You're carrying more than you signed up for. We see you.
Caring for someone through testicular cancer is its own journey — practical, emotional, sometimes lonely. Whether you're a partner, parent, sibling, or close friend, this is the front door to what other caregivers have told us they actually needed.
"Taking care of yourself isn't selfish — it's essential. You can't pour from an empty cup.
Four ways in
Pick the door that fits where you are right now — learning, asking, connecting, or just needing a human voice.
TC 101
Plain-language guides to diagnosis, treatment, and what comes next.
→TC Navigator
An AI assistant trained on TCF resources. Open 24/7 for any question.
→Weekly Support Call
A standing Zoom every week. Patients and caregivers welcome.
→Call Our Helpline
1-855-390-8231 — speak with a real person at TCF.
→What kind of caregiver are you?
The questions you'll have depend on who you are to him. Here's where most caregivers in each role start.
Partner or spouse
Intimacy, fertility, and sharing the daily load.
Parent
Whether your son is 17 or 37, the worry is the same.
Sibling, friend, or family
Showing up matters. Here's how to be useful without overstepping.
A caregiver's roadmap
The journey usually moves through these phases. Knowing what's coming helps you prepare — emotionally and practically.
Just diagnosed
The shock is real. Read enough to ask good questions — not so much you spiral.
Surgery & recovery
The orchiectomy is usually the first step. Here's what the first weeks look like at home.
During chemotherapy
BEP is the most common protocol. Knowing the rhythm makes you a better support.
After treatment
"Cancer-free" doesn't mean "back to normal." Survivorship is its own chapter — for both of you.
Things other caregivers say are hard
You're not the first person to feel any of this. You won't be the last.
Watching someone you love suffer
There's no fixing this part. The most useful thing you can do is be present and protect your own reserves so you can keep showing up. Read about emotional recovery →
The fear between scans
Scanxiety is real, and caregivers feel it too. You don't have to pretend you're fine. How to manage scan anxiety →
Sex and intimacy
Surgery, fatigue, body image, and meds all shift this. Talking about it — clumsily is fine — usually works better than waiting. Orchiectomy and sex →
Money & logistics
Co-pays, missed work, travel to high-volume centers — the bills don't pause for treatment. There are programs that can help. Financial resources →
Talking to kids
Honest, age-appropriate, and short is almost always the right answer. A guide for the conversation →
Holding down work
Your job didn't stop, but your bandwidth did. Boundaries and a flexible plan beat heroics. Balancing work & treatment →
Family dynamics
Different people cope differently. Disagreements about treatment, doctors, or "what to tell people" are normal — and worth naming early. Finding strength in support →
Take care of yourself
Caregiving is a marathon, not a sprint. Treat your own well-being like part of the treatment plan.
Sleep
The lever that affects everything else. Protect it the way you'd protect his medication schedule.
Talk to someone
A therapist who knows cancer caregiving is worth the search. Most cancer centers have referrals.
Move your body
A 20-minute walk does more for caregiver stress than scrolling for an hour.
Find your people
Other caregivers get it in a way no one else can. See community options ↓
Talk to someone
Three different doors. Pick the one that fits the moment.
TC Navigator
An AI trained on TCF's library. Best for fast, practical questions like "what is BEP" or "what should we ask the urologist?"
Open Navigator →TCF Helpline
Speak with someone at TCF. For when you need a human voice — to vent, to be pointed somewhere, or to ask the awkward question.
Call 1-855-390-8231988 Lifeline
If you or your loved one is in emotional crisis or thinking about self-harm, please reach out. Call or text — it's free and confidential.
Call or Text 988Communities & conversation
Caregiver-friendly spaces, ranging from quiet lurking to weekly face time.
Ladies of TCF
Private group for women supporting partners, sons, and friends through TC.
Weekly Support Call
Standing call for patients and caregivers. Drop in when you can.
Caregivers Discord
A private space for caregivers inside TCF's Discord. Lurk or chat — both welcome.
TCF Support Group
The main TCF Facebook group. Patients, survivors, and loved ones.
r/TesticularCancerOrg
Read others' experiences without saying a word. Sometimes that's what you need.
Share your story
Caregiver stories help the next person who lands here scared.
You don't have to do this alone
Whatever you need next — a fact, a phone call, or just someone who's been there — TCF is here for you.