Maria’s story: lung cancer screening and early detection
Maria is 68 and lives in Athens, Greece. She was born in Corinth and has spent most of her life in the capital, where she works as a weaver. Like many people of her generation, Maria smoked for a long time – nearly 40 years in total. When Maria learned about the SOLACE lung cancer screening programme from the internet, she discussed it with her daughter and decided to join the programme.
What helped Maria was knowing that the screening would take place at Sotiria, a public hospital, and that she would not be judged for her smoking history. The programme is specifically designed for current and former smokers who are at higher risk of developing lung cancer.
That fear of being judged keeps many people from getting screened, even when they could benefit from early detection or simply peace of mind. Maria was eligible because she fits the profile of someone at higher risk – generally, that includes people aged 55 to 74 years who smoke now or have smoked heavily in the past, and who do not have any symptoms.
Watch Maria share her story in her own words; you can choose between English and Greek subtitles:
From screening to diagnosis and ongoing care
Maria’s journey began with an initial medical history interview, a lung check via spirometry, and then a low-dose CT scan. Maria had no symptoms, but the CT scan found a spot on her lungs that needed further testing. She had more tests, including a biopsy to confirm if the spot on her lung was cancerous, and then had surgery to remove it. Maria is now waiting for her final results to confirm if she is cancer-free.
Maria said the process was much easier than she expected, and that the staff made sure she felt looked after throughout. They explained everything clearly at each step, which helped her feel reassured. Without the programme, she says she would not have gone for a check-up. This means the issue with her lungs might not have been found and could have developed into something worse and harder to treat.
Looking back, Maria feels lucky to have taken part in the programme. She wants others to know there is nothing to be afraid of, and says not to wait until something feels wrong before taking action.
