Oncology Buddies magazine

Patient Stories Burnell Nagaya – The power of now

June 5, 2026 Word for Word Media

After loss and two cancer diagnoses, Burnell Nagaya is focused solely on the power of now and fully appreciating what the present offers.

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Burnell Nagaya (45) lives in Alberton, Gauteng with his life partner, Pragashnie, and his daughter, Annsuri (18). Testicular cancer A year after Burnell’s wife passed away, in October 2021, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He experienced a pain running up from his knee into his groin area, so…

For the boys Hope found in testicular prostheses

April 1, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Kent Pluke, a urologist, gives us a brief rundown of testicular cancer and shares the hope that testicular prostheses give men regarding positive body image and confidence.

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Testicular cancer unpacked Testicular cancer represents only 1% of male cancers but is the most common tumour diagnosed in young males between the ages of 15 and 39. Approximately 2% of testicular cancers are bilateral (affect both testes) at diagnosis. The good news is of course that testicular cancers show excellent cure rates, with…

For the boys Metastatic testicular cancer

March 24, 2022 Word for Word Media

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Dr Daleen Geldenhuys describes how testicular cancer becomes metastatic and the treatment thereof. Testicular germ cell tumours, broadly classified into seminomas and non-seminomas, are among the most curable cancers, with five-year survival rates of approximately 95%. Men with advanced disease are classified into good-, intermediate-, and poor-risk groups. The grouping considers the site of the primary cancer as well as the sites of metastatic disease, and serum tumour marker levels. The primary cancer can be testicular or in the chest. This may sound strange, but it’s thought to be attributed to an abnormal migration of gonadal tissue (cells that are destined to become part of…

Patient Stories Lincoln Chipembere – Making every shot count

March 24, 2022 Word for Word Media

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Despite Lincoln Chipembere having to delay his wedding due to a testicular cancer diagnosis, he took it in his stride with the extraordinary support of his fiancé. Lincoln Chipembere (29) lives in Midrand, Gauteng. Symptoms Last year May, Lincoln noticed swelling of one of his testicles, so he went to a GP. The doctor asked him if he played any sports to which Lincoln explained he played soccer recreationally, most Saturdays, with his friends. The doctor told him to avoid any sports as he thought it could be bruising and antibiotics were prescribed. However, when Lincoln went back for a follow-up, there was no…

Patient Stories Yoren Chetty – Doing his part

March 29, 2021 Word for Word Media

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We hear how Yoren Chetty made the most of his year off after a cancer diagnosis by furthering his studies and raising money for Movember. Yoren Chetty (40) lives in Fourways, Gauteng. Yoren, a certified financial planner professional, was residing in Shanghai, China in October 2019 due to a business opportunity, when he woke up in the middle of the night with severe pain and swelling in the testicular area. In November, he consulted with a GP in China, who ran an ultrasound and referred him to a urologist. After the consultation, Yoren was sent for an MRI and CAT scan in…

Patient Stories Judd shares his testi-monial

March 20, 2019 Word for Word Media

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Hollard DareDevil Run ambassador, Judd Van Den Bergh, shares his testi-monial of being diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 23. Judd Van Den Bergh (27) lives in Benoni, Gauteng. Young and indestructible Judd never worried about his health and fitness. As a result, he was overweight and never thought too much about it. In his mind, he was young and indestructible. But in April 2015, his indestructibility crumbled. He felt a lump in his testicle while doing a self-examination in the shower. This was thanks to a good GP emphasising the importance of testicle self-examinations to Judd. “When I first found the lump, I was…

Archives Yes, my one nut is fake!

December 11, 2015 Laurelle Williams

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If you lose a testicle, or testicles, as a result of testicular cancer you may want to consider testicle implants. I had testicular cancer in 1995 at the age of 30. That evening when the doctor came and said it is aggressive cancer… that they have to remove my right testis the next morning, was the moment my life shattered into a million pieces. The doctor explained to me that the cancer comes about through the fusion of two sperm cells. They form an ‘abnormal embryo’ and also grows as fast as an embryo. I tried to picture the tumour…

Testicular Cancer Testicular cancer does not only affect men -why women should be more involved in men’s health education

December 10, 2014 Laurelle Williams

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If anyone understands the importance of regularly having a cancer check-up, it’s Sue Behrens. In November last year Sue got devastating news: her son, Brandan, had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. He was 24 years old, and a participant in Movember – a global movement which aims to “Change the Face of Men’s Health” by creating awareness and raising funds for survivorship and research for prostate and testicular cancer programmes implemented by The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). Sue explained that Brandan had a vague feeling of un-wellness for several months prior to his diagnosis. “Yet, despite regular blood…