INDIANAPOLIS — Turning 80 is a milestone Kent Helms is exceedingly grateful to mark. His family and friends gathered Saturday night at Maggiano's on the north side of Indianapolis to celebrate his birthday and his successful battle over lung cancer.
Longtime smoker
Kent said he started smoking when he was 13 and was up to more than a pack a day when he quit at 65.
It was that long-term smoking history that led Kent's doctor to recommend he get a low-dose CT lung scan.
Low-dose CT lung scan
"I got the scan, and it showed the spot on my lungs. So I did a biopsy and found out that it was a cancer," Kent said.
Ascension St. Vincent Thoracic Surgeon Vijay Nuthakki, MD, said Kent's cancer was discovered early, at what's considered stage 1.
"The right lung has three parts, the lower lobe is largest, and it kind of extends in the back, the upper lobe and the middle lobe. It's the smallest part of the right lung, but that's where his nodule was," Nuthakki said.
Surgeons removed Kent's middle lobe on the right side. He went home the next day cancer-free, and chemotherapy and radiation were not required.
No symptoms
Kent’s wife, Kathy, said it’s amazing that he felt fine and never had a symptom or a sign of an issue until he had the scan.
"It's been a miracle. I can't express how much you should do the early detection if you qualify, or if you don't qualify, find a way and do the early detection. It helps everybody — it helps the patient, it helps the family," Kathy said.
Making memories
Kent and his family are grateful for more time to make memories, and it's what they want for you, too.
Get screened
If you'd like to learn more, the low-dose CT lung scan is recommended for longtime former or current smokers who are at least 50 years old.
The screening is available at Ascension St. Vincent locations around central Indiana for Check Up 13. Learn more and see if you qualify here.