London Legal Podcast: Living With Testicular Mesothelioma

Host: Welcome to another episode of The London Legal Podcast as hosted by Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors. The subject today is on Asbestos and Workplace Illness, and we’re delighted to welcome Lorna Webster, Partner at Hodge Jones & Allen to the show, alongside a very special guest.

The specific topic today is testicular mesothelioma, which is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Our special guest is a client of the firm who is here to share about his own personal experience around asbestos exposure, his diagnosis of testicular mesothelioma as a result of that exposure, the medical impact it has had on him, as well as his own journey through legal avenues to seek justice.

It’s an extraordinary account and it is tremendously kind of this individual to come forward today to tell our audiences about what he’s been through, what others who have experienced the same can do from a legal perspective, and to shed more light on the subjects at hand: Testicular Cancer caused by asbestos exposure and other asbestos diseases more generally.

Our special guest is Mr. Roy Siggs. Lorna, Roy, thank you so much for being with us today.

Host: Before I turn to Roy, Lorna could you provide a brief description of your role within Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors, the types of cases you deal with, and tell our listeners a little bit more about the firm?

Lorna Webster: I am a Partner within the Asbestos and Workplace Illness Team at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors, and I have been working here since January 2020. I specialise in asbestos related diseases and have been assisting people affected by asbestos illnesses to bring compensation claims for about 27 years now. I pursued Roy’s successful compensation claim for him.

The firm was set up in 1977, almost 50 years ago now, by Henry Hodge, Peter Jones and Patrick Allen. These three gentlemen were committed to helping individuals who otherwise would not be able to gain access to justice. The firm has grown over the years, and we now have over 250 members of staff, most recently being featured in The Times Best Law Firms 2026 list, which ranks the top 250 law firms in England and Wales.

Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors has a number of teams that assists people with their legal issues, ranging from asbestos diseases, other personal injury or medical negligence claims, criminal defence work, Wills and probate and many other areas of the law that people from all walks of life may need help with. Each area of the law that we cover has specialist teams, so our clients know they are in experienced hands.

Everyone who works here follows the philosophy of helping people gain access to the law, irrelevant of a client’s means or background, and this ethos has always been at the forefront of what we do. I am very proud to be part of the Hodge Jones & Allen team.

Host: Thank you Lorna, now let’s turn to our special guest Roy Siggs. By way of background, Roy was exposed to asbestos dust with a former employer called Durrant Bros Limited, who were based in Sussex at the time, during the 1950s and into the 1960s. He initially worked as a probationer plumber, then completed a 5-year plumbing apprenticeship and after that stayed with the company working as qualified plumber for a while. Many decades later, Roy received a diagnosis of testicular mesothelioma, which it was later proven was caused by his previous plumbing employment.

Roy, thank you so much for coming forward today to speak about what happened to you. I know you are keen to share your experience in the hope it helps others diagnosed with mesothelioma. So, let’s start with talking a bit more about how you got into plumbing and the work you did.

Roy Siggs: As a young lad, I thought that plumbing would be a good career to get into and would give me a trade for life. I managed to get myself a job as a probationer plumber with Durrant Bros, which were a local building firm. As a probationer, I had to learn some basic plumbing skills and show I was a hard worker, to prove I deserved to be taken on under a formal 5-year plumbing apprenticeship.

I went on to complete my formal apprenticeship and then stayed with the company until I was called up to carry out my 2-year National Service period in the Royal Air Force. After leaving the Royal Air Force I returned to Durrant Bros and stayed with them for a few more years continuing to work as a qualified plumber. Although I didn’t think anything of it at the time, I was exposed to asbestos materials throughout my employment with Durrant Bros.

Host: I understand Roy that you were regularly tipping loose asbestos fibres from a bag into a bucket and mixing them with water to create a lagging mixture and when the lagging was mixed to the correct consistency, you then used your hands to apply it to pipework and boilers for insulation purposes Was that dusty work?

Roy Siggs: Yes, the tipping of the loose asbestos fibres into a bucket caused clouds of asbestos dust to surround me and it was very dusty work. Asbestos fibres like to float and so the fibres floated around in the air for a long time after the asbestos bag had been emptied. I got covered in the fibres; it was impossible not to. When water was then added into the bucket, the fibres again flew upwards into my face.

I never knew at that time that asbestos was dangerous for health and assumed my employers would not be giving me dangerous materials to do my job.

Host: Roy, as well as lagging pipework and boilers, how else were you exposed to asbestos in your work?

Roy Siggs: I also had to remove old asbestos guttering and fit and cut new asbestos products, using a handsaw and filing and cutting as required. After a job was completed, I had to clear up at the end of the job which included sweeping up asbestos dust and debris.

I also had to cut and fit asbestos cement sewer pipes using a handsaw and I regularly used asbestos rope and even carried a roll of asbestos rope in my tool bag. The rope was used to fill in small gaps and edging and was cut off the roll with a knife or snipping tool.

