TCF Summit 2026: Day One in Las Vegas Was Everything We Hoped For
Eighty-five people showed up to Las Vegas this weekend for the TCF Summit 2026, and if Day One is any indication, this was our most powerful gathering yet.
We're at the Four Seasons Resort Las Vegas, April 10-12, and what started Friday evening as an ice breaker turned into something much more: a room full of survivors, caregivers, clinicians, and advocates who didn't need much time to realize they were among their people.
Friday Night: Swingers at Mandalay Bay
The weekend kicked off with introductions and a quick walk over to Swingers Crazy Golf inside Mandalay Bay for our opening dinner. Mini golf, good drinks, and strangers becoming friends. That combination works every time. The energy Friday night set the tone perfectly for what was coming on Saturday.
Saturday: A Full Day of Community, Advocacy, and Truth
Saturday was the heart of the summit, and it delivered on every front.
Connor O'Leary and I opened the morning with remarks before turning the mic over to our Founder and Chairman Matt Ferstler. From there, the day moved at the kind of pace that only works when every session earns it.
Robert Romo, a TC survivor and firefighter, opened with his story. There is something unique about hearing someone who runs into burning buildings describe the fear that testicular cancer brought into his life. It reframes everything. We are proud to be the only testicular cancer conference that hands the mic to the patients to share their lived experience. While medical experts have the credentials, we feel the real experts have the word survivor after their names.
Dr. Sherita King, a urologic surgeon and sexual medicine expert, took on hormonal health, energy, and the future of survivorship. This is a conversation the community needs more of, and Dr. King delivered it with clarity and care.
Leigh Ann Caulkins followed with what may have been the most emotionally resonant session of the day: life after cancer, PTSD, trauma, and finding a new normal. There were tears. There was recognition. There was relief.
After a lunch sponsored by Wheeler Machinery Sales and a group photo that captured 85 people who genuinely wanted to be there, the afternoon split into something special. Sage Bolte, PhD, LCSW, CST led a session exclusively for survivors and patients on reconnecting with yourself and others after cancer: love, intimacy, connection, and identity. Caregivers got a much-deserved break, then joined their own facilitated session with Sage later in the afternoon.
George Carmi spoke about finding purpose through service and advocacy. Dylan Lawrence, a TC survivor who made the trip from Australia, followed with his story and an energy that lit up the room.
Breakout sessions ran in parallel: "Just For Men" for survivors and patients, moderated by Connor and Matt, and the caregiver breakout moderated by Sage. Both rooms were full.
Dan Wheeler closed the late afternoon with his unfiltered account of the victories, the setbacks, and everything in between. Then Dr. William "Billy" Werbel, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins, walked us through the lasting impact of testicular cancer treatment on immune function and survivor health. The research is both sobering and important.
Mark Hamblin, known affectionately as "The Governor," wrapped the formal programming with a reflection on life after treatment: the invisible layers of survivorship, and how healing continues through connection and purpose. The right note to end the day on.
Sharing TCF's Digital Growth Story
I also had the opportunity to share an update on what we've been building at testicularcancer.org over the past two years. Since 2024, we've grown organic traffic by more than 11,000 percent, from roughly 100 monthly visits to 11,546. We have 855 keywords ranking in the top 3 positions and more than 2,700 in the top 10. Our Spanish-language content is now reaching patients who might not have found us otherwise.
The work behind those numbers is real: an SEO-first content strategy, thoughtful AI integration guided by our 4D Framework (Delegation, Description, Discernment, and Diligence), and a commitment to keeping expert humans in the loop at every step. AI helps us draft. Our team ensures accuracy. Patients get information they can trust. That's the loop we're protecting.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
Sunday morning brings the Community Open Mic Impact Session, a moment we look forward to every year because it belongs entirely to the people in the room. Awards follow, along with closing remarks, and for those with late flights, time at the Four Seasons pool with fellow attendees.
It has been a privilege to host 85 people who came to Las Vegas not to gamble but to invest in each other. That's what the TCF Summit is about. We'll see you back in the morning.
The Testicular Cancer Foundation Summit 2026 took place April 10-12 at the Four Seasons Resort Las Vegas. Learn more at testicularcancer.org/summit.
Written by Kenny Kane, CEO
