Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: May 2026

The Testicular Cancer Foundation ("TCF," "we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and safeguarding the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information obtained through our website, programs, services, events, text message communications, online community spaces (including our official Discord server), and digital platforms (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or using our Services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

Important: TCF is not a clinical, medical, or crisis service. If you are in crisis or experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please see Section 8 (Mental Health and Crisis Resources) for help.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information:

a. Personal Information You Provide

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Mailing address
  • Phone number (including mobile numbers used for text message communications)
  • Date of birth or age range
  • Donation and payment information
  • Event registration details
  • Communications with us, including emails, text messages, Discord messages, forms, surveys, or messages
  • SMS opt-in records, including the date, time, source, and method of consent
  • Discord username, display name, server roles, and other profile information you make available on our Discord server

b. Health-Related and Mental Health Information (Voluntarily Provided)

You may choose to share health-related information, including diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and mental health experiences (such as anxiety, depression, or other distress related to cancer), when participating in programs, surveys, stories, support communities (including Discord), text-message conversations, or advocacy efforts. This information is provided voluntarily and used only for mission-related purposes. Where applicable law treats mental health information as a sensitive subcategory of personal information, we handle it accordingly. See Section 8 for additional information about how mental health content is handled.

c. Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

  • IP address
  • Browser type and device information
  • Pages visited and time spent on the site
  • Referring URLs
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies

d. Information from Text Message Communications

When you participate in our SMS program, we may collect mobile carrier information, message content you send to us, delivery and engagement data (such as whether messages were delivered, opened, or responded to), and opt-in and opt-out status. See Section 6 for details.

e. Information from Our Discord Community

When you participate in our official Discord server, we may collect or have access to your Discord username and display name, server activity, public-channel messages, messages you send to TCF bots or staff accounts, voluntary disclosures (including health and mental health experiences), and content you submit through Discord forms, polls, or events. See Section 7 for details.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Advance our mission of education, awareness, and support
  • Process donations and send acknowledgments or receipts
  • Communicate with you about programs, events, and resources, including by email, text message, and Discord where you have opted in or chosen to participate
  • Provide survivor, caregiver, and community support, including peer connection through our Discord server
  • Improve our website, content, and user experience
  • Conduct research, reporting, and impact measurement in aggregated or de-identified form
  • Comply with legal, regulatory, or reporting obligations
  • Maintain records of SMS consent and opt-out requests as required by law
  • Moderate community spaces and enforce community guidelines

We do not sell personal information.

3. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We may share information only as necessary and appropriate, including:

  • Service Providers: Trusted third parties that support our operations, such as payment processors, email platforms, SMS and text messaging service providers, mobile carriers (for the limited purpose of message delivery), Discord (as the platform hosting our community server), CRM systems, analytics tools, and event management services.
  • Legal Requirements: When required by law, regulation, subpoena, or court order.
  • Mission-Related Partnerships: Limited, purpose-driven sharing with partners supporting education, awareness, or patient support initiatives, where appropriate and consistent with this policy.

All service providers are required to protect your information and use it only for authorized purposes. We do not share mobile information, phone numbers, or SMS opt-in data with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Enable core website functionality
  • Analyze website usage and performance
  • Improve content relevance and accessibility

You may control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain site features.

5. AI-Powered Tools and Agents

TCF uses artificial intelligence tools to expand access to education, support, and community resources. This section explains how those tools work and how they handle your information.

a. TC Navigator

TC Navigator is an AI-powered information tool designed to help patients, survivors, and caregivers find relevant educational content and resources related to testicular cancer. TC Navigator does not provide medical advice or replace the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider.

When you use TC Navigator:

  • Your queries and interactions may be processed by a third-party AI platform operating on TCF's behalf.
  • Conversation data may be retained to improve the tool's performance and relevance.
  • We do not use TC Navigator interactions to identify you personally, unless you voluntarily provide identifying information in your messages.
  • TC Navigator is not a secure channel for sensitive personal or medical information. We encourage you to use general, non-identifying language when asking questions.

b. Atlas — Survivor Voice Research Tool

Atlas is an AI-powered conversational tool that invites testicular cancer survivors, patients, and caregivers to share their experiences anonymously. Information collected through Atlas is used to support TCF's patient research, survivorship reporting, and advocacy efforts.