I also had a small tin of loose asbestos fibres which was mixed with a little water, moulded using my fingers and then used to fill in small holes, typically from where holes had been drilled but needed filling to get a smooth surface back.

When I look back at my work with asbestos, I am genuinely shocked at how much I used on a regular basis.

Host: Roy, was it just your own work that exposed you to asbestos dust?

Roy Siggs: My own work definitely exposed me to a lot of asbestos dust but I regularly worked alongside other tradesmen, such as electricians and carpenters and of course other plumbers, who also used asbestos products. I also breathed in the dust they created from their own work.

Host: Now Lorna, what kind of protection was provided by Roy’s employer, to protect him from inhaling asbestos dust?

Lorna Webster: As with many of my other mesothelioma clients, Roy was never provided with any warnings about the dangers of asbestos dust by his employers and was never provided with any personal protective equipment to stop him breathing in the asbestos dust. Roy had no reason to question this and just accepted that his work was of a dusty nature.

Host: Before I turn to Roy to talk about his symptoms and how testicular mesothelioma arose, Lorna could you perhaps provide a bit of context for our listeners who may be completely unaware of the link between testicular mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. Is it common?

Lorna Webster: Mesothelioma is a cancer usually caused by asbestos exposure. Mesotheliomas can be found in the lining of various body organs, most commonly the lining of the lungs. However, mesotheliomas are also found in the lining of the abdomen, the lining of the heart and the lining of the testicles. There are about 2,500 people diagnosed with mesothelioma in the UK every year and less than 1% of those mesotheliomas are testicular. Therefore, testicular mesothelioma is a very rare type of mesothelioma.

Most mesotheliomas will cause typical cancer-type symptoms including breathing difficulties, unexplained weight loss and extreme tiredness.

However, testicular mesothelioma symptoms usually present as scrotal swelling, discomfort or pain and as this type of mesothelioma is so rare, it can be difficult to diagnose.

Host: Roy, when did you first become aware of any medical symptoms and realise something was very wrong with your health?

Roy Siggs: I became aware of symptoms towards the end of 2021 when I noticed swelling in my scrotum. I got medical advice in early 2021 and underwent investigations. I was told that I required a hydrocele repair operation and issues of concern were noted during that operation, with a biopsy being taken at the same time. This was in November 2021. I had absolutely no idea at this point that I had any kind of asbestos related disease. It was not until December 2021 that I was advised I had mesothelioma of my left testicle. To say I was extremely shocked by this diagnosis is an understatement.

I was then advised to have my left testicle removed, but because Covid was present at that time, I was unable to have this operation until June 2022. Following the operation, I underwent 5 sessions of radiotherapy treatment in August 2022.

Host: How did you cope in the aftermath of the operation and treatment?

Roy Siggs: It was challenging and very tough. I felt tired and fatigued and was uncomfortable riding my bike and walking for any period of time. I love riding my bike and walking and so it was hard to have to stop those for a while. Although I am pretty much back to normal now, I remain under regular medical review. Just recently I had a swelling in my groin area and of course I immediately think the mesothelioma is back. It is a huge worry for me and is always in the back of my mind.

Host: Lorna, how did you first come into contact with Roy and what was your opinion of what he had gone through?

Lorna Webster: After his diagnosis, Roy sought advice from his local asbestos support charity, the London Asbestos Support Awareness Group, known as LASAG. LASAG offer emotional and practical advice to anyone affected by asbestos diseases and they also encourage people to seek legal advice on entitlement to compensation and DWP benefits. LASAG works with four law firms who have proven their expertise and knowledge in relation to asbestos related diseases and Hodge Jones & Allen are one of those firms. Roy contacted us and matters went from there.

Host: And just to reiterate this point for our listeners, testicular mesothelioma is incredibly rare, isn’t it?

Lorna Webster: Yes, it is very rare indeed. When Roy came to me, I had been pursuing compensation claims for mesothelioma clients for over 20 years and whilst I knew all about testicular mesothelioma, I had never actually had a testicular mesothelioma client in all that time. Ironically, I am currently acting for another gentleman with testicular mesothelioma who was also exposed to asbestos dust at work many years ago.

Host: Now turning to the legal side of things, what were your thoughts about the case Roy had against his employer?

Lorna Webster: I met with Roy and took information from his previous employment. It quickly became apparent that he was exposed to a lot of asbestos dust when working for Durrant Bros Limited and so a plan was agreed to pursue a compensation claim against them. The company itself had long ceased trading and so could not be pursued direct but there are other legal options in mesothelioma claims in that situation and a claim was ultimately pursued against the former employers’ liability insurers of Durrant Bros Limited instead.

All relevant evidence was gathered to support Roy’s claim and disclosed to the insurers. An admission of legal blame was received by them, and a settlement was subsequently agreed for Roy. The settlement also included a Court Order in relation to potential future medical treatment costs not available on the NHS.

Host: So are you saying Lorna that if someone has an asbestos disease from their previous employment and that previous employer is no longer trading, as happened in Roy’s case, that it is still possible to pursue a compensation claim?

