experiencing, but there are a lot more needles involved than anybody tells you about. 

Joyce Lofstrom

Okay, that's another podcast, I guess.

Matt Froestad

Exactly.

Joyce Lofstrom

You were young when you found out you had testicular cancer. What advice do you have for other young men or any man that might think they have the disease or they're going through the treatment now? 

Matt Froestad

Yeah, I think, you know, post-diagnosis and working with folks within the testicular cancer community, my biggest thing is about education. I credit that to what saved my life, just knowing to check yourself for testicular cancer because there's not always pain associated. 

Actually, it's pretty uncommon that pain is associated with testicular cancer, usually just the lump or feeling something off. But you don't know to necessarily check for that unless you're taught. So, education is huge, and going to college campuses and things like that to help spread the word is really important. And something that I've done a couple of different times to various different schools.

I think the biggest thing for folks that are newly diagnosed, you know, still going through it, because I've talked to a lot of people that, you know, they do, unfortunately, have to go through chemo, and they do have to, you know, continue treatment and things like that. Maybe it's surgery that they're working towards, in dealing with chemo and stuff like that. 

Matt Froestad 20:00  

So, it's always, you know, keeping a positive attitude and connecting with others that have been there because, you know, as you know, cancer or really any chronic condition can be very isolating. And it doesn't necessarily have to be. Because there are so many people out there that have been through what you might be going through or what you will be going through.

And they are able to share and provide their perspective on things. And it's, it's important to, you know, ask questions and be informed about what's to come. 

Everybody's experience is going to be a little bit different. But to know that somebody else has been there, and they've gotten through it is a lot more reassuring for somebody that's going through it then than somebody might think. 

Joyce Lofstrom

Well, I know you mentioned in the blog post that you have been involved with the Testicular Cancer Foundation, and they helped you on your journey. Anything you can share about that? Are you still working with them? Or that sounds like, I know, it is a good resource for men going through testicular cancer. 

Matt Froestad

Yeah, definitely. You know, The Testicular Cancer Foundation is a great organization. I work closely with them, you know, a lot of friends that are a part of that organization. I think you actually interviewed Connor Leary earlier.

Joyce Lofstrom

Yes, I did.

Matt Froestad

We were talking about that last week, I think. But no, it's really great. And they are somebody that, you know, will help connect you with other people that are going through a similar time, a similar experience. 

Until getting connected with the Testicular Cancer Foundation. I had never talked to somebody else that was a two-time testicular cancer survivor. And, you know, that was, that was huge for me. And then it was big, huge for that person too. And they were recently diagnosed, and I had been through it, you know, for or out of it for a couple of years. 

And, you know, they do weekly Zoom calls, where it's just a group of guys that join and, and maybe they're talking about cancer, but maybe they're also just talking about soccer matches, football, you know, whatever. It might be sports, cars, or life in general. But it's just a way to build community and connect with other guys that have been through similar life experiences, really.

Joyce Lofstrom

Well, you know, that key word, you said, their community, that's what we all need. And especially going through a cancer diagnosis, finding that group of men like you did through the Testicular Cancer Foundation is so important because you're not alone. And you know that, hopefully, you're going to be okay. And you're going to make it.

So, I was going to ask you again, about life now with what you've been through and losing both testicles, getting married, having a baby, I think you've probably answered it. But I mean, anything around that you want to add, and I think it's more that, I mean, that's a lot to go through so young. And, you know, I've interviewed a few guys that lost both of their testicles. 

I mean, anything else to add around that would be relevant, Matt?

Matt Froestad

I would say, you know, maybe 10, almost 11 years ago, where I was, in terms of receiving that second diagnosis and going through surgery, opting for surveillance, I was a lot different of a person than now. I'm married now; I have a kid. There's a lot more to life than just getting out there as quickly as possible and starting my career. So, I'm not saying things would be different. But there's a lot more to consider and think about. And I think that's the important part now, of making sure that I still have my annual bloodwork done. And I'm still seeing my doctor on regular basis to make sure that, you know, there's nothing that is out of the ordinary. 

