This November, INTEGRIS Health is honoring Lung Cancer Awareness Month to highlight the importance of regular screenings for early detection.
This November, INTEGRIS Health is honoring Lung Cancer Awareness Month to highlight the importance of regular screenings for early detection.
In September, John Hamm was told a small spot on his left lung had changed. “When they say nodule, that sounds so innocent,” said Hamm. “But when they showed it to me, I even knew we had to move fast.”
INTEGRIS Health did just that, moving him from scan to surgery in only 10 days. After removing the lobe from his lung, pathology confirmed it was stage I cancer. Fortunately, Hamm didn’t need chemo or radiation since it was caught early.
“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally,” said Nathaniel Moulton, M.D., a board-certified pulmonologist with INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Baptist Pulmonary Medicine. “Unfortunately, many cases are detected at advanced stages, making treatment more challenging and reducing survival rates.”
Lung cancer kills about 357 people per day, according to the American Lung Association, and is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. However, early detection due to routine lung cancer screenings is increasing every year.
“Lung cancer screenings paired with a comprehensive lung nodule program, like here at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center, play a vital role in identifying lung cancer at earlier stages when it is more treatable,” Moulton said.
Hamm, who’d been a regular smoker for years, watched close friends die of lung cancer. As a result, he began annual scans early. “It takes some convincing for men especially to do something preventive,” he said. “But it’s worth it.”
Hamm’s story is proof of the power teamwork and modern tools can have against lung cancer when detected early.
