Despoina’s story: lung cancer screening for peace of mind
Despoina is a health visitor from a village in Heraklion, Crete, and works at the University Hospital of Heraklion. She smoked around a pack of cigarettes a day for 42 years, finding it incredibly hard to quit on her own. When Despoina saw posters about the SOLACE lung cancer screening programme displayed at the hospital where she works, she decided to find out more.
Despoina read leaflets about the programme and spoke to two or three colleagues who were already taking part. She had positive thoughts about joining, but also felt some concern – she had been a smoker for many years and had never had any check-ups. She worried about whether the process would be difficult and about what the results might show.
Watch as Despoina shares her story in her own words.
Watch with English subtitles:
Watch with Greek subtitles:
A simple and supportive process
From the start, Despoina found the team friendly and helpful. The secretary arranged her appointments, and the first was with Mrs Lampiri, the pulmonologist, who explained the tests and the procedure. On the same day, Despoina had a spirometry test and was told her results immediately.
Her next appointment was for a chest CT scan, and about three weeks later, she returned to the doctor to discuss the results. Despoina said the procedures were simple, everything was clearly explained, and she was kept informed at every step.
Despoina’s results, relief and reflections
Despoina says the wait for her CT scan results felt intense. Fortunately, the news was good: her scan was negative for cancer; the scan showed signs of osteoporosis, which she was advised to have checked.
Looking back, Despoina believes joining the programme was the right choice. She describes it as well-structured and says it helped her do something she had wanted to do for a long time but had never got around to. She has no regrets about taking part.
To anyone thinking about lung cancer screening, Despoina’s message is clear: attend the programme and have the tests without hesitation. The process is simple, painless and straightforward, and a valuable way to check on the health of your lungs.
Learn more about:
- What lung cancer screening is
- Who lung cancer screening is for
- The process for lung cancer screening
- Myths about lung cancer screening – busted