Joyce Lofstrom 

That's right, and it's making time for you and doing not just cancer things, but you know, you have a life with your family and your career and whatever you do for fun. So yeah, that makes total sense. So what's next for you? Oh, go ahead. 

Matt Froestad

I was going to tie it back to building community that, you know, there are things, and you know, maybe it's being a guy, maybe it's just wanting to separate the two things. But, you know, there are things that I don't necessarily talk to my wife about, but just feel like cancer or being a cancer survivor, that the guys from TCF that I work with, they are my support, they are my resource, they're my sounding board for those types of things. 

And, you know, it's always great to have people that you can connect with that fully understand what you have going on. Because, you know, they're able to put themselves in your shoes. 

Joyce Lofstrom

You know, and I think people sometimes this is just a general statement, but that kind of a support group for any reason. I mean, any disease, any whatever, is so important. And sometimes you don't realize the value of it until you get into one and start talking to people and realize you're not alone. And you learn a lot from them, from the people in the group. I mean, I have diabetes, and I've done that, and you know, it's like, oh, I didn't know that.

Joyce Lofstrom 25:00  

It’s just something that people live with when the disease, and they have insights that you don't know. And vice versa, you know, you have insights you can share. So, I think it's wonderful. 

Matt Froestad

Yeah, definitely. And, you know, it's, it's always great. I mean, this sounds horrible. But it's always great when somebody about to start chemotherapy joins one of the calls. All the guys that have been through chemo they're able to offer life hacks. And, you know, hey, you're going to expect this, like, it's not going to hit you until this happens, or this, that, and the other, but they're able to help them better prepare for what's coming. And you don't necessarily get that by just talking to your doctor or talking to loved ones that are close to you that haven't been through that. 

Joyce Lofstrom

So, what's next for you, Matt? What's on the horizon? 

Matt Froestad

It's a good question. I think we are going to potentially try to have another child, maybe not next month, but maybe sometime in the next year. So, continuing to grow our family. But traveling, we love to travel and can't wait to explore the world, there's so much out there we've yet to see, and can't wait to experience it. So, you know, hoping and hoping to stay healthy and be able to do all of that. 

Joyce Lofstrom

That sounds great. Traveling is always fun. And you're right there. There's just so much to find and discover in the U.S. and anywhere. So have fun when you do that.

Joyce Lofstrom 26:32  

My last question is, so what song when you hear it, you have to sing along? Is there one song that just grabs you that way?

Matt Froestad 26:42

It's got to be probably 'Hooked on a Feeling' by Blue Swede. There's just something about that song, you know, when it starts off with the ooga-chakas that you have to sing along to. You just get into it. 

Joyce Lofstrom

That's great. Okay. I always say Beatles.

Matt Froestad

Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's probably what we sing along to the most in the house. But I swear, you know, or Bruce Springsteen, you know, 

Joyce Lofstrom

Okay, yeah.

Matt Froestad

Cranked up on the radio, and I'm not a very great singer. So, it's like, the radio gets turned up, the windows go down, anything to drown out my voice, but love to sing along.

Joyce Lofstrom

Well, I'll just say this to close. When I was in fourth grade, I went to a Catholic school  in Kansas City. The nun told me to fake it because we were singing, we were going to some nursing home, and there were eight of us. And she just said to me, why don't you just mouth the words? So, I'll never forget that. So, I'm not a good singer, either. But you know, you still do it.

Matt Froestad

Sometimes they'll tell you like it is, I guess. 

Joyce Lofstrom

Well, yes. That was many decades ago. But she was right. I was off-key. 

But anyway. So Matt, thank you for taking the time and talking with me and sharing your story with our listeners. I just wish you much happiness in the months ahead. years ahead. And thank you. 

Matt Froestad

Thank you. I appreciate it. It was great talking with you. 

Closing Voice

Thank you for listening to this episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer. If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe to our program on your favorite podcast directory. You can also visit the Max Mallory Foundation at www.maxmaloryfoundation.com/podcast to listen to previous podcast episodes or donate to the foundation. And join us again next time for another episode of Don't Give Up on Testicular Cancer.

 

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