Cancer doesn't wait
A lung cancer screening helped Phil Mahaffey catch his cancer early.
Phil Mahaffey, 67, had a cough about six years ago that wouldn’t go away. But the retired Naval chief petty officer and postal service employee wanted to enjoy his retirement by golfing more, not worrying about his health.
Mahaffey was a smoker, but he had quit years before, so he assumed the cough had to do with sinus issues. His wife Sharon, a retired nurse who spent time working in oncology, was the one who encouraged him to go to the doctor and get the cough checked out, both for his peace of mind and for hers.
Mahaffey’s primary care physician recommended he get a low-dose CT lung cancer screening, which is often covered by insurance and is intended for current or former smokers who have quit within the last 15 years. The screening revealed a small spot on his lung that was probably causing the cough. His physician suggested they continue to monitor it every six months to see if it grew or changed.
A few years later, when the spot grew slightly denser, Mahaffey’s physician suggested he go to Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center to get a biopsy. That’s when he found out he had early-stage lung cancer.
“You never want to hear that,” Mahaffey said. “I thought, ‘Is this really happening to me?’”
Mahaffey met with Bill Putnam, MD, thoracic surgeon and medical director of Baptist MD Anderson. Dr. Putnam suggested surgery to remove the cancerous nodule and was confident Mahaffey would not require chemotherapy or radiation afterward. The surgery took place on August 26, 2019, and followed Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, which are used to build strength before surgery and help the patient recover faster after surgery. The ERAS protocols focus on patients to improve post-surgery comfort, reduce or eliminate the need for heavy narcotics (opioids), and minimize the time in the hospital.
Ever a Navy man, Mahaffey followed his care team’s directions to a T and only spent three nights in the hospital.
Mahaffey had just one big question after the surgery was over: When would he be able to golf again?
One week after surgery, he was on the driving range. A month after, he was playing on the course. Two months following the surgery, he was walking 18 holes.
“He’s the same Phil, just cancer-free,” Sharon Mahaffey said.
Dr. Putnam says the lesson of Phil’s story is that early detection is critical.
“When you identify lung cancer in its early stages, it can be very treatable and curable,” Dr. Putnam said. “Lung cancer screenings can save your life.”
If you are interested in learning more about lung cancer screenings or setting up an appointment with your primary care physician, please visit baptistjax.com/lungscreening for more information about eligibility requirements.
