Hi Reddit! I'm Karen, a registered nurse and Patient Advocate. My job is helping people who are worried because they’ve been exposed to asbestos and are worried about what’s next. People exposed to other toxins also have concerns about their cancer risk and what to do. A lot of that comes down to one core question: Should I get screened, and how?
I can talk about:
- Cancer screenings in general, and how to know if you should get one
- Asbestos exposure and its link to mesothelioma and lung cancer, including the long latency period (it can take 20 to 60 years to develop)
- Where to go if there's nothing near you for screening
- Common barriers to screening, cost especially
- What patient advocacy looks like, and how I help connect people to the right specialists
I'll be checking in throughout the week to answer what I can. This thread will stay up as a resource after it closes, so your question might help someone else looking for the same answers later.
Disclaimer: I can share general information, but this isn't medical advice for your specific situation. I'm not able to diagnose or treat anyone here; but I can suggest questions to ask your doctor and help connect people to mesothelioma and lung cancer specialists specialists who can. Please don't share personal or sensitive health information.
Let's keep it respectful. A lot of people asking questions here are scared or grieving.
Ask away. ⬇️
Proof: https://imgur.com/a/Uegh4fs
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