Michael Collins' experience with Boston Medical Center (BMC) began more than 50 years ago, when he was just a teenager. "I got shot when I was 17-the bullet was about a millimeter from putting me in a wheelchair for the rest of my life," he shares. "I'm just thankful to be alive." Michael was treated at what was then Boston City Hospital and discharged a few days later with no lasting injuries. He credits BMC for saving his life.
After that traumatic event, Michael went years without a primary care provider (PCP) or routine health care of any kind. If something felt wrong, he went to the emergency department. But that changed when he was in his 50s, thanks to his older sister Michelle, who encouraged him to start getting annual physicals at BMC.
Those routine visits would save Michael’s life a second time.
Early Detection Made All the Difference
As a longtime smoker, Michael qualified for annual lung screenings at BMC’s Lung Cancer Screening and Lung Nodule Evaluation Program. The low-dose CT (LDCT) scans became an important part of his new preventive care routine to detect lung cancer early.
That's how, in 2023, Michael was diagnosed with stage 1 non-small-cell lung cancer. He says he wasn't shocked, because he had started to notice a strange sensation in his lungs about six months before his diagnosis. "When I would take a shower, I would feel a tingling. It wasn't painful but it was like my body was talking to me, telling me something wasn't right," he remembers.
Without hesitation, Michael chose to get treated at BMC. "It was a no-brainer," he says of the decision. "They saved my life when I was 17. Why would I look anywhere else?"
In May of 2023, thoracic surgeon Christopher Digesu, MD, performed a robotic-assisted lung wedge resection of Michael’s right lung. The experience, Michael says, could not have been better: “Dr. D is a wonderful surgeon and he’s so human. He has a great personality, and he always smiles.”
Positivity Helped Michael Heal
His recovery went smoothly, and in true Michael fashion, he was back to work just days after surgery. He credits his great outcome to Dr. Digesu and the entire team at BMC, as well as his spirituality and positive attitude. "I believe that your mindset plays a big role in your health," he explains. "For me personally, the glass is always half full. If you hold onto negative stuff, it doesn't help you heal. Whatever comes your way, say a prayer on it and keep going."
Since his surgery, Michael has had follow-up scans every six months, and every time he has received the same good news: no signs of recurrence. Still cancer-free at his most recent visit in November, Michael graduated to annual checkups. "Life's been good," he reflects. "I am very blessed."
These days, Michael enjoys spending time with his family and working as a house manager at a rest home. "I'm a people person. I enjoy life and making people smile."