Why Showing Up for Your Annual Lung Screening Could Be the Best Decision You Ever Make

When Sharon Powel’s doctor told her she would benefit from yearly lung cancer screenings, she didn’t hesitate.

“I’ve always been honest about my smoking – how much and how long,” she said. “For me, it’s no different than going in for a mammogram.” She began undergoing annual screening with the Decatur Memorial Hospital Lung Cancer Screening Program.

But her diagnosis, five years later, still came as a surprise. While she wasn’t experiencing any symptoms, a spot on her lung that her care team had been watching for several years suddenly grew in size.

“Of course that word is scary,” she said. “Cancer is petrifying.”

But for Sharon, it was even scarier to think about what would’ve happened if she had never gone in for screening – if her cancer hadn’t been detected until symptoms developed.

“I would’ve been fighting for my life.”

Early Detection

Thanks to her commitment to annual screenings, Sharon’s cancer was discovered at a very early stage. In February 2026, she underwent successful surgery to remove the tumor at the bottom of the left lobe of her lung. While she will continue to get a lung scan every few months to make sure the cancer is gone completely, her doctors are optimistic.

Lung cancer screening is completed using low-dose computed tomography, a technique that uses a very low dose of radiation to create images of the lungs. The test takes about 30 seconds, is painless and requires no prep.

It’s important to get the screening annually so the care team can monitor areas of concern.

“Sharon came every single year, so we were able to catch her cancer early,” said Jeri Ann Higgins, supervisor, medical imaging services.

The DMH team performs more than 1,400 lung cancer screenings each year. Jeri Ann said that while fear can be a factor that keeps people who qualify from getting screened, her team works to keep anxiety at a minimum by offering same-day results.

Sharon has high praise for the team at DMH and their ability to help patients understand the screening process. “You’re in good hands with that group,” she said. “They’re there for one purpose, and that’s to help you stay well.”

A Great Outcome

Sharon is gradually working to rebuild her stamina after her cancer surgery, but she feels lucky to have had a relatively simple recovery.

The 65-year-old retiree enjoys spending time with her 8-month-old grandson and volunteering with Macon Resources to support people with intellectual disabilities.

She encourages everyone at risk for lung cancer to get a yearly screening.

“The biggest thing for me is that I’m alive today,” she said. “My family didn’t have to watch me take those treatments. I can wake up every day and know, yes, it may come back someday, but right now, it’s gone.

“They caught it early and were able to totally remove it. And I’m able to have my days back, just like they were before.”

Is Screening Right for You?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend screening every year for people who meet all the following criteria:

• Are between 50 and 80 years old
• Currently smoke or quit smoking within the past 15 years
• Have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history
• A pack-year means smoking, on average, one pack of cigarettes a day for one year. Someone with a 20 pack-year history could’ve smoked one pack a day for 20 years, or two packs a day for 10 years.

A physician referral is required for lung cancer screening. You can talk to your primary care physician or a specialist you see regularly. If you meet the guidelines above, the screening is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurers.