From Spain - Singer, Performer and Testicular Cancer Survivor Shares His Perspective

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. 

Transcript

(Alberto Sogorb, guest)

Announcer: 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 educating 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

Hi, this is Joyce, and with me today is Alberto Sogorb, a performer who started his career at the age of 15. He sang in choirs and music groups at different events and festivals until his hobby became a way of life. That led to training and professional artistic growth. He has studied in New York and with leading performers from around the world.

[00:01:24] He speaks five languages and he is with us today to talk about his testicular cancer journey. But, he's an accomplished singer, dancer and actor. So we'll have more to talk about with Alberto. He joins me from Spain. Alberto, welcome. Glad you could be here. I'm glad to speak with you.

Alberto Sogorb

I'm so happy to share my story. And yes, I'm here for, for you.

Joyce Lofstrom

Okay, well, thanks. Just why don't you start and tell us about your testicular cancer journey? I think it was five years ago.

Alberto Sogorb

Well, first I want to say thank you for your introduction and yes, five years ago I started that terrible year that I had, but even it was [just partly] terrible.

I have so many positive things to get from that moment, and it started because I had small lump in my ball, in my left ball. And I was thinking, that was not normal and I didn't have any information about what it was, testicular cancer. But I heard that some friend of a friend of a friend though, he had something and it was not familiar for me, but I was in a way aware about testicular cancer, and I'm lucky because my family have doctors and when I have some problems, I always ask them [but] in that moment [it] was something very personal. No, my testicles something that usually you don't speak about--your testicles and this is not, good because it's something that we have to, to share.

[00:03:20] We have a problem also, between men, between friends [talking about testicular cancer] and I didn't say to anyone and I just went to a doctor by myself and in the hospital, two female doctors, they just check my lab. They were telling me that was a varicocele. That was not, anything important, just like a varicocele and, just not a problem.

[00:03:51] I just went home. I went back home like, okay, it is nothing--but still not sure about, I was not confident about that opinion. After this, I went to ride a horse with friends that day, I noticed that was a little bit painful and that was not normal as well, because I ride a horse before and I didn't have any problem.

[00:04:14] And I ride a horse, I noticed. Was not comfortable, okay? So I'm a singer, as you say. Then I had to embark in a ship after two weeks, no, three weeks, sorry. And I was thinking that if I have to embark in a ship, for a contract of six months,  and I had a problem that I didn't know for sure what it was. I wanted to go to the ship knowing that I was healthy and I didn't have any problem. So, I book a doctor, private doctor, urology specialist, and I just went there by myself as well, without any, anyone. And. he didn't touch me. He just said, oh, that doesn't look good. Just,  you have to do another test. Like, echography. The same guy that did the echography say that, oh, you have, a tumor that you have to take off, so they will remove your testicle. He said all the information and I said, okay, I have to call my uncles and say what I have, because I need to go to a hospital.

[00:05:29] Uh, urgently because you, when, when somebody told you that you have a tumor, you don't know what exactly what it was, if it's growing, which state, uh, you don't know anything. So you get very worried. And this is the most difficult moment. It's the worst moment, if you don't have information.

[00:05:53] If you have information, everything is [a bit better]. So in, in my case, I was very afraid, very scared, and because I didn't have any information, and I think this is the most important thing to have information [about], and because it's what I would change, in my case, it would change many things. So I was in the hospital after one week. I got the orchiectomy, the surgery, and removed one testicle and they told me that they were analyzing to know which kind of tumor it was. After two weeks, uh, they told me that was not semi, and I was very, very lucky because the cancer was local. So the doctor, the oncologist, told me that I didn't, in that moment [need] the chemotherapy. So I just followed my life as normal—a normal life. I had some problems in my blood, but it was not related with the cancer exactly. It was very helpful for me to, of course, [have] the family, the support of my friends.

Um, because when, when you are in [that], you have to stop your life now, because I have a contract, I have to work, I have things, and in one moment, one second, you have to change all your plans, but…we have to keep strong in that moment. And the family, friends are very important. So in my case, three weeks after the surgery, after I removed my testicle, I didn't have money and I was saying to myself, my, the doctors told me, just stay at home because it's better if you recover and after you will work and you have your life and everything normal.

But first, just stay. Because when you embark in a ship, you have to go, um, out of your country. You have to travel and this is not a safe place as, as your home when you are next to your doctors, that they can take care of you and tell you, okay, now you need [this or that], because I didn't know in that moment if I would need chemotherapy.

So I was just telling to myself, if I stay at home and I do just nothing, just wait, I will get crazy and I need money. I need to work. I need to do my normal life. So I just went back to work. I went to the ship, I started working. It was a little bit difficult at the beginning because I was quite, um, I was performing [on] the stage and I couldn't dance well.

Also, the scar was open in the beginning. I had to go to the doctor. Many times I had, um, a problem in my blood, but as I said, it was not maybe related with the testicle cancer; it was other kind of problem that came maybe [from] medicines that they give me or something like this.

But everything was cured. Everything was solved after a few months. And I kept the treatment, I mean the revisions after three months, after six months, And everything was going well in my case. I was so lucky that I went by myself very early to the urologist, to the specialist.

And when I noticed something, and I took the [care of it] on time because, uh, if I wait, and I went to the ship--imagine that I said, okay, this is nothing. I go to the ship and I stay six months more in the ship and not taking care of this problem. That would be a really big problem.

So I was very lucky and after five years, I did the, the last revision [review] two months ago and everything was still good. So it's perfect now. In my case I was very, very lucky and I have to say always, thank you to my friends, to my family, to the doctors.

And I have to say also that I learn so many things, um, personal things, and I improve myself a lot with this problem. I always have to think that everything happens for something and everything that happens, even, if it's a really bad thing, we can take up very positive things for our lives.

Joyce Lofstrom

Yeah, right. You made a good point, Alberto, about having information because, you know, if you don't have information especially about cancer, then you really are at a disadvantage. And it sounds like you were very motivated because you, you went to the doctor and you went back to the, you know, urologist, uh, when things still weren't right. So I applaud you for doing that because not all the men that I've talked to had that motivation. Plus you said your uncles are doctors, so that's kind of an advantage too, I think, to have someone to go to. So, tell us about your career as a performer. I mean, your website is so impressive, [with] all the work you've done.

Alberto Sogorb

Oh, thank you so much. Yeah, I start thinking, when I was 15, in my village, with the typical concerts that they do in the village for the party, for the town party. And after this I realized that I really like to sing, to dance, to perform, and I have the support of friends and family, and I start studying, and singing, and doing theater in my region, but amateur level, not professional.

And after this, I finish my studies, as well as the high school, and then I do some theaters. I start working and I work. I remember I work in a theme park as, you know, taking care of the artists of the theme park, right? Not on the stage. Just behind the stage. And when I was there, I said, I don't belong to here. I belong in front of the stage. Yes. I would like to be in front, not in the back of the stage. So I say to myself, okay, I will follow my dream. And I went to drama school here, in Spain, to study musical theater. I was four years studying musical theater. I start working also in the theater around Spain doing musicals.

And then I went to Portugal also to do cinema. And I study and study because also I went to, as you said before, to New York to do some courses. I formed myself. I was ready to work and then I did a test proof or casting to go to work as an artist in Asia,  in China.

I was four years working as an artist in China around, in Beijing, in different cities of China. After a big, an amazing experience there, where I learned so much because I was working with very important artists in that area of the world. And I went back to Europe, and I start working with the ships.

Of course I did some concerts. I work also on land. But I started doing contracts as a production singer in, in the ships. I did, like, four contracts in MSC and Costa, and then I got a job also in the ship doing my own show, doing the music that I like and  performing my own show.

I’m alone in the stage now working for Costa Cruise Ships, and it is the--this is a dream to work in something that I like and it's not a hobby is also my life, but my work. And so it's a perfect, perfect life--when you can live, and work with something that you like. So I have to keep going in this way as, as far as I can.

Joyce Lofstrom

[00:15:45] Well, it's, that's wonderful. I think you hit the goal that everybody has, which is to be able to work in something that you like and enjoy. So that's, that's great. Yeah. What about: you said when you went through the cancer experience that you learned a lot about yourself, and what did you learn, if I can ask, and how does that affect you now as a performer?

Alberto Sogorb

[00:16:12] Yeah, as a performer, it affects me, and not just as a performer. I was very surprised. Six, no, seven months after my concert, I had a contract to work in an American company and in US also for ships, in Carnival. I got all the papers, visa, everything. I was ready to go to do the rehearsals in Miami.

I was learning the lyrics, I was learning everything. I was ready. I just had one problem. They answered me one week before I start the rehearsals because I need the ticket to go to Miami. And I said, why they don't give me the ticket? So they answered me. They said the doctors of the ship are not allowing you to, they deny your certificate because you had cancer less than five years ago.

And I say how it's possible, because I sent a note from my oncologist saying that everything was well, I sent all my documents. I had a revision in London, from a professional. All, everything. And I said, this is, in my opinion, this was kind of discrimination because I had in my past, a cancer and I had to wait five years, five years according to the legislation or the rules that this company had in that moment, uh, I had to wait five years to work with them because I had cancer.

In that moment, I had to start again, to search a job. And I was, in that moment I was thinking that I was going to work and I was doing all my plans. I refused some other  jobs, everything. I organized myself. And at that moment, they told me this in the last moment. Mm-hmm. And I said, it was really bad for me in that moment.

I had to wait four months to start working in another company because in the ship's life, everything is taken in advance. The contracts. So I had to wait a long time. I had to work in other things that I could and was a really bad moment as well. And I think this is one of the things that could, they have to change, and it affects me, to having cancer in my job.

Even if I didn't need even chemotherapy, is [to] imagine there is still so much, so many things to do in, in this way, in my opinion. Cause it affects also your job. In my case, it affects my job in that moment. But now I have to say, other companies, there was not a problem in another companies.

Also, I don't have any problem in my life now, related to the cancer. I do my normal life. I sing on this stage. I have a lot of power, in my personal or private life also. Is everything okay? Everything is good. And because when somebody told you that you have to remove your testicle, you say, oh my God, what's gonna happen now with my sex, uh, life?

Or you [want to] have a baby in the future, or do you have many questions in your head that in that moment? But no, everything is the same. The same, so there is not a problem at all. Many questions that people that know that I had cancer, testicular cancer, or you removed your testicle.

[00:20:07] Many people ask me, but do you have, can you have a baby? Or they don't know. No, they don't know. Also, as I didn't know in that moment, if everything would be normal after that. So they have as many questions as I had, but I have to say that for me [everything is] exactly, exactly the same. I can have a baby, everything. It's fine. Yeah. It's completely normal. And about my job, the only time that affects me is that time that I told you--the other times everything was perfect, was normal.

Joyce Lofstrom

Can you talk a little bit about, I guess medical care in Spain for your cancer?

And I only ask because with the podcast, I asked some of the men I talked to, just how they decided where to go or, you know, certain medical centers are more recognized for treating testicular cancer. So did you have any challenges from where you were, to find a good doctor to take care of you?

Alberto Sogorb

Here in Spain [we are] talking about my experience because I went to the, when I [was in that] province, I went in for the first time to the public hospital in Madrid. And they, two of them, they touched my ball. They were telling me [something]  wrong--they were not right.

I think between the professionals, they also need information. Yes. ‘Cause they were doing it wrong, In Spain, I recommend to go to the urologist, to the specialist private. Why? Because here, if you go to the doctor, they can tell you, okay, you need to go to  urologist.

So if he's sending you to the public urologist, you have to wait. Like, you have to wait like maybe one week, two weeks, or now? Right now, I don't know. How long is the list? Maybe it's one month or maybe more. I don't know. Cause it's public, so people used to go to the private [doctors].

So my advice here is always to go to the private [doctors], or if you don't have insurance company, just pay if you have the money--you have to go to the private one. And because it's the fast way. Right. And then after you have the diagnosis from the specialist, because the specialist will tell you if it's something wrong or not. If it's a [ ] or it's something that more important after this, then you can go to, to the agencies in the public hospital, because that works very well. I mean, when they know the diagnosis in Spain, when the doctor that told you, okay, you have this and you have to take care of this, public is the best way, the fast way.

It's public. You don't have to pay anything because we pay with our taxes and we have the right, and public hospitals here are working very, very well. But for this kind of diagnosis, for example, testicular cancer, in my experience, I recommend to go first to the private because it's faster.

And after when you have to get operated in the public also, it's fast because, I think the most difficult thing here is to get a public specialist in something. Yeah, it's very, it's a very long way, very long time. After the Covid even, maybe more, because the lists are longer. So when you have adapt, in my, in my experience, if I have adapt about my health: if I can pay, I go to the private one first to be sure what it is or what is not. And after, if I know the diagnosis and I have to take care of it, and I can save the money going to the public because the public is very, very, very good. 

Joyce Lofstrom

That's interesting to know, Alberto, because it sounds like a two-step process where you go private first to find out for sure what it is and then you can take advantage of the public care.

I just wondered how it worked where you are. So, thank you. What's next for you--you know, you said life is good now, and what's ahead for you as a person and as a performer?

Alberto Sogorb

I want to just to have a normal life, and simple, and be happy and I love to travel.

I want to have a family and just nothing very special, just normal, simple, and about professional. Keep going like I am, [what] I am doing now. I'm singing, I'm working in something that I like, and if I can, I have some dreams always. So, for example, I have a dream to have a coffee shop. So if I just make my coffee shop and I can work, just my coffee shop would be amazing for me and I have to save money and follow this dream. So maybe just simple, simple things. And as a singer, I like to also to compose. And I would like to do maybe to compose more songs and share my music with my friends, with maybe more and more people and in the near future, I have a contract in also in Costa [doing] my own show.

And I will be in and around Europe next summer. And after that, I don't know, let's see what life has given to me.

Joyce Lofstrom

Well, yeah, I love coffee, so I hope you get to open your coffee shop. [A coffee shop] for me is a place when you can also share experiences with people. And artistic coffee would be amazing to share--taking coffee with the people and making coffee for them would be perfect. Oh, I think it sounds wonderful. So all, you have both the entertainment talent, the singing and dancing, and then you'd have the coffee shop.

So my last question is, what song, when you hear it, do you have to sing along to? Now, you sing all the time, but I guess I was thinking if you're driving and listening to, you know, like a different group or something, is there a song that you just always sing along to?

Alberto Sogorb

Oh, there is, there are many songs and different styles of music that I really like to  sing, and listen to. Depends on the moment always. And there is one song that I listen so many times in the pandemic time and I love this group.

It's Black Puma: “Colors.” [That] is the name of the song: Colors. Okay. I think, I think that song is so beautiful and makes me feel something special and moves something inside of me. And I think that that musician is amazing. It's very good quality.

Joyce Lofstrom

[00:29:17] Okay. Thank you. I'll have to look that one up. Yeah. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me, Alberto. I really, really appreciate it. And, you know, I wish you the best as you keep going. Thank you. I'm just glad you survived your testicular cancer to that you're here and can share your experience, so I have to say thank you to you.

Alberto Sogorb

I'm so glad to share my experience. It's a pleasure for me. And if someone that has testicular cancer, and is hearing this, is listening to us right now, just be strong. This is something that will be fine in the near future. And there are so many advances for testicular cancer right now. We are so lucky to be in this moment because there are many advances and of course we need more, but just to, to tell to them that, don't worry, that will be fine. I have to recommend one book that I read when I was having  the process of the testicular cancer the book of Lance Armstrong.

[00:30:44] Okay. The name of the book is, It's Not About The Bike: My Journey Back to Life. My journey back to life: that book helped me in that moment because he had also testicular cancer and in a bad, very bad, situation. And he survived. And he, after [that], after surviving, he won the cyclist tour.

I think was a tour of friends with his bike. So, that was very, very important for me in that moment and helped me. I recommend the book .

Joyce Lofstrom

I think listeners always want to know resources like that. So, can you share your website too? I forgot to ask you that; we can close out with how people can find your website.

Alberto Sogorb

Yes. My name is Alberto Sogorb, and the website is my name, AlbertoSogorb.com, Very, very easy. And I'm also on Instagram and all the social media. And if somebody wants to ask me something or whatever, it's a pleasure for me.

Joyce Lofstrom

[00:31:55] That sounds great. Well, thank you again. Happy singing. 

Alberto Sogorb

Thank you, thank you. Have an amazing day and it's a really big pleasure. Thank you so much.

Announcer

 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.maxmalloryfoundation.com/podcast to listen to previous podcast episodes or donate to the foundation.

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