Photo by: Northwestern Athletics
Wildcats Swimmer Aaron Baltaytis Has Beat Cancer and is Back in the Water
12/3/2024 1:45:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
By Sean Dennison
Aaron Baltaytis was 15 when he first felt a lump on his testicle.
His pediatrician dismissed it. At annual check-ups during his high school years, he was told there was nothing to worry about.
But the young man, a promising swimmer for Northwestern, started experiencing serious discomfort in his testicle after returning to campus after spring break. He asked for an ultrasound. He knew something wasn't right.
Earlier this year, everything changed for Aaron Baltaytis. In May, the teenager was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He rushed home to have the primary tumor removed. With further scanning, the doctors found he had 27 other tumors that had spread through lymph nodes in his abdomen.
Chemotherapy started May 27 at Memorial Sloane Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York City. Following a biopsy on the primary tumor, the doctors found the types of tumors in his body were chemo-resistant (teratoma) so doctors advised Baltaytis that he would need further abdominal surgery after chemotherapy. Baltaytis still had to go through 12 weeks of chemotherapy as a precaution to make sure there was no other type of tumor present. Baltaytis lived at home for the summer. He received both his chemotherapy treatment and a second surgery at MSK. He missed classes but was able to complete all but one of his courses remotely.
Incredibly, less than three weeks after a nine-hour abdominal surgery removing the remaining tumors, Baltaytis returned to Evanston in September, on time to start Fall classes.
This is a story of the power of modern medicine crossed with the indomitable human spirit.
On November 20, when most people were still sleeping, Baltaytis got back in the water for the first time since May. More than just the first step in an eventual return for the Wildcats, it was a moment of celebration for Baltaytis, his family, and the entire swimming and diving program. It was perfectly timed ahead of Thanksgiving.
"I was definitely super-excited, but nervous as well," said Baltaytis. "This is the longest I've ever gone, by quite a bit, without being in the pool. It's pretty much the only thing I've been looking forward to since my initial diagnosis."
Network of support
Baltaytis wants to share his story. He wants to help others. But it is one he didn't expect to be telling. This is, after all, a young man who competed as a first-year last season and set personal bests in each of his events – the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 100 fly – before the news in May that changed his life.
"The toughest moment for me was telling my loved ones when I got my diagnosis," said Baltaytis. "At first, I couldn't even cry or be sad because I was in such a state of shock.
"It was also difficult to tell my friends. It was especially hard to tell my roommate, [Northwestern swimmer] Christopher Leung. I told him privately during team lift and he immediately started crying and hugging me, not letting go."
Baltaytis leaned on his family for support.
"My family was everything during this time," he said. "I want to especially give my mom the credit she deserves. She was always there for me. My dad and siblings would always make sure to check on me. When times really got tough, I had the best family to lean on."
'Cats supporting 'Cats
Rachel Stratton-Mills is the director of swimming and diving at Northwestern, overseeing both the men's and women's programs. She traveled from Evanston to New Jersey to show her support for Baltaytis.
"Rachel planned a surprise visit with my mom," said Baltaytis. "She visited me in the hospital while I was getting chemo. We ate pizza together and talked swimming, both things that I love. It shows her compassion as a coach. It's one of the many reasons I love swimming for her."
His Wildcats teammates hit the road to the Garden State as well, including Hana Shimizu-Bowers, Justine Murdock, Lindsay Ervin, David Vinokur, Diego Nosack, and Stuart Seymour. They watched movies, ate at Aaron's favorite restaurants in the neighborhood, and met his friends from high school.
Said Baltaytis, "My teammates brought Northwestern home to me."
While he's not competing just yet, Baltaytis has continued to be a presence around the team.
"Aaron has attended almost every practice since he's been back on campus," said Stratton-Mills. "He has helped our coaches and he's constantly cheering on his teammates."
Baltaytis has been slowly getting back into shape through physical therapy. The plan is to begin competing for Northwestern again when he is ready.
But first things first. Baltaytis has a few messages to share.
"Men need to speak up for themselves," he said. "Men's health isn't talked about enough and many suffer the consequences of this. Many men don't get their annual physicals or speak up when something is wrong as they feel ashamed or embarrassed."
What Baltaytis has gone through is life-changing. His perspective, understandably, has evolved.
"If I can help one other person, that's good enough for me," he said. "People should reach out to those they know are struggling, even if they aren't close, because it goes a long way. One of the things I've learned from this is that every day being alive is a blessing."
Baltaytis thinks back on the most memorable moment of the past six months.
"It was hearing I was cancer-free," he said. "Nothing I have ever experienced will match the sense of relief I felt when I heard those words."