Consent. Before any information is collected through Atlas, you will be asked to provide explicit consent for your anonymous responses to be included in TCF's research. You may decline consent and still use Atlas as a general support tool; in that case, your responses will not be included in any research or reporting.

Anonymity. Atlas is designed to collect responses without linking them to your identity. We ask that you do not include your name, contact information, or other directly identifying details in your responses. If identifying information is inadvertently shared, TCF will make reasonable efforts to remove it before any aggregated reporting is produced.

What we collect. Through Atlas, we may collect voluntarily provided information including: age at diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, treatment type, care experience, survivorship impacts, and resource gaps. These responses are used only in aggregate or de-identified form and are never published at the individual level.

How responses are used. Aggregated, de-identified findings from Atlas conversations may be used in:

  • TCF's annual Patient Voice Report and related research publications
  • Advocacy materials presented to healthcare providers, policymakers, or media
  • Grant applications and impact reporting
  • Educational content development

Data processing. Atlas conversations are processed through Chatbase, a third-party AI platform. Chatbase operates as a data processor on TCF's behalf and is required to protect conversation data in accordance with applicable privacy standards. Conversation logs may be retained by Chatbase for a period consistent with their platform terms. TCF periodically reviews and exports conversation data for research analysis and does not use this data for advertising or commercial purposes.

Not a crisis or medical resource. Atlas is not a substitute for clinical care, crisis support, or professional mental health services. See Section 8 for crisis resources.

c. Future AI Tools

TCF may introduce additional AI-powered tools in the future. When we do, this Privacy Policy will be updated to describe how those tools collect and use information. We will notify users of material changes as described in Section 13.

d. General AI Data Practices

Across all AI tools operated by TCF:

  • We do not use your interactions to train external AI models without your explicit consent.
  • We do not sell or license conversation data to third parties.
  • Third-party AI platforms used by TCF are selected based on their privacy and security standards and are contractually prohibited from using TCF user data for their own commercial purposes.
  • You may request deletion of conversation data associated with your use of any TCF AI tool by contacting us at info@testicularcancer.org.

6. Text Message (SMS) Communications

TCF offers text message (SMS) communications to keep our community informed and engaged. This section explains how our SMS program works and how we handle the information associated with it.

a. Types of Messages

If you opt in to receive text messages from TCF, you may receive messages related to:

  • Program and support messages, including survivor and caregiver support resources, peer connection updates, program announcements, and event reminders
  • Educational and awareness alerts, including new resources, awareness campaigns, and advocacy calls to action
  • Fundraising and donation communications, including campaign appeals, giving day reminders, and donation acknowledgments

b. How You Opt In

You may opt in to receive text messages from TCF in several ways, including:

  • Submitting your mobile number through a web form, donation form, or sign-up page where SMS consent language is provided
  • Texting a designated keyword (such as JOIN, INFO, or a campaign-specific keyword) to a TCF short code or phone number
  • Providing your mobile number and consent during event registration
  • Otherwise affirmatively agreeing to receive text messages from TCF

By opting in, you consent to receive recurring autodialed and prerecorded text messages from TCF at the mobile number provided. Consent is not a condition of any donation, purchase, or participation in TCF programs. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply based on your mobile carrier plan.

c. How to Get Help or Opt Out

You can opt out of TCF text messages at any time by replying STOP to any message you receive. After you reply STOP, you will receive a one-time confirmation message and will not receive further marketing or program text messages from that program, except where required to confirm your opt-out or as otherwise permitted by law. You may rejoin at any time by texting the applicable keyword again or signing up through one of the methods above.

For help, reply HELP to any message or contact us at info@testicularcancer.org. Standard message and data rates may apply to all messages sent or received.

