@lls8000 my update: Surgery went well and discharged the next day. Only Tylenol needed. One week post op I’m doing great and ready to get back to my exercise schedule.
Path report shows stage 1AN0M0. Mediastinal nodes all clear, same for margins, lymphovascular invasion, spread in air spaces, pleural effusion- all negative. So, it’s a curative resection. No radiation or chemo.
I would like to mention the importance of being an advocate for yourself.
I smoked for many years and was subject to second hand smoke for years before that. I did quit smoking 28 years ago. I mentioned to my primary care physician on several prior occasions that I wanted to get into a low dose CT screening program. I just had a sense that lung cancer might be a strong possibility. My doctor didn’t think I needed to go into a program due to quitting many years ago, plus my very good physical condition. My concern only increased after prostate cancer so I had another of my Mayo physicians refer me to Mayos Screening program. But I did not meet the CMS guidelines for admission. Interestingly, I did meet the guidelines of the American Cancer Society. But any low dose screening program only recognizes the CMS guidelines. I pressed on for testing and the Mayo staff did agree to have me undergo a regular CT scan due to a slight cough I mentioned. That was February 2025 and the scan revealed an 8mm nodule that had grown from earlier prostate exam.
After several months the nodule grew again so surgery on October 10.
My message to others based on my experience is to advocate for yourself. Push the envelope. And once we found the nodule I really liked Mayos aggressive approach to treatment. And I had total trust in them.
Hopefully American Cancer guidelines will be adopted to allow more screening.