In December 2022, Teresa was sharing her expertise as a registered nurse at a community health fair. While speaking with the medical director of her local health department about infection prevention and overall health, she learned something new. She discovered that the lung cancer screening age had dropped from 55 to 50. At the time she was 53, and as a former smoker, she now qualified for the screening. “I was like, why didn’t I know this,” she recalled.
She decided to bring it up with her primary care physician at her annual checkup a few weeks later. Her doctor reviewed her history and determined she qualified, so they scheduled the low-dose CT (LDCT) scan for the very next month. “I was symptom free,” Teresa said. “I had no pain or shortness of breath; I worked out and had plenty of energy.” Nevertheless, the scan showed a small nodule on the upper lobe of her left lung. She was advised to repeat the scan in six months.
The follow-up in August showed that the nodule had grown and changed shape, so Teresa and her doctor decided it was time to act. A biopsy confirmed what they feared: she had non-small cell lung cancer. “When I heard the word ‘cancer,’ everything changed. I felt hopeless and I couldn’t stop thinking that this was the end,” she said.
Because lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., this is not an uncommon reaction. What made all the difference was that they had caught her cancer early, when it was most treatable. Teresa was immediately scheduled for surgery to remove the lobe where the nodule was found. The doctors were pleased to see that the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes and was stage 1B. It is well documented that when lung cancer is found early, survival rates dramatically improve. “I often think about what might have happened if I had waited until 55 to get the scan,” Teresa said. “It could have metastasized and everything would be very different.”
After surgery, Teresa completed four rounds of chemotherapy and continued immunotherapy through December 2024. Today, she is living cancer-free and feeling blessed.
Lifesaving Changes in Cancer Treatment and Detection
Studies show that lung cancer found through screening are far more likely to be diagnosed in Stage I. If caught early, the five‑year survival rate is between 65% and 90%, compared to about 12% when diagnosed after it has metastasized. This is why early detection is so crucial.
There have also been great strides made in lung cancer treatment methods, something that Teresa admits she knew little about before she received her diagnosis. “You hear cancer, you think it is a death sentence, but that is not true anymore,” Teresa said. “My outlook today is completely different. If caught, it can be treated. Advances in treatment, including immunotherapy and targeted therapy, continue to improve outcomes. Modern treatments now allow many patients to work, stay active and live full lives during and after treatment.
But early detection continues to be key. Despite the proven benefits, lung cancer screening remains underutilized. Only about 16% of eligible Americans get screened each year. This is disappointing because experts estimate that if every eligible patient got screened, it could save up to 48,000 lives annually.
Turning Fear into Advocacy
During treatment, Teresa decided to begin sharing her story on social media. “If God was gracious enough to spare my life, I feel like I am charged with helping and informing others,” she explained. Her story caught the attention of the Kentucky Hospital Association and Department of Public Health. They, in turn, shared her story with the American Lung Association who invited her to join in advocacy as a LUNG FORCE Hero. She is also on the survivorship committee for Kentucky Department for Public Health.
She has since traveled to Washington, DC to talk with members of Congress about the importance of maintaining funding for lung cancer research. “Without research funding we can’t make advancements like the ones that saved my life,” she said.
Today, Teresa speaks at conferences, serves on leadership boards and helps raise awareness as a Saved By The Scan advocate. Her message is clear; “Just get the scan,” she says. “You hear people saying they don’t want to know, but I tell them, it’s better to find cancer early because it isn’t like years ago, it can be treated. I want to change that perception and really show that advancements in detection and treatments are saving lives!”
“Cancer does not define us—it calls us to action.”
Find out if you qualify for an annual low-dose CT scan at SavedByTheScan.org or by calling a Lung Health Navigator at 844-ALA-LUNG.
Blog last updated: April 28, 2026
