From the Diamond to Duty: Stuart Goldstein’s Journey
In 2002, at the tender age of 18, Stuart had just moved back to Philadelphia from California; fresh to the college world, he was trying out for the collegiate baseball team. For months he had been experiencing tenderness in his breasts and a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum area. He had also lost upwards of 10 miles per hour on his fastball as a high school pitcher by the end of his senior year. Little did Stuart know that these were all signs of what was to come.
In late August of 2002, after moving back to the Philadelphia area, he was at a family dinner when a young cousin, while horseplaying, gave him a swift kick to the groin. Over the coming weeks, his right testicle swelled to the size of an orange. Being new to college, focused on his studies and baseball tryouts, Stuart made the mistake of trying to ignore the issue. On September 13, 2002, after weeks of excruciating pain, he finally told his mother and stepfather about what he was experiencing. After some convincing from his parents, he opted to go to the emergency room at Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pennsylvania.
That night, he was examined by an ER doctor, a urologist in his fellowship, and the head urologist of Abington Memorial Hospital, Dr. Michael Samaha. Upon examining his testicle, Dr. Samaha stated that he wanted to prep him for emergency exploratory surgery within the hour. At that time, the doctor suspected testicular torsion due to the kick from his cousin. Terrified of the idea of surgery on such a private area, he was nonetheless taken to the operating room.
Once on the table, Dr. Samaha quickly realized it was not torsion, but testicular cancer. The doctor informed Stuart’s parents of what he found, and with their permission, he performed a right orchiectomy, sending the testicle to pathology on a fast track. While waking up from anesthesia Stuart contracted pneumonia and began hemorrhaging from his lungs. He vividly remembers the nurses in the ICU hitting him on the back as he vomited blood. Dr. Samaha suspected something was very wrong but did not want to alarm the family until he had more information. A chest and pelvic CT scan were ordered for that evening, once he was stable from the surgery and subsequent hemorrhaging.
The next morning, results came in for the pathology, the CT scan, and blood tumor markers. Dr. Samaha first notified Stuart’s devastated parents of the results; the testicular cancer had bypassed his abdomen and metastasized into both lungs. Radiology reported that there were too many tumors to count. The pathology described a mixed non-seminoma germ cell, primarily choriocarcinoma. This explained the hemorrhaging and rapid spread of the cancer in both lungs. His beta HCG blood tumor markers were in the tens of thousands, leading to a diagnosis of stage 3b with a prognosis of a 50-80 percent survival rate at five years.
Stuart recalls speaking to his parents before they or he received the news. They had said that they would only be at the hospital for a short amount of time, but that turned into three hours before Dr. Samaha came to break the news. His entire family had been in the hospital for over an hour, strategizing how to provide emotional support after hearing the devastating news. He will never forget the doctor’s words when he asked in an excited voice how he was doing. “Stuart, I’ve had better days.” It was clear that things were not good. Dr. Samaha explained that the cancer had spread to his lungs, and that Stuart would be transferred to Fox Chase Center in Philadelphia, PA to begin chemotherapy that night. Hysterically crying, he asked if he was going to die and if it had spread to his brain. Dr. Samaha assured him that it he would not die and that it had not spread to his brain; an MRI later confirmed that it had not spread to his brain.
That evening Stuart transferred to Fox Chase Cancer Center, where he started his first of four rounds of BEP (Bleomycin, Etoposide & Cisplatin) the next day, battling a 102-degree fever and pneumonia along the way. Fortunately, the cancer had not metastasized outside of either lung. He underwent all chemotherapy treatments as an inpatient, spending five days with continuous flushing of his system, followed by two weeks at home to recover, with one outpatient visit each week for a Bleomycin injection. During the first week, he lost over thirty pounds, dropping from 190 lbs. to 155 lbs. Stuart did not eat anything solid until the following week.
After his second round of BEP, he was declared in remission; the chemotherapy had reduced his blood tumor markers to zero, and follow-up CT scans showed no more metastatic cancer. Although he was required to complete all four rounds of BEP, his testicular cancer responded tremendously to the treatment.
