QC:How Common is Thoracic Endo and Is It Different in Teens?

Send us a text with a question or thought on this episode ( We cannot replay from this link)Thoracic endometriosis is likely more common than we think, and we're only seeing "the tip of the iceberg" according to thoracic surgeon Dr. Francesco Di Chiara, who specializes in minimally invasive chest surgery at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.• Most patients wait 7-8 years for endometriosis diagnosis, then additional years before seeing a thoracic specialist• Current patients typically arrive in their 30s with pre-existing endometriosis diagnosis from gynecologists• Dr. Di Chiara envisions a future where adolescents with chest symptoms would see thoracic specialists first• Surgery for thoracic endometriosis in younger patients may actually be safer than in older adults• The main surgical risks relate to age-related heart and lung diseases, not present in teens and young adults• Healthcare coverage for thoracic endometriosis remains "patchy" across countries including the UK's NHS• Work is ongoing with NHS England to create a unified network for complex endometriosis careSend your questions by using the link in the description, emailing [email protected], or visiting the endobattery.com contact page. Keep feeling empowered through knowledge.Support the showWebsite endobattery.comInstagram: EndoBattery