Woman credits cancer study with saving life

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

Real estate agent Judy Gervin believes that signing up locally for a national lung cancer study saved her life by detecting the disease in its early stages.

Gervin, 56, had smoked for nearly 40 years when she decided to volunteer for the National Lung Screening Trial in April. She went through the orientation and got a spiral CT (computerized tomography) scan on May 27 that showed she had lung cancer.

On July 25, she had surgery to remove part of her lung because of small-cell cancer. She said she was able to go back to work this week.

Researchers are looking for men and women between the ages of 55 and 74 who are smokers or former smokers who have quit within the past 15 years, were heavy smokers and/or longtime smokers, are not taking part in any other cancer screening and have never been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The study is taking place at 30 sites nationwide, including the Pacific Health Research Institute in collaboration with Straub Clinic and Hospital/Hawai'i Pacific Health.

Gervin, who lives in Hawai'i Kai, said she had earlier battled breast cancer and felt that the lung study offered her the opportunity to find out early if she had a problem

"I am here today because of the study," Gervin said. "I have a whole new lease on life."

Vicki Jenkins serves as coordinator for the study in Hawai'i. She said 1,313 people have signed up of the 3,600 that they hope to attract.

Jenkins said the study offers participants a chance to get either a chest X-ray or a spiral CT scan to help detect lung cancer in smokers or former smokers.

Jenkins said so far they have signed up more men than women and more people closer to age 55 than 74. Researchers are especially hopeful that Hawai'i will be able to sign up the entire targeted number because of the state's varied ethnic mix. The study will recruit for the first two years and will reach the halfway point in September.

Jenkins said the study offers participants a chance to have their health followed closely for seven years. But she understands that some people may be nervous about what the study might find. "I think that it takes a lot of courage for anyone to sign up for it," she said.

The study is designed to reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer by screening people at risk before they show symptoms of the disease.

Those who take part will receive the free screenings for three years. Anyone interested can call 522-4760.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.