Jeff Peterson is thankful he chose to do a routine lung cancer screening in January 2022.
Peterson, then 62, scheduled a low-dose CT scan of his lungs based on the recommendation of his primary care doctor. Though he felt fine and had no breathing issues, his doctor suggested it based on his 47-year smoking habit.
Peterson, of Harvard, Illinois, did not expect that scan to lead to an early-stage lung cancer diagnosis.
“I didn’t feel bad, I didn’t feel sick,” he said. “I’m thinking in the back of my mind, like this can’t really be that big of a deal, because I don’t feel anything. And I know lung cancer is very serious.”
Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends regular lung screening for adults age 50 and older who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for at least 20 years, or who smoked two packs a day for at least 10 years. This recommendation includes those who are still smoking, or who have quit within the past 15 years.
About a week after his diagnosis, Peterson started care at UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center in February 2022. Peterson and his wife were surprised and relieved by the thoroughness of their first visit, which included a reassuring meeting with now-retired UW Health cardiothoracic surgeon Malcolm DeCamp. He said Peterson was a good candidate for surgery to remove the tumor.
“We spent a couple of hours with him, and compared to any other hospital setting, it was so relaxed, it was thorough, it wasn’t rushed. It really made you feel comfortable,” he said.
Peterson had that surgery on March 14, 2022, and it went well. However, there was a new change in his cancer care plan: a biopsy of the removed tumor showed that Peterson was incorrectly diagnosed by the previous health center. He actually had a more aggressive subtype called small cell lung cancer, so he would also have to receive chemotherapy treatments.
“That kind of took me by shock,” he said of the corrected diagnosis. “I wasn’t expecting to do chemo, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Peterson started chemotherapy in May 2022, doing three days of treatments with three weeks of break in between each cycle. While he felt well during most of his treatments, he did experience some brain fog that led to a break from his custom cabinet and countertop business. He appreciated the kindness and support of his care team during chemotherapy, especially nurse practitioner Carissa Dolens.
“I always looked forward to seeing her,” he said of Dolens. “She is wonderful and on top of everything.”
Peterson has had no evidence of new cancer growth since completing treatments. Once a year, he sees Dr. Toby Campbell, lung medical oncologist at Carbone Cancer Center and professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, for monitoring.
Peterson retired in November 2022 and likes staying busy outdoors. He takes pride in his large garden, growing many different vegetables and squash to share fresh and to can. He grows so much that he also donates to local food pantries.
“I love gardening and it’s rewarding to me that I could give back and spread some of that good to other people,” he said.