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I have to admit that when I woke up on Nov. 7, the day I was scheduled to have a Spiral CT (Computed Tomography) scan for lung cancer, my first thought was thoroughly melodramatic: Will I ever again begin my day free of any concerns about a serious health issue? I was lucky enough to never have been seriously ill, but the scan, I knew, was merciless. If I had a cancerous lesion or nodule tinier than a grain of rice, if I had evidence of emphysema, it would be right there on the screen in front of me. A specialist who knew what she was talking about would give me the bad news.
That specialist was Dr. Claudia Henschke of the Weill Cornell Medical College in Manhattan. She co-authored the report on early CT scans for high-risk smokers and ex-smokers. I certainly qualified -- 40 years of a pack of unfiltered Camels a day, but it took me 14 months after quitting smoking to decide to get tested. Without question I was afraid of what I might learn; and, too, I felt so good! Still strong, no symptoms at all of any lung issues. I could play hard, fast tennis against young guys, walk 36 holes on various golf courses, single-hand my 14-ton boat in heavy weather. But as the months went on, even though I wasn't tempted to smoke, the questions wouldn't go away: Had my decades of smoking set a time bomb in my chest? Had it already been ignited? Should I take the one test that could at least answer that last question?
Then, in late October, I watched a report by our Chief Science Correspondent Robert Bazell, whose office is a few steps from mine. It was about the publication in the New England Journal of Medicine of Dr. Henschke's study of 31,000 patients worldwide who'd been given spiral CT scans. Dr. Henschke's conclusions were intuitive, logical and borne out by her numbers. Of the 484 cancers found by the screening, eight patients declined treatment and subsequently died. Of the rest, with their cancerous lesions found early, 88% survived with a projected 10-year survival rate. I read those numbers, then read them again: I knew from prior research that the 5-year survival rate for those diagnosed with lung cancer without early scanning was only 15%. Dr. Henschke claimed that if the screening were available to all high-risk smokers and ex-smokers, fully 80% of the 160,000 lung cancer deaths each year could be prevented. Others in her field dispute that, and call the estimate "unbelievable" and "outrageous" because her study did not include a non-scanned control group as does another study due to be completed in 2010.
2010? I wanted some answers now, wanted to take charge of this aspect of my personal health now! Dr. Henschke said that's exactly what I would be doing. And it would only take a few minutes. That did it. I booked the next available appointment.
You put the stupid gown on, and of course you're nervous. If you're lucky as I was, your spouse shows up for support. You're in the machine, listening to a recorded voice tell you when to breathe in, hold your breath, breathe out... and in less than a few minutes, as promised, it's done. You were sweating before, overheated -- now it's chilly and you're shivering. You're even more nervous, because in the next room images of your lungs, nearly 300 ultra thin slices, are being downloaded into Dr. Henschke's computer so she can sit you down and tell you the facts you asked her to find. It only takes minutes, but the minutes feel like hours.
You sit in a chair, next to hers, both of you facing the screen. She turns to you and says:
Dr. Henschke: First of all, you're fine.
Me: I'm fine.
Henschke: You're fine.
Me: Completely fine?
Henschke: You're completely fine. Nothing to worry about, OK? But we want to see you again next year, because you just stopped smoking a year ago and you really remain at high risk for lung cancer. But I'm going to go through all the different parts. First of all...
Me: Can you say that again? I'm fine?
Henschke: You're fine, OK? You're fine.
Me: All right.
Of course I was happy. I'd learned I didn't have lung cancer, not a hint of it... yet. And no evidence of emphysema... yet. Or coronary artery plaque... yet. And that's all I learned for certain. What I had was a baseline, a first scan to be used as a basis of comparison for the future scans that would be part of my annual physical.
Because I smoked, for 40 years. Because that means I'm 20 times more likely to get lung cancer than a male non-smoker. I wanted to know my current status, and now I do. And because I work for NBC News, I decided to bring a camera crew and producer Clare Duffy along, so the viewers of Nightly News with Brian Williams and the Today Show could know what I know, and why I felt it was important and useful information. For 45 million American smokers and their families; and for the millions of ex-smokers who are now in the majority of newly diagnosed lung cancer patients.
Ex-smokers like me.
Editor's note: Mike also shared with us the story behind why he quit smoking. You can read that here.
Read more from Mike Taibbi
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Busy Thursday
I watched your posting on Lung Cancer with great interest.I started smoking at the ripe old age of 13.
