Part 3/9:
The story of Doug provides a human face to these medical challenges. A lifelong smoker for approximately 55 years, Doug quit smoking in January after a lung nodule was discovered via a routine CT scan. While initial attempts to biopsy the nodule were inconclusive, the prospect of surgical removal—a procedure called open thoracotomy—loomed. Doug was understandably hesitant about such an invasive surgery, which would have required cutting between his ribs and could have resulted in prolonged pain and recovery.