COVER STORY
THE IMPORTANCE OF
Lung Cancer Can Be Cured When Caught Early
Dr . Federico Cerrone , left , and Gregory E .
GregoryE . smoked cigarettes for four decades . The 74-yearold says he gave themupfor three months in 1994 , until he happened upon afull pack of MarlboroLightslying on the Atlantic City boardwalk . It wouldbeanother12years before he went cold turkey .
Three years ago , Gregory became one of the first patients to take part in the Atlantic Health System Lung Cancer ScreeningProgram for people at high risk for developing lung cancer . The population is definedasadults ages 50 to 80 who ’ ve smoked at least apack aday on average over 20 years . Former heavy smokerswho quit within the past 15 yearsare also eligible .
CATCHING CANCER AT EARLIER STAGES
Gregory ’ spulmonologist , FedericoCerrone , MD , urged himto have thelow-dose computed tomography ( LDCT ) scan , which can catch cancer early .
“ Lungcancercan be cured when it ’ s caught early . Annual screenings save lives ,” says Dr . Cerrone , theprogram ’ s medical director , who is board-certified in internal medicine , critical care , pulmonary disease and sleepmedicine by the American BoardofInternal Medicine . Screeningiscrucial because “ most peoplewithlung cancer aren ’ t symptomatic untilithas spread .”
Of the more than 200 LDCT scansAtlantic Health System conductsmonthly , includingatChilton Medical Center , about 2 % detect smallmalignant tumors thatcan be removed by surgery . “ That ’ s 40 patients curedinagiven year ,” Dr . Cerrone says . Most people who are screened have no growths , he notes . The scan takes one minute , and the cost is covered by health insurance .
Gregory says he started smoking afew cigarettes aday as an 18-year-old providing security at Navaloperations duringthe Vietnam War . His smoking increased to apackaday when he was 21 . Gregory , whoretired after 38 years with the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority , kicked the habitin2006 at his daughter ’ s insistence .
The widower had lost bothhis parents to cancer , hismother to lung cancer . Having the LDCT annually “ gives me peaceofmind ,” Gregory says .“ So far , I ’ ve been clean : no cancer !”
PHOTO : CHILTON MEDICAL CENTER . SCREENING : GETTY IMAGES
SPRING 2022 CHILTON MAGAZINE