While most people think about mesothelioma as being a lung condition, the reality is that mesothelioma can be found in other parts of the body. Mesothelioma may affect the lungs as pleural mesothelioma, the abdomen as peritoneal mesothelioma, the heart as pericardial mesothelioma or the genitals in the case of testicular mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type seen today, but it is not the only kind. Rarest is testicular mesothelioma. This kind of mesothelioma only has a few hundred cases that have ever been reported. Since it’s so rare, there is no standardized treatment plan. Instead, each person has a unique plan of treatment to handle the unusual location of the cancer.
Are there symptoms to look for with testicular mesothelioma?
Yes, but there are no set symptoms to look for. Some that you might see include a mass on the scrotum or pain in the testicles. However, many instances of this form of mesothelioma are not painful at all.
Usually, testicular mesothelioma occurs in men who are between the ages of 55 and 75. As of now, doctors believe that there may be a link between mesothelioma of the testicles and asbestos exposure, but there is no specific connection that has been identified.
How can testicular mesothelioma be diagnosed?
Testicular mesothelioma is diagnosed with an ultrasound. The ultrasound looks at the scrotum to see if any masses are present. If one is present, then a biopsy may be performed to collect a tissue sample. If there is a tumor, it may be removed to confirm the diagnosis.
If you develop mesothelioma and have a history of working with or around asbestos, you may have a case for workers’ compensation or other types of financial support.