Opting out of SMS communications will not affect your receipt of other communications from TCF, such as email or postal mail. To manage other communication preferences, see Section 10.

d. Carriers and Service Providers

TCF uses third-party SMS service providers to send and manage text messages on our behalf. These providers operate as data processors and are required to protect your information consistent with this Privacy Policy. Mobile carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Supported carriers may change without notice.

e. Information Collected Through SMS

In connection with our SMS program, we may collect and process:

  • Your mobile phone number
  • The date, time, source, and method of your opt-in consent
  • The content of messages you send to us and that we send to you
  • Delivery, engagement, and opt-out data
  • Mobile carrier information necessary to deliver messages

f. Use and Sharing of SMS Data

We use SMS-related information to deliver the messages you have requested, respond to your inquiries, maintain records of consent and opt-outs as required by law, and improve our SMS program. No mobile information, phone numbers, or SMS opt-in data is shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Information may be shared only with our SMS service providers and mobile carriers as needed to deliver messages, or as otherwise described in Section 3.

g. Not a Crisis or Medical Resource

TCF text messages are not a substitute for clinical care, crisis support, or professional medical advice. SMS is not a secure channel; please do not send sensitive personal health information by text. See Section 8 for crisis resources.

7. Discord Community

TCF operates an official Discord server to support survivors, patients, caregivers, and allies through peer connection, education, and community programming. This section explains how that space works and how we handle information shared there.

a. Discord Is a Third-Party Platform

Our Discord server is hosted on Discord, a third-party platform operated by Discord Inc. By joining our server, you also agree to Discord's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which govern Discord's collection and use of your information independent of this Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review Discord's policies before joining. TCF does not control, and is not responsible for, Discord's data practices, retention, or security.

b. What TCF Can See

TCF staff and authorized volunteer moderators have administrative access to our server. In that role, we may view, retain, and act on:

  • Public-channel messages, reactions, threads, and shared media
  • Messages sent to TCF bots, official staff accounts, or moderation channels
  • Voice channel participation metadata (e.g., joins, leaves)
  • Member roles, server activity, and moderation history
  • Direct messages only when a member voluntarily contacts a TCF staff or moderator account, or reports a message to moderators

We do not have access to direct messages between members that are not shared with us.

c. What We Use Discord Information For

Information visible to TCF on Discord is used to:

  • Moderate the server and enforce community guidelines
  • Respond to questions, requests, and reports
  • Run programs, AMAs, expert Q&As, and scheduled support events
  • Identify themes, gaps, and impact stories that inform TCF's research, advocacy, education, and grant reporting
  • Improve the community experience

d. Use of Discord Content for Research, Quotes, and External Materials

TCF may review Discord conversations and channel content to identify themes, insights, and member experiences that support our mission. When this content is used externally — for example, in research summaries, awareness materials, social media, donor communications, grant reports, or media — we follow these practices:

  • Aggregated and de-identified themes drawn from Discord activity may be used without contacting individual members, provided no member is identified or identifiable.
  • Direct quotes or stories attributed (even informally) to a specific member are used only with that member's explicit, advance consent. Consent will describe how the quote will be used and whether you will be identified by name, first name, initials, or fully anonymized.
  • You may decline, withdraw, or modify your consent at any time by contacting us at info@testicularcancer.org. Withdrawal will not affect uses already published, but we will not include the content in future materials.

e. Sensitive and Health Information on Discord

Members frequently discuss diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, sexual health, fertility, mental health, and other sensitive topics on our server. Please remember:

  • Discord is not a private or secure communications channel. Other server members, Discord itself, and third parties Discord works with may have access to content you post.
  • Do not share information you are not comfortable having seen by others. Avoid posting full names, contact information, medical record numbers, or other directly identifying details.
  • Information you voluntarily share is treated as voluntarily provided health-related information under Section 1(b).

f. Moderation, Safety, and Reporting

To keep the community safe, TCF may retain moderation logs (including warnings, removed messages, mutes, kicks, and bans) and may take action on conduct that violates community guidelines or Discord's Terms of Service. In limited circumstances — such as credible threats of harm to self or others — TCF may share information with Discord, emergency services, or other appropriate parties as permitted or required by law.

