Around the fall of 2005 my internist, Dr. Rosenbaum, recommended that I get a CT scan of my lungs. I had smoked until 1985 (for the 28 prior years) and was experiencing bronchitis or pneumonia every year or two.
He explained that with the new CT scans they can see much smaller growths on the lungs than had been possible. My symptoms could be early indication of lung cancer. Of course, when I quit smoking I was told that in 10 years your lungs rejuvenate so that they are as if you never smoked.
I put off doing anything about it, until Peter Jennings was diagnosed with lung cancer. He too had quit twenty years before, but now he was going to die. So at my annual physical in 2006, I asked Dr. Rosenbaum about arranging a CT scan. He said I was in luck and gave me a number to call for an appointment for a free CT scan. Insurance companies and medicare do not cover these diagnostic techniques without symptoms.
NMH had a grant to evaluate the scans for early detection of cancer. When I arrived for my appointment I was told that the study had already been closed; they were taking no new subjects. They called NMH outpatient radiology and told me that they could schedule me for $850. I decided to price out the options.
