Fertility Horizons After Cancer Treatment
- Flip or Flop star Tarek El Moussa, 40, and his second wife, Heather Rae El Moussa, 34, are currently working through fertility struggles and hope to have children of their own some day.
- Tarek is a testicular and thyroid cancer survivor, and his wife has shared how his testicular cancer battle may be affecting his fertility, though they’ve collected nine embryos on their fertility journey so far. In a recent post, Heather shared that she’s been wanting to become a mother because sh’es loved being a “bonus mom” to Tarek’s two children he had with his ex-wife Christina Haack, 38.
- Self examinations are incredibly important when it comes to screening for testicular cancer. Men aged 15 to 55 should perform a monthly self-examination to find any changes in the testes that might indicate cancer at an early stage.
- Testicular cancer survivors may come across issues with fertility after overcoming the disease, but this is not always the case. Either way, you should discuss possible side effects and fertility preservation options with your doctor before starting treatment.
Tarek, 40, and Heather, 34, have been married since October 2021, and he's lovingly said that she's "[his] person, soul mate and best friend all in one." Previously, Tarek was married to his Flip or Flop co-star Christina Haack, 38. They later had two children Taylor, 11, and Brayden, 6 that the two co-parent together despite going separate ways romantically.
Read MoreAnd in a recent Instagram post, Heather shared exactly why she’s looking to expand her family with Tarek.
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“Ever since I started sharing my fertility journey with you guys, Probably one of the #1 questions I get asked is "what made you change your mind about having your own kids?"” she wrote in her caption. “Well… my love for Taylor and Brayden is almost indescribable, it helped me realize that I am capable of being an incredible mom and that I can really do this!”
She then went on to say how much she loves being a “bonus mom” and share her hopes for the future.
“I couldn’t imagine my life not having and creating something with my husband!” she wrote. “Plus seeing @therealtarekelmoussa as a daddy is just the most incredible thing. He’s so loving and devoted to them and such a great dad that I envisioned us having our own. Tarek will move mountains to do everything in his power to be at every school event, every game, he shows up for me when I need help with the kids even after a long day of work and filming and stress, he never questions anything, will drop everything for me and them!
“I can't wait to add to our family when the time is right.”
Tarek El Moussa's Cancer Journey
El Moussa was diagnosed with thyroid and testicular cancer in 2013 calling it "the scariest year of [his] life!" The same year, he co-starred in the newly debuted HGTV show Flip or Flop with then-wife Haack the show has since aired its last episode in 2022.
Interestingly enough, it was actually his time on Flip or Flop that led to his thyroid cancer diagnosis when a viewer noticed a lump on El Moussa's throat. Being a nurse, the viewer was determined to contact the network and share her concerns for his health.
Following that diagnosis, El Moussa and his then-wife "looked through all [his] old medical records for any other irregularities." They found an irregular testicular exam from two years prior, so just two months after his thyroid cancer diagnosis he decided to look into it.
"I was at one building doing my thyroid stuff and mentioned I was going across the street to get an ultrasound done," El Moussa told PEOPLE in 2017 of the day of the testing. "I'll never forget the doctor joking, 'I hope you don't have cancer!'"
He found out he had testicular cancer later that day.
"I get over to the ultrasound and [the technician and I] are talking and having fun and all of a sudden he got really quiet," El Moussa said. "I said, 'What's up?' I could tell he was nervous and he was like 'Oh, I'm not a doctor.' I said, 'What do you mean?' And he said, 'Are you in pain? I think you're in pain and should go to the emergency room.'
"Right then, I knew something was wrong. A half hour later they tell me I have cancer and try to sign me up for surgery. That was devastating."
Tarek El Moussa Beats Both Diseases
Thankfully, he would later beat both testicular and thyroid cancer. In an Instagram post from 2019, he shared his excitement for being cancer-free with Flip or Flop fans.
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"Today I got the best news ever…I'm cancer free and I'm healthier than ever!!!!" he wrote in his caption. "This makes me so happy not for me but for my babies â¤ï¸. I have to be healthy and alive for them!! (I'm tearing up writing thisðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜)
"They are my everything and they need their daddy! This news is so good because I'm alive to be here for THEM!!"
Since overcoming both battles, he's been open about his cancer journey to increase awareness for the two cancers.
"A lot of people said they got tested because I shared my [thyroid cancer] story," he said.
He's even encouraged men to perform self-checks for testicular cancer.
