In this episode, we chat with Hugo Toovey, a two-time cancer survivor and founder of 25 Stay Alive — a charity that helps young adults take charge of their health through prevention, early detection and action. He speaks about the emotional experience of trying to conceive for a year and comparing it to friends who fell pregnant quickly, what it was like when their "miracle baby" Teddy came along and what he'll pass on to his son about health.

Key takeaways:

• At 21, Hugo found a pea-sized lump in his testicle and ignored it for months until his dad pushed him to get checked — a delay he regrets, but one that shaped everything that followed
• Testicular cancer, chemotherapy and major surgery taught him the importance of early detection the hard way and years later, that experience directly saved his life when he recognised bowel cancer symptoms and acted fast
• Fertility wasn’t on his radar at 21, but his mum suggested freezing his sperm before treatment
• While Hugo and his partner, Amber, didn't need the frozen sperm, trying to conceive took close to a year and it was tough to see negative pregnancy tests over and over
• Their “miracle baby” Teddy arrived two years ago after a challenging pregnancy — parenting gave both him and Amber joy and grounding when they needed it most
• Becoming a dad deepened Hugo’s sense of gratitude and purpose, and reshaped how he thinks about masculinity — from getting checked early, to being emotionally open, to teaching his son that health and honesty aren’t weaknesses

More resources:

You can follow Hugo and 25 Stay Alive on Instagram, and find their website here.

Got questions or feedback?

Email us at podcasts@healthymale.org.au. We love getting your voice notes.

The end bits:

This podcast was created by Healthy Male — an Australian not-for-profit that provides evidence-based information on men's health. You can find more from us on Instagram, TikTok and our website.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this podcast was recorded — the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples listening today.

This podcast is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis, treatment and personalised medical guidance.