At 65, Karyn Marve is calm, grounded, and grateful. "I'm the matriarch of my family," she says proudly. "I've been there, done that. I'm older now and I enjoy my peace and quiet. I'm just grateful and blessed that I have a roof over my head and a job, so I really can't complain."
But Karyn knows that to continue taking care of her family and maintaining her peace, she has to stay proactive about her health. That's why she's been getting annual lung cancer screenings at Boston Medical Center for years - and she doesn't plan to stop.
"My primary care doctor told me I should get a CT screening for lung cancer," Karyn explains. "It wasn't something that was on my mind. Of course, I knew to get my mammograms and things like that every year, but the CT screening was something she brought to my attention because of my history of smoking."
A Simple Test Brings Peace of Mind
Since her cigarette use put her at higher risk for lung cancer, Karyn was referred to BMC's Lung Cancer Screening and Lung Nodule Evaluation Program. The team explained that she was eligible to receive a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan every year, which can detect lung cancer early - before symptoms start. "The scan takes just five to seven minutes," Karyn says. "You hold your breath, they take pictures, and that's it. Don't be afraid or intimidated by it."
Karyn trusts her care team and appreciates the peace of mind her screenings bring. "Every time, they say that nothing has changed - just some scarring," she says. "That's the best news." She also values the additional services BMC offers its patients. "Everything is under one umbrella. There's nothing you can't get - food, help with rent, counseling for mental health, free services if you don't have insurance. They really help people. BMC is a wonderful hospital, and I'll go there for the rest of my life."
Spreading the Word About Lung Cancer Prevention
Karyn hopes that by sharing her story, others will follow her example. "Everybody should be getting these CT scans," she says. "I tell people that there are a lot of things affecting our lungs that we don't see: food, water, all the chemicals. It's better to stay ahead of it."
If you are at high risk for developing lung cancer, you may be eligible for a lung cancer screening CT scan. This test helps catch lung cancers at an early stage, when they can be treated more effectively. Learn more about lung cancer screening at Boston Medical Center