November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
Sentara Healthcare is encouraging eligible patients to talk to their providers about being screened.
Imagine sitting in a doctor’s office and being told you have lung cancer. Back in the 90s, a Chesapeake man had this exact conversation with his doctor, resulting in him having his lung removed.
“I was a smoker. Usually, that is the first question people ask when I tell them I had lung cancer,” said Michael McColgan. “I smoked for 20 years I was having 3 packs a day,”
Years ago, McColgan said smoking was a way of life. He says it was advertised often on TV, considered a relaxer and even used by celebrities.
“It was promoted by everyone, by society. I went into the army and had cigarettes in my rations,” said McColgan.
One day, a pain in his chest encouraged him to quit.
“I got a stabbing pain in my chest and I ignored it and I took a couple more steps and it dropped me to my knee,” said McColgan.
Mccolgan says he smoked his last cigarette that day, but unfortunately, the damage had already been done.