His three months of BEP consisted of what most people experience during chemotherapy: loss of hair, extreme nausea and fatigue, mouth sores, and burn-like marks on his back. He opted not to have a port inserted and completed his chemotherapy entirely through his veins. To this day, Stuart still bears scars that remind him of his treatments. He contracted soft tissue infections and heart valve infections, along with neuropathy in his hands and feet. He was informed there was a strong possibility he may never have children, as there was no opportunity to bank sperm due to the urgency of his surgery and treatments.
Despite the many challenges, he managed to stay extremely positive, thanks in part to a strong support system of family, local friends and friends from California. He received care packages filled with sweets and calorie-dense foods, as well as things to pass the time. Friends visited whenever possible during his inpatient treatments. His best friend and significant other at the time flew from California just to be by his side in the hospital. At times, Stuart had so many goodies in his room that he would share them with doctors doing rounds – Insisting they take a cupcake or treat before leaving. They always obliged.
Once his four rounds of BEP were complete, he never looked back. With each passing month, his checkups returned normal – He has had no recurrence in twenty-one years. Stuart re-enrolled in college and finally made the college baseball team. He worked hard to get back into shape, both in the gym and on the field. Three months after his last infusion of BEP he pitched his first collegiate baseball game in Fort Pierce, Florida. That year, his team, now Delaware Valley University Aggies in Doylestown, PA, won the Middle Atlantic Conference regular season title, although they fell short in the playoffs. Regardless, it was a personally successful year for Stuart; as a freshman, he didn’t get much playing time, but he was simply happy to be alive and, on the field, where he belonged.
Years passed, and he graduated with honors from Delaware Valley University, ranking number one in his department for Criminal Justice Administration. He then received a master’s degree from Holy Family University in Criminology and obtained his first federal position in 2011 with the Bureau of Prisons as a correctional officer. He is now an investigator with Homeland Security.
In October 2014, he married the love of his life, Nicole. They welcomed their first baby boy, Mason Alexander, in July 2017, followed by another son, Nolan Joseph, in April 2019. The final piece of their puzzle, a baby girl, arrived in August 2023 when they welcomed Maeve Addison to their family.
Stuart wants to convey to those who have battled testicular cancer and survived:
“Congratulations. You now have a duty, a responsibility, an obligation, to make the second opportunity you’ve been given an honest, just and fulfilling one. The best of you should come as an act of respect and homage to our brothers who did not have that second opportunity after battling this disease.
To those that are currently underway in their treatments of Testicular Cancer. There is a positive end in sight to your battle. Even in the worst scenarios, the survival rate of testicular cancer is superior to almost every other form of cancer. You can and will beat this. When you do, do not consume yourself in the what-ifs and negativity when you go into remission or surveillance period. Some of you may relapse, many of you will not. Either way, enjoy every waking moment of the time you have with your family, friends, and loved ones. We cannot control everything and dwelling each time we go for a blood test or CT scan will not change a single thing. It will only bring unwanted anxiety to you and your loved ones. You’ve been through a lot, and you’ve gone through the gauntlet. Be positive, move on with your life and make something of it.
To those who lost a husband, son, brother, or friend to Testicular Cancer. We may not know you or the loved one you lost personally, but as survivors, we think about you every day, even subconsciously. Many testicular cancer survivors would give any opportunity to help you heal in any manner. We are always here to listen to you grieve. We grieve with you.
With this disease, awareness is number one. Prior to my diagnosis, I knew about Testicular Cancer, but I had no idea what a self-examination was or even how to do it. I didn’t know of the warning signs or symptoms. It was never brought up in any situation in my young life at school or by my family. As survivors, current fighters, and family of lost ones, it’s beyond imperative that we talk about our experiences dealing with Testicular cancer and what to look for. We should not be ashamed of what we’ve gone through but encouraged to spread awareness to those that may be in the same position as us prior to our diagnosis.”
He wants people to know his story – his experience, his emotions, his journey. This drives him in his continued involvement in the battle against this disease.
Finally, Stuart wants to express his gratitude to his mother, Heidi, his stepfather, Ed, his late father, William, and his best friend. Eric, for their unwavering support during his battle. He couldn’t have done it without their positivity and encouragement. The biggest thank you goes to his little cousin, Corey Robbins. If it weren’t for that kick to the groin, he may have gone to the doctor too late and might not be here today to raise awareness. Corey, who passed away in 2018 at a young age, is now Stuart’s guardian angel in heaven, and he misses him tremendously.