Lung Cancer Screening Study

[Guest guest]

Since my aunt died in October of lung cancer after having quit smoking 17

years ago, I have been thinking about my own risk of having lung cancer. I

smoked for about 34 years and was up to three packs a day. I quit on March 6

nine years ago. Anyway, I had decided to start getting regular chest X-rays

but hadn't gotten around to it yet.

Then I saw an ad in the paper about the National Lung Screening Trial

sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. They are participating in it at

the hospital where my endo and rheumy are, so I decided to join the study. I

had to fill out some forms and then go there on Tuesday.

One of the things they did was give me a breathing test. I had a

clothespin-like thing on my nose and put a plastic contraption into my

mouth. I was supposed to take a few normal breaths and then take a huge

breath and then blow it out into the contraption. I was shocked to discover

that I couldn't do it! I simply didn't have enough breath! I guess my lung

capacity has been diminished by all of those cigarettes.

The purpose of the study is to see which is better at reducing deaths from

lung cancer, chest x-rays or spiral CT scans. The computer chooses randomly

which test each participant will get. I was randomized to get the CT scan. I

will get two more annual CT scans, and then be followed up for eight years.

If you still smoke, I strongly urge you to quit. If you do, maybe you'll be

able to pass a breathing test someday. Smoking is one of the worst things we

can do for our health, but once we're hooked, it is extremely difficult. I'm

so glad that some of you on the list quit a few months ago. I know that

Heidi and Stacey quit. Marge and Sue C. also mentioned that they might try

to quit. I hope you succeeded, but if not, you can always try again. I

figure that if I quit, then anybody can. I can't convince my sister of this,

though, no matter how hard I try.

Sue

[Guest guest]

Sue, it's great that you are participating in this study and doing all

you can to protect your health. I hope lung cancer is never a problem

for you. I am always amazed and happy to hear that you were able to quit

after so many years of heavy smoking. Way to go!

Most of all, thank you for sharing your story and encouraging others to

quit. Many serious health problems are out of our hands, but smoking is

not one of them.

I hope your sister will soon realize that she should follow your lead.

[ ] Lung Cancer Screening Study

> Since my aunt died in October of lung cancer after having quit smoking

17

> years ago, I have been thinking about my own risk of having lung

cancer. I

> smoked for about 34 years and was up to three packs a day. I quit on

March 6

> nine years ago. Anyway, I had decided to start getting regular chest

X-rays

> but hadn't gotten around to it yet.

>

> Then I saw an ad in the paper about the National Lung Screening Trial

> sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. They are participating in

it at

> the hospital where my endo and rheumy are, so I decided to join the

study. I

> had to fill out some forms and then go there on Tuesday.

>

> One of the things they did was give me a breathing test. I had a

> clothespin-like thing on my nose and put a plastic contraption into my

> mouth. I was supposed to take a few normal breaths and then take a

huge

> breath and then blow it out into the contraption. I was shocked to

discover

> that I couldn't do it! I simply didn't have enough breath! I guess my

lung

> capacity has been diminished by all of those cigarettes.

>

> The purpose of the study is to see which is better at reducing deaths

from

> lung cancer, chest x-rays or spiral CT scans. The computer chooses

randomly

> which test each participant will get. I was randomized to get the CT

scan. I

> will get two more annual CT scans, and then be followed up for eight

years.

>

> If you still smoke, I strongly urge you to quit. If you do, maybe

you'll be

> able to pass a breathing test someday. Smoking is one of the worst

things we

> can do for our health, but once we're hooked, it is extremely

difficult. I'm

> so glad that some of you on the list quit a few months ago. I know

that

> Heidi and Stacey quit. Marge and Sue C. also mentioned that they might

try

> to quit. I hope you succeeded, but if not, you can always try again. I

> figure that if I quit, then anybody can. I can't convince my sister of

this,

> though, no matter how hard I try.

>

> Sue