g. Leaving the Server and Deleting Content

You may leave the TCF Discord server at any time. Leaving will remove you from member-only channels but will not automatically delete messages you previously posted, which may remain visible in channel history. To request deletion of specific messages or content, contact us at info@testicularcancer.org. Some content may be retained where required for moderation records or legal obligations. Discord retains its own copies of content under its own retention policies, which TCF does not control.

h. Not a Crisis or Medical Resource

The TCF Discord community is a peer-support and educational space. It is not a substitute for clinical care, crisis support, or professional medical or mental health services. Moderators are not clinicians. See Section 8 for crisis resources.

8. Mental Health and Crisis Resources

TCF programs touch on cancer, survivorship, fertility, sexual health, body image, identity, and the emotional impact of all of the above. We recognize that members of our community may experience anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, or other forms of distress, and may share that experience with us through our Services. This section explains how we approach mental health content and what to do in a crisis.

a. We Are Not a Clinical or Crisis Service

TCF is not a healthcare provider, mental health provider, or crisis service. Our staff, volunteers, moderators, and AI tools are not clinicians and cannot provide diagnosis, treatment, therapy, counseling, or crisis intervention. Communications with TCF — whether through our website, email, phone, text message, Discord, AI tools, or events — do not create a clinical, therapeutic, or confidential relationship.

b. If You Are in Crisis

If you are in crisis or experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please use the resources below or contact local emergency services immediately:

  • Emergency: Call or text 911 (U.S.) or your local emergency number
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org
  • Crisis Text Line (U.S.): Text HOME to 741741
  • Cancer Support Helpline: 1-888-793-9355
  • Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 then press 1, or text 838255

If you are outside the U.S., please use the equivalent crisis services in your country.

c. How We Handle Mental Health Information

When you voluntarily share mental health information with TCF — for example, in Atlas conversations, surveys, survivor stories, Discord posts, SMS replies, or emails to staff — we treat it as a sensitive subcategory of health-related information under Section 1(b). Specifically:

  • Mental health content shared through Atlas and other AI tools is used only in aggregate or de-identified form, as described in Section 5.
  • Mental health content shared in surveys, stories, or research is used as described in the consent provided at the point of collection.
  • Mental health content shared on Discord is handled as described in Section 7, including the consent requirements for any externally attributed quotes.
  • We do not sell mental health information and do not share it with third parties for marketing or advertising purposes.

d. Concerns About Imminent Harm

If TCF receives information through our Services suggesting an imminent risk of harm to you or another person, we may, consistent with applicable law, take reasonable steps to connect the person to crisis resources, contact platform providers (such as Discord), or contact emergency services. We do this only in good faith and to the minimum extent we believe necessary to support safety.

e. Channel Security Reminder

Email, SMS, Discord, and AI chat tools are not secure or confidential channels for sensitive mental health or medical information. If you need confidential support, please use the crisis resources above or speak with a licensed clinician.

9. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. While no system can guarantee absolute security, we strive to use industry-standard practices to protect your data.

10. Your Choices and Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

  • Access, update, or correct your personal information
  • Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal or operational requirements
  • Opt out of non-essential communications at any time by using unsubscribe links, replying STOP to any text message, leaving our Discord server, or contacting us
  • Withdraw consent for the use of your quotes, stories, or other identifiable content in TCF materials going forward

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below.

11. Children's Privacy

Our Services are intended for a general audience. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If we become aware that such information has been collected unintentionally, we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

12. Third-Party Links and Platforms

Our website and community spaces may contain links to third-party websites or platforms, and certain Services (including Discord) are themselves provided through third-party platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites and platforms. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

13. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Records of SMS consent and opt-out requests, and Discord moderation records, are retained for the period required by applicable law or operational need.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of our Services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, our SMS program, our Discord community, or your rights with respect to any TCF AI tool, please contact:

Testicular Cancer Foundation Email: info@testicularcancer.org

This Privacy Policy reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and respect for the individuals and communities we serve.