Lucky Strikes and or Camels,when I quit(Cold Turkey)in 1977 I was up to 2 packs a day and started my 3rd if I were up past 10P.M. In 1991 14 years after I quit I was diagnosed with Lung Cancer,fortuneatley I caught it early,They did a Lobectomy and Ive been Cancer Free since then. Incidentally two years later
(1993) I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer,they did a Prostatectomy and Im still Cancer Free....Never Give up
Al Latini.....Gainesville,Florida (Sent Nov 16, 2006 9:38:12 PM)
Congratulations Mike,
I too am an ex-smoker after doing it for 52 years. I quit going on 35 months.I had a Brother who died of Emphyzema as well another who has the same.I did not want to leave this world like that.
It is only by prayer and the grace of God and my Dr.'s nurse who so encouraged me to quit, that I made the choice. I too liked it an enjoyed it. That being said, I feel great and look better. My old Dr. could not believe it was me when he saw me. He said you look 10 years younger. I have no desire and the quitting was not as hard as I thought it would be.
I did gain 14 lbs which at first bothered me but I will lose it.I have lost 6 already and if I don't I don't care. I have improved my health considerably.
God brought me through it and he will bring me the rest of the way.
I do not worry about Lung Cancer as I know this is a possibility, however if it is meant to be it will be nothing I can do to change it. But God can. My Insurance will not pay for this type of test unless someone such as a Dr.asks for it.Up till now they have not requested it. It would save the Insurance companies millions in Cancer treatments if they would provide early detection.
Keep up the good work and encourage others to quit as I have.
Barbara Rich, Camino, Ca. (Sent Nov 16, 2006 9:34:37 PM)
Excellent coverage by NBC. Although not a smoker, I suffer from an addiction as well and one that often times seems not as socially acceptable to overcome; alcoholism. After 25 years I have quit and work every day, one day at a time to stay sober. It's enlightening and motivating to hear sucess stories of prominent individuals - it gives regular people like me hope. Mr. Taibbi, thank you for the inspiration.
Mike, Vancouver, Wash. (Sent Nov 16, 2006 9:24:25 PM)
I also had Spiral CT Scans as a volunteer in a National Lung Screening Trial. My inital scan found pulmunary nodes (too small for a biopsy) that led to three more CT scans. These CT scans showed no change so the doctor concluded these nodes were not cancer.
I quit my 40 year habit of smoking.
Dan Gould Ballwin MO (Sent Nov 16, 2006 8:21:56 PM)
Congratulations Mike, I am always pleased to hear about someone who has stopped smoking. And I applaud your decision to get a scan. But I also wish to suggest caution to the threat of being complacent. A friend did the scan after he had scaled his smoking down to just a couple a day, on his way to stopping. He was so relieved to see a clean report that he became complacent against my urgings. Six months later he picked up a cough. Four weeks later, he is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Another two months, and he is dead. It was just that aggressive.
All the best.
Bill Evans, Scottsdale, AZ (Sent Nov 16, 2006 8:06:07 PM)
I watched my mother die from lung cancer; nine days after a stage iv diagnosis. I continued to smoke for six years but today, I've been free of cigarettes for one month. I had a ct scan of my abdomen that also picked up lower lung lobes and it was clear. I truly think that most smokers really do want to quit; I know I've tried for 20 years.
Kathryn mack (Sent Nov 16, 2006 8:01:35 PM)
In case you at NBC haven't figured out yet why the TV evening newscasts have been losing viewers for years, your story on Mike Taibbi NOT having cancer might provide an explanation. You devoted more time to that than to the genocide in Darfur, and probably ten times as much -- I didn't time it -- than to the ACTUAL death of Milton Friedman.
So what exactly was the story here? That General Electric, parent of NBC, has developed a device to scan for lung cancer? Doesn't that belong to an advertising slot?
That smoking is bad for your health? Thought we knew that.
The fact that you devoted that much time on Mike Taibbi NOT having cancer in your "half hour" -- sadly shrivelled to 18 minutes -- of evening news telle me it is time for me to give up an old habit and stop watching the evening news.
I'm glad he's healthy, but I'm sad you thought this was news.
Concepcion Badillo, Washington, DC (Sent Nov 16, 2006 7:59:06 PM)
My mother is 74 and has never been seriously ill her entire life until this past July when she was diagnosed with Stage 1 lung cancer. She smoked from the age of 17 to 25. Yes, that could have contributed to her lung cancer but so could have the second hand smoke she was in for 30 years while at her job. No one will know for sure. She was very lucky - her cancer was caught early so I'm confident she will live the rest of her life free of this horrible disease. I am so glad you quit smoking. Thank you for your report.
Maureen, Newtown, CT (Sent Nov 16, 2006 7:55:36 PM)
Quit? Why quit? Why don't we just not start. We act so foolish... Playing russian roulette with our health and our futures all the time believing that we might be one of the lucky ones that don't pay the consequences. It's just like playing the lottery, all the odds are against us winning....
