Early Screening and Coordinated Care Help Lung Cancer Patient Return to Active Life
Mother, Active Walker and Lung Cancer Screening Patient
"My daughter was concerned about me and when she explained the testing, I thought it would probably be a good idea. I’m so glad I went through with it."
Mary Montini, office manager for a paving company, has always been active. Even though she was jogging/walking regularly and had no overt health issues, her daughter Kara, a physician assistant at MyMichigan Urgent Care Midland, was concerned about her overall health due to smoking. Kara told her mom about a low-dose CT scan available at MyMichigan Health that screens for lung cancer for those identified as high risk. Montini qualified and is grateful she agreed to the screening.
As a long-time smoker, Montini qualified for lung cancer screening in the spring of 2020. “I had no symptoms,” said Montini. “Regardless, my daughter was concerned about me and when she explained the testing, I thought it would probably be a good idea. I’m so glad I went through with it.”
Cigarette smoking is linked to at least 85 percent of all lung cancers. There is no risk-free level of cigarette exposure; individuals who quit smoking may still carry a higher risk of lung cancer compared to those who never smoked. As a result, the newest guidelines recommend yearly lung cancer screening for both current and former smokers between the ages of 50 and 80 years old. Screening using a low-dose CT scan of the chest has been shown to improve early detection and, most importantly, survival from lung cancer by 20 percent.
The screening CT was initially ordered for Montini by her primary provider Stacy Carstensen, M.S. N., C.F.N.P. The test had been on her mind for Montini, so she was happy to get involved. A suspicious nodule was detected in the left upper lung, which prompted referral on to Lung Health Navigator Abby Smith, P.A.-C.
Smith helped arrange additional testing followed by consultation with the MyMichigan Thoracic surgery team in Midland. The team then recommended a diagnostic biopsy procedure due to the significant concern for cancer.
“My biopsy was performed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Montini. “Visitors weren’t allowed at that time so no family could be with me. Staff in all areas were masked and I have to say, I felt worried and uncomfortable with no family around. But one of the surgical nurses from MyMichigan in Clare who knew my husband was so kind to me and put me at ease right away. She told me ‘someone you know is right here’.”
The biopsy revealed involvement by a stage I pulmonary adenocarcinoma which is a non-small cell lung cancer. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of lung cancer seen in the U.S. and is also the most frequently occurring type of lung cancer found in non-smokers, although a history of cigarette smoking exposure remains the strongest risk factor.
“Mrs. Montini was in very good health at the time of her diagnosis and felt to be an excellent surgical candidate,” said Smith. “The MyMichigan Thoracic surgery team was able to remove the entire tumor encased within the upper lobe of the affected lung. Fortunately, no additional radiation or chemotherapy was required after surgery. We believe screening detected her cancer in the earliest stage and allowed for the most effective treatment.”
“I can’t say enough about the excellent care I received from my surgical team,” said Montini. “They were honest, clear communicators and also very caring. I called often with questions and was never made to feel badly about reaching out for answers.”
Smith remembers Montini well. “We spent time on the telephone during the course of her care, and she was always very positive,” she said. “It is amazing to think of the impact her daughter Kara made by sharing her knowledge and expertise in the most loving way possible. As a mother and daughter team, Mary followed through on getting a low-dose CT screening, and we were able to catch her cancer early. This is a very inspiring story to me. We are grateful to know Mary and her family and it is wonderful to see how she still has a strong connection with all of the staff members within the thoracic surgery office."
Montini was last seen in the MyMichigan Thoracic Surgery office in Midland for her standard follow-up with Kari Malinowski, P.A.-C. in May of this year and received a great report. “I would tell any patient to believe what these experts tell you and to follow their instructions,” said Montini. “I did everything the team told me to do after surgery, and I am back to doing everything I could do before – maybe even a little more.”
Montini is smoke-free, back to exercising and enjoying visiting small towns throughout Michigan with her husband.
For more information about lung cancer signs, symptoms and risk factors or to schedule an appointment with the Lung Health Clinic in Midland, call (989) 488-5450 or, in Mt. Pleasant, call (989) 773-0623.