"[Movember's website will] teach you how to do a self-check," El Moussa said in another interview. "It's really important because there are people out there today that are gonna get testicular cancer, like it's gonna happen. And if they find it sooner, the odds of survival are just so much greater."
Understanding Testicular Cancer
A testicular cancer diagnosis is rare, but it is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in young men. Depending on the stage, the disease is considered extremely treatable. Treatment options can include chemotherapy and radiation, but often the first line of treatment is surgery to remove the testicle which contains the cancerous cells.
Dealing With the Shame That May Come With Testicular Cancer
Symptoms of testicular cancer can be subtle. Some people may even confuse the early symptoms such as a small mass in their testicle as an injury. But when these signs are dismissed, the cancer can grow and become worse.
RELATED: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Was Diagnosed With Testicular Cancer
"It's not uncommon to see men come in with masses on their scrotum and have inflammation of the scrotal wall; they develop pain as a result. A lump is the most common symptom of testicular cancer," Dr. Edwin Posadas, the medical director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, previously told SurvivorNet.
Dr. Posadas says some men may even notice blood in their ejaculate as a result of testicular cancer. "This symptom is less common, but always bad," he said.
Other symptoms can include:
- Breast growth or soreness
- Early puberty in boys
- Low back pain (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, or a cough (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Belly pain (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
- Headaches or confusion (a potential symptom of advanced testicular cancer)
Dr. Posadas urges young men to seek medical care if they are having symptoms. "Most men under the age of 40 tend not to think about seeing a doctor they need to know to advocate for themselves," he said.
Screening for Testicular Cancer
Testicular self-examination is one way to screen for this disease, Dr. Posadas says.
"It takes less than a minute," Dr. Posadas previously told SurvivorNet. "Rub testicles through your fingers looking for any sore areas. Rub the top of the testicle, particularly the delicate epididymis. (The epididymis is a tube at the back of the testicles which stores and carries sperm.)
"Don't squeeze real hard on there… [You should] look for a smoother feel; if you feel a hard nodule on there, you may require blood work from a urologist. [Testicular cancer] is highly curable, even when it's advanced."
If You're Worried Go to the Doctor
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Bradley McGregor, clinical director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, also emphasized the importance of self-examinations.
"It is recommended that men aged 15 to 55 perform a monthly self-examination to find any changes to help find the cancer at an early stage," Dr. McGregor said. And if someone spots any of the early symptoms, "he should visit his doctor immediately." It's important to be aware of your body and get in touch with a doctor if you notice anything unusual.
"Testicular cancer commonly occurs from ages 20-45, but it can occur at any age," Dr. McGregor continued. "The highest risk factor for testicular cancer is a history of cryptorchidism, an undescended testicle, where the testicle does not move down into the scrotum before birth. Men with a family history of testicular cancer are at increased risk as well. No lifestyle changes have been shown to definitively reduce risk of testicular cancer."
Becoming a Father after Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer survivors may come across issues with fertility after overcoming the disease, but this is not always the case. Treatment for this cancer can “affect hormone levels and can also affect your ability to father children after treatment,” according to the American Cancer Society, so you should discuss the possible effects with your doctor before beginning treatment to understand all the options you have at hand.
One route people with the disease can take it to store sperm in a sperm bank before treatment starts. But testiculat cancer can result in low sperm counts, so getting a good sample may be tricky. Also, if only one testicle is left after treatment, fertility returns following treatment typically about two years following chemotherapy.
Becoming a Father After Cancer Todd Rosenbluth's Story
But it’s important to remember that testicular cancer does not mean fatherhood is out of the question by any means and some people who’ve overcome testicular cancer might not see any issues at all.
Todd Rosenbluth, for example, became a father after having testicular cancer. But when he and his wife wanted to start a family following his cancer battle, things were difficult despite his cancer not being an issue.
Rosenbluth was diagnosed with testicular cancer in his late 20s after his wife urged him to go to his annual appointment with his doctor. He then had surgery to remove one testicle and overcame the disease, but fertility issues came later despite his doctor telling him the couple’s struggles to have a child were unrelated to his cancer.
"Unrelated to the testicular cancer, my wife and I did have fertility issues," Rosenbluth previously told SurvivorNet. "We had been trying for four years to have a child. They tell you it's not related to the fertility issues at all. But in your head, when you're having all these troubles, and you did lose a testicle, you feel the blame."
Eventually, though, everything did work out. He and his wife had a beautiful son, Milo, in March 2018. That’s when Rosenbluth finally felt free from his past cancer battle.
"The safest I felt with my testicular cancer was when my son was born," he said.
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