Hugo Toovey on his ‘miracle baby’ after surviving two cancers

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 his hopes for his son’s future.

Episode highlights

• At 21, Hugo found a pea-sized lump in his testicle and ignored it for months until his dad pushed him to get checked
• Testicular cancer, chemotherapy and major surgery taught him the importance of early detection the hard way and years later, that experience 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 has given both him and Amber joy and grounding when they needed it most
• Becoming a dad has 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

Appearing in this episode

Hugo Toovey

Hugo Toovey is a Major in the Australian Army, 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.

Dr Tim Moss (Host)

Tim is Healthy Male’s Health Content Manager and a biomedical scientist with expertise in male reproductive health, translating complex medical evidence into clear, practical advice for men.