Lorna Webster: Yes, there are other options to be explored if the former employer is no longer trading. For example, if the relevant employers’ liability insurers can be identified, a claim can be pursued against those insurers. If mesothelioma has been caused by work exposure and there is no former employer to pursue and no insurers can be identified, there is a back-up scheme that can then be applied to. At Hodge Jones & Allen we know what all the avenues are and will advise each client individually on their options.

Host: Can you tell us more about the Court Order for the potential future medical treatment costs that you obtained in Roy’s case?

Lorna Webster: When a settlement is achieved for a mesothelioma sufferer, we also seek a Court Order stating that if any new treatment comes up in the future which the treating doctor considers would be suitable for that particular person to have, but the treatment is only available privately and not on the NHS, then the private costs will be paid for by the insurance company who paid the compensation. The Court Order will also cover treatment which may only be available on the NHS for a certain period of time but which the treating doctor considers is still beneficial for someone with mesothelioma to continue to have after that time has passed. There is no time limit in these Court Orders and so a client can come back to me anytime after their claim has settled to get relevant private treatment costs paid for.

Host: A question for you both. There remains a stigma around testicular health issues and men coming forward to talk about the subject, about their experiences, about the symptoms, the risks, and the need to take action. Roy’s willingness to talk about this today will hopefully encourage others to step forward and share their experience so men know they are not suffering alone. First one for you Lorna, what would you say to anybody listening who thinks testicular mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure is a distant risk?

Lorna Webster: Testicular mesothelioma is a rare type of asbestos disease but it is still a risk for men who have previously been exposed to asbestos dust. Roy is evidence that the condition does develop.

As mentioned earlier, there are about 2,500 people diagnosed with mesothelioma every year and many of those mesotheliomas will be linked to previous asbestos exposure at work. If we look at just the last 10 years, that is about 25,000 people who have developed mesothelioma, which is a shockingly high number.

I would encourage anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma to seek expert advice to find out their legal rights and entitlements. I would also encourage any men suffering from painful or swollen testicles to seek medical advice. No one should ever be embarrassed about where in their body they are suffering from pain or discomfort and seeking prompt medical advice can make a huge difference in terms of getting an early diagnosis of a condition and having more treatment options available or being given the all clear and stopping their worry. The reality is that if Roy had been too embarrassed to seek medical advice about his testicular symptoms, he would not be with us today.

Host: And Roy, what would you like to say to any male listener who may think there is no point in bringing forward a legal claim?

Roy Siggs: For any man diagnosed with testicular mesothelioma, or any kind of asbestos disease for that matter, I would definitely encourage them to seek legal advice from Lorna. She made the legal process as easy as possible for me, explained things in a way I understood and not once did she make me feel embarrassed or awkward talking about my medical situation. At the conclusion of the claim, I felt that some justice had been obtained and that someone had taken responsibility for my condition. Lorna clearly knows what she is doing and I always felt in safe hands.

The asbestos support charity, LASAG, also gave me a huge amount of support, particularly after the diagnosis. Even now, I continue to keep in contact with LASAG and have found that meeting other mesothelioma sufferers helps us all realise we are not alone.

Host: Lorna, to summarise the process as briefly as you can – if someone listening to this feels they have contracted mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure in their work and would like to make an enquiry with you, to see whether they have any legal recourse against their employer – how does the process work?

Lorna Webster: Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos related disease should seek legal advice and can contact me directly on 0330 822 3451 or else you can visit www.hja.net and get in touch with me and the wider team via our enquiry form or request a callback for a convenient time.

There is absolutely nothing to be lost in seeking legal advice, so why not find out your rights? If an asbestos related claim can be pursued, it is at no financial risk whatsoever to the client in terms of legal costs and expenses. I feel frustrated thinking there are people out there who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, but who think they cannot pursue a claim, perhaps because their former employer is no longer trading or they think the exposure was too long ago for anything to be done. They could be missing out on compensation payments and DWP benefits, as well as not getting any justice for what has happened to them.

Host: Roy, with Lorna sitting here now, is there anything you’d like to say to her about how she’s helped you, how the team at Hodge Jones & Allen have supported you throughout your case?

Roy Siggs: I just want to say a huge thank you to Lorna and her team at Hodge Jones & Allen. Lorna supported me in a very difficult period of my life and got me the outcome she said she would. At first, I was a little anxious about a Solicitor coming to my home to meet with me, but I had absolutely nothing to worry about – Lorna is very normal and it was clear to me from the start that she genuinely cares for her clients and is very good at the work she does.

Host: Roy, I’d like to thank you for having the courage to speak today on this podcast about what happened to you. You’re the first client we’ve had on this podcast, and the topic is particularly important as you’ve spoken about an issue that is challenging for men to speak about.

I hope listeners have found this podcast interesting and informative. If you would like to contact Lorna to discuss your own situation, she can be contacted on 0330 822 3451 or else you can visit www.hja.net and get in touch with her via our enquiry form or request a callback.