(Sent Nov 16, 2006 7:48:13 PM)
Want to walk with me through the Canadian system of diagnosis? I was diagnosed in September of lung cancer. When I left that morning of getting the results, that was devasting, with no avenue of hope, I actually said to the doctor "Do I leave here and go to the funeral home?" He made no comment. It has taken them until November to inform me it was Stage 4, and I am still waiting for treatment options. Have to love the Canadian medical system that has no doctors to treat us. I await till the 22nd of the month to meet with the chemotherapy dr. Since I am still here, I am glad I didn't go to the funeral home and make arrangements yet.
Kathy Laprise, Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada (Sent Nov 16, 2006 7:38:50 PM)
I am happy for Mike Taibbi that his lung scan was clear. It is a great relief to him and his family. I hope that tomorrows show will focus on the lung cancer epedemic. More people will die this year from lung cancer than prostate, breast, colon cancers combined. And the trend is for women who are non-smokers who are getting lung cancer. I know I am one of them. Currently 49 year-old, non-smoking female. Diagnosed early but in Stage IV at this time because there is a lack of research being done in lung cancer. Check out lungcanceralliance.com
Cynthia Upson, Richmond, VA (Sent Nov 16, 2006 7:23:04 PM)
Could you please relay how one can get the xray. Also how did you stop!!I am a nursewho just lost her father to lung cancer last year. I have yet to be smoke free my self. Any information about the cost and where it can be done would be appreciated. By the way, Congrats to you for Quitting
diane mangini,154 milner ave. Alb. NY 12208 (Sent Nov 16, 2006 7:12:06 PM)
I suggest that Mike read
The China Study by Cornell's T. Colin Campbell
-there appears to be a very strong link between animal protein in the diet and the genesis of cancer.
John P. Kennedy Delphi Falls, New York (Sent Nov 16, 2006 7:09:10 PM)
I too stopped smoking 2 1/2 years ago after a mild stroke. My family and friends all tell me how much better I look even with the weight gain of 30 lbs I feel great. I smoked 3 packs a day for 43 years Im so glad to rid of the habbit. And I smell great. But it took a stroke to stop me. Please don't wait as long as I did it just may be too late. I still miss the smokes but Im sure I would miss life alot more.
Raymond Thompson, Sacramento, Ca (Sent Nov 16, 2006 6:38:08 PM)
i have been a smoker for 30 years 3 years ogo i gave up smoking but started teasing myself...so although i buy patches all the time when ever i am in a distress situation i buy a pack but cannot smoke in front of my husband so i go back and buy the patches again...i hate myself for doing that, my mother and grandmother both died young of emphysema, i know i should have myself testest but am very scared
susan peterson reno nevada (Sent Nov 16, 2006 5:23:33 PM)
I signed up for the CT scan clinical trial in the DC area last year and luckily no signs of cancer. If it wasn't for the trial, I wouldn't be able to afford it.
Fran, Upper Marlboro, MD (Sent Nov 16, 2006 5:09:20 PM)
Thank you for this. Because of the report on Nightly I also have been considering the spiraal ct scan and your story just convinced me. I am still smoking after 40 years but just in the last year I have finally given real serious thought to quiting.
Anyway I just made an appointment with my doc so he can refer me for the scan and I probably would have procrastinated if I did not read your story and then immediately pick up the phone...which I did due to your influence.
Rich El Paso, TX (Sent Nov 16, 2006 4:22:16 PM)
I neglected to say in my first post that I quit smoking the moment my primary care doctor told be a spot showed up on an x-ray, I also have emphazema from smoking years and years but early detection and a change in live style is essential to salvaging a live such as mine.
John C Kittel , Webster ,NY (Sent Nov 16, 2006 3:22:32 PM)
I was one of the extreemly lucky ones, first an x-ray then a cat scan to diagnose my lung cancer all because a Doctor operating on my knee felt because I was a smoker for many years he deemed it necessary to get the tests,not worring about who or how they would be paid for , He saved my life, I had lung cancer and because of early detection I was cured and am alive 6 years later. Thank you again Dr. Ziv ( Buffalo Orthopedics VA Hospital.
John C Kittel , Webster ,NY (Sent Nov 16, 2006 3:17:48 PM)
You are indeed fortunate. Sadly my insurance doesn't cover spiral ct scans, only a basic chest xray, which I am pleased to know it came out fine. So I am happily a year without cigarettes, but still as scared as I was the day I quit.
Margaret, Fremont, CA (Sent Nov 16, 2006 3:05:35 PM)
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