In terms of competing again for the Wildcats, Baltaytis didn't hesitate to reveal his target date.
"I can't wait to experience it again in 2026."
Aaron Baltaytis was 15 when he first felt a lump on his testicle.
His pediatrician dismissed it. At annual check-ups during his high school years, he was told there was nothing to worry about.
But the young man, a promising swimmer for Northwestern, started experiencing serious discomfort in his testicle after returning to campus after spring break. He asked for an ultrasound. He knew something wasn't right.
Earlier this year, everything changed for Aaron Baltaytis. In May, the teenager was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He rushed home to have the primary tumor removed. With further scanning, the doctors found he had 27 other tumors that had spread through lymph nodes in his abdomen.
Chemotherapy started May 27 at Memorial Sloane Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York City. Following a biopsy on the primary tumor, the doctors found the types of tumors in his body were chemo-resistant (teratoma) so doctors advised Baltaytis that he would need further abdominal surgery after chemotherapy. Baltaytis still had to go through 12 weeks of chemotherapy as a precaution to make sure there was no other type of tumor present. Baltaytis lived at home for the summer. He received both his chemotherapy treatment and a second surgery at MSK. He missed classes but was able to complete all but one of his courses remotely.
Incredibly, less than three weeks after a nine-hour abdominal surgery removing the remaining tumors, Baltaytis returned to Evanston in September, on time to start Fall classes.
This is a story of the power of modern medicine crossed with the indomitable human spirit.
On November 20, when most people were still sleeping, Baltaytis got back in the water for the first time since May. More than just the first step in an eventual return for the Wildcats, it was a moment of celebration for Baltaytis, his family, and the entire swimming and diving program. It was perfectly timed ahead of Thanksgiving.
"I was definitely super-excited, but nervous as well," said Baltaytis. "This is the longest I've ever gone, by quite a bit, without being in the pool. It's pretty much the only thing I've been looking forward to since my initial diagnosis."
Network of support
Baltaytis wants to share his story. He wants to help others. But it is one he didn't expect to be telling. This is, after all, a young man who competed as a first-year last season and set personal bests in each of his events – the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 100 fly – before the news in May that changed his life.
"The toughest moment for me was telling my loved ones when I got my diagnosis," said Baltaytis. "At first, I couldn't even cry or be sad because I was in such a state of shock.
"It was also difficult to tell my friends. It was especially hard to tell my roommate, [Northwestern swimmer] Christopher Leung. I told him privately during team lift and he immediately started crying and hugging me, not letting go."
Baltaytis leaned on his family for support.
"My family was everything during this time," he said. "I want to especially give my mom the credit she deserves. She was always there for me. My dad and siblings would always make sure to check on me. When times really got tough, I had the best family to lean on."
'Cats supporting 'Cats
Rachel Stratton-Mills is the director of swimming and diving at Northwestern, overseeing both the men's and women's programs. She traveled from Evanston to New Jersey to show her support for Baltaytis.
"Rachel planned a surprise visit with my mom," said Baltaytis. "She visited me in the hospital while I was getting chemo. We ate pizza together and talked swimming, both things that I love. It shows her compassion as a coach. It's one of the many reasons I love swimming for her."
His Wildcats teammates hit the road to the Garden State as well, including Hana Shimizu-Bowers, Justine Murdock, Lindsay Ervin, David Vinokur, Diego Nosack, and Stuart Seymour. They watched movies, ate at Aaron's favorite restaurants in the neighborhood, and met his friends from high school.
Said Baltaytis, "My teammates brought Northwestern home to me."
While he's not competing just yet, Baltaytis has continued to be a presence around the team.
"Aaron has attended almost every practice since he's been back on campus," said Stratton-Mills. "He has helped our coaches and he's constantly cheering on his teammates."
Baltaytis has been slowly getting back into shape through physical therapy. The plan is to begin competing for Northwestern again when he is ready.
But first things first. Baltaytis has a few messages to share.
"Men need to speak up for themselves," he said. "Men's health isn't talked about enough and many suffer the consequences of this. Many men don't get their annual physicals or speak up when something is wrong as they feel ashamed or embarrassed."
What Baltaytis has gone through is life-changing. His perspective, understandably, has evolved.
"If I can help one other person, that's good enough for me," he said. "People should reach out to those they know are struggling, even if they aren't close, because it goes a long way. One of the things I've learned from this is that every day being alive is a blessing."
Baltaytis thinks back on the most memorable moment of the past six months.
"It was hearing I was cancer-free," he said. "Nothing I have ever experienced will match the sense of relief I felt when I heard those words."
In terms of competing again for the Wildcats, Baltaytis didn't hesitate to reveal his target date.
"I can't wait to experience it again in 2026."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
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