Update: Colin Egglesfield announced on social media that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis after being treated twice for testicular cancer.
In an Instagram post dated January 21, the actor said: “Thankfully, we caught my prostate cancer early and after a year of doing a lot of research and talking to quite a few health care professionals, I elected to be proactive and have surgery.”
In the post, Egglesfield is pictured in front of City of Hope® Cancer Center Phoenix, where he said he received “amazing support and care.”
Egglesfield urged people to “advocate for yourself and your health,” get regular checkups. And he added: “Fellas, be sure to get your PSA checked regularly. It saved my life!”
A PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test is a blood test that measures a protein that is produced by prostate cells. An elevated PSA level may be a warning sign of cancer.
Actor Colin Egglesfield survived testicular cancer twice. But instead of putting the experience in his rearview mirror, he’s using it as a call to action.
Earlier this month, the actor, who gained fame on the daytime soap opera “All My Children” and was named one of the “Sexiest Men Alive” by People magazine in 2005, helped honor cancer survivors at the annual Celebrate Life® luncheon at City of Hope® Cancer Center Phoenix and in the inaugural Walk for Hope.
“Just coming here to the hospital reminds me that I’m not alone in my cancer journey,” he says in a video he posted on social media.
His goal, he adds, is to help others know they’re not alone in theirs.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Colin Egglesfield’s Testicular Cancer Diagnosis
- Raising Testicular Cancer Awareness in Phoenix
- What to Know About Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Cancer Treatment at City of Hope Phoenix
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer and are looking for a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-524-4673.
Colin Egglesfield’s Testicular Cancer Diagnosis
Egglesfield was just a few months into his breakout role as Josh Madden on “All My Children” when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
“I just noticed that my left testicle had swelled up, and I went to the doctor,” he told Fox News in 2019. After some tests, Egglesfield’s doctor told the actor he had testicular cancer, and that it was at a “pretty advanced” stage.
A year after his initial diagnosis, Egglesfield learned the cancer had spread to his other testicle. Still, it wasn’t something the then-33-year-old was eager to tell people.
“It’s not something that men normally like to talk about, and for the longest time, I didn’t want to talk about it because it’s something very personal,” he told Fox News.
In another interview with Jejune Magazine, Egglesfield shared, “It was the most uncertain, unsettling and scary time of my life. I always say I’d never wish cancer on anyone, but I am grateful for the experience because it forced me to have to develop character, courage, patience and hope on a whole new level.
“It also made me realize that I had not accomplished what I had set out to do in the world, and that if I made it through the experience that I would not let anything stop me from attaining what I’m committed to, which is continuing to build a successful acting career and to make a big, positive impact in the world.”
Raising Testicular Cancer Awareness in Phoenix
Ever since doctors told him there was no evidence of disease, following treatment, Egglesfield’s been making good on that promise.
After completing treatment, he began volunteering with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He’s also volunteered at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, reading to kids with cancer and playing games with them. In addition, he gives back by helping to support kids in underserved communities.
And while his cancer was not treated at City of Hope Phoenix, Egglesfield has supported the hospital and recently spoke to people there celebrating five or more years of cancer survivorship. He also rallied members of the cancer community before they joined hands and walked together to benefit cancer research.
Celebrities With Testicular Cancer
Egglesfield isn’t the first celebrity to come forward to talk about testicular cancer. He told US magazine, in fact, that world-renowned cyclist and fellow testicular cancer survivor Lance Armstrong served as a guide for his journey with the disease.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he says. “So, reading about someone who had gone through a similar experience gave me the courage and the inspiration knowing that if he could do it and go on and survive and do what he did. It gave me hope and inspiration that I could do the same thing.”
Other celebrities who’ve spoken out about their battles with the disease and worked to raise awareness include:
- Olympic figure skater and broadcaster Scott Hamilton
- Baseball player and broadcaster Mike Lowell
- Comedian Tom Green
- Olympic gold medal swimmer Nathan Adrian
- Baseball player Connor Joe
- Actor Jack James Ryan
- Black Eyed Peas singer Jaime "Taboo" Gomez
What to Know About Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is rare. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), around 1 in every 250 men will develop the disease during their lifetime. The cancer can spread quickly if it’s not caught early, though. That’s why it’s important for young men to perform self-exams regularly to check for lumps or other suspicious changes.
Common testicular cancer symptoms include:
- A change in how the testicle looks or feels
- A dull ache in the abdomen or scrotum
- A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
- Hard lumps or nodules on either testicle
- Swelling in the scrotum
- Enlarged or swollen breasts
Testicular cancer is most frequently diagnosed in men between the ages of 20 and 34. Most cases can be cured, even if they’re diagnosed at an advanced stage.
“The key is you have to have examined yourself to know what your testicles feel like so you can better detect any changes,” says Farshid Sadeghi, MD, urologic oncologist and Medical Director of the Genitourinary Cancer Center at City of Hope Phoenix. “If you feel a hard nodule or irregularity in the shape or if one feels differently than the other, then you should get checked out.”
Performing a testicular self-exam may help you detect irregularities sooner.
Testicular Cancer Treatment at City of Hope Phoenix
Treatment for testicular cancer typically depends on the type and stage of the disease. Most of the time, a treatment plan includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant or a combination of therapies.
Because testicular cancer may often impact men at an age when they may be trying to start a family, City of Hope Phoenix offers advanced treatments alongside fertility preservation options. That includes sperm banking, as well as minimally invasive, nerve-sparing surgical procedures.
Plus, City of Hope Phoenix helps patients with testicular cancer and their loved ones manage their recovery from treatment, including help navigating sexual health concerns.
At first, Egglesfield says he was “ashamed and embarrassed to admit that there was something ‘wrong’ with him after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. But he quickly realized he needed to rely on his family, friends and co-workers for strength, encouragement and hope.
That’s the message, and the inspiration, he strives to pass on to others through his life today.
As he says in his social media video, “Life is worth living when you’re there to support other people.”
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer and are looking for a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-524-4673.