My husband insisted I get a chest x-ray (which the doctor didn't think I needed) because even though I was getting over the flu, he said my cough sounded different. That led to a CT scan, which led to a biopsy, and a diagnosis of lung cancer at age 55.
After inhaling 55 pack years (1.5 packs/day x 37 years) worth of cigarettes, I quit cold turkey that very day.
After surgery I was staged IA; after recurrence six months later restaged IV. Chemo and radiation treatment ended ten years ago. Just had my annual CT screening and am NERD -- No Evidence of Recurrent Disease -- which means I am now a 10 YEAR SURVIVOR, thank God and modern medicine!
So get that CT scan whether or not you're still smoking -- it could literally save your life, because early detection can make all the difference. This screening protocol was not in place back when I was diagnosed, which is one more indication that we are making progress in the detection and treatment of lung cancer.
