Jun 2008, Paul Gatien was diagnosed with early stage lung cancer.
Active and healthy with no symptoms, Paul decided to get the new 64-slice CT scan after learning that as a former smoker (quit 15 years ago), he had an increased risk for lung cancer. Today, with the tumor successfully removed and a round of chemotherapy under his belt, Paul speaks out about early detection and the test that he credits with saving his life.
Question: What is your advice to former smokers when it comes to lung cancer early detection?
Answer: Get the lung cancer CT scan!
I didn’t really know that a test like this existed for early detection of lung cancer. I had always thought that CT scans were for follow-up on symptoms but I learned that this is a fairly new test and has been successful at catching early lung cancer. So at the recommendation of my wife and daughter, I decided to have it done.
I was assigned a nurse navigator (Alice) who made the entire procedure
easy to do. It was painless and short. This was the first serious health issue I have had in my 70 years so I was very reluctant.
I felt good with no signs of any health problems. But let me tell you that that was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. Because of this scan, we caught the cancer early, removed the tumor and now I am back to enjoying life again. So, what’s my advice to current or former smokers? Get the Lung Cancer CT scan! You will never regret it.
To learn more about the Lung Cancer CT scan at Saint Joseph’s, call Alice Kerber at (678) 843-7118 or akerber@sjha.org.
