Hidden Danger in Persistent Cough: LDCT Detects Early Lung Cancer in Woman
A 56-year-old woman with a chronic cough was diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer via an LDCT scan at Daqian General Hospital. Doctors urge high-risk groups to utilize state-funded screenings.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 14:18
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 14:31 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 22:03 (7h 31m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Kuan Jui-ping, Miaoli County, 22nd) A 56-year-old woman in Miaoli County whose chronic cough showed no signs of improvement sought medical help. A low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan revealed early-stage lung cancer, and she is recovering well after minimally invasive surgery. Doctors advise high-risk groups to take advantage of the state-funded LDCT screening provided by the government every two years.
Daqian General Hospital issued a press release today pointing out that lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths in Taiwan for years. Its insidious nature often makes it hard to guard against because early lung cancer lacks typical symptoms, sometimes causing no discomfort at all. Many patients only seek help when they experience chest pain, breathing difficulties, or weight loss, by which time the disease has often progressed to mid or late stages. A standard chest X-ray is a basic check but has limited capability in detecting tiny nodules.
Hsieh Wei-chung, Deputy Superintendent of Medical Affairs and Chest Medicine Physician at Daqian Hospital, shared the clinical case. The woman, a non-smoker, sought treatment for a chronic cough lasting three months. Initial X-rays showed no abnormalities, but considering her significant family history—her eldest sister had lung cancer, her second brother had nasopharyngeal cancer, and her second sister had breast cancer—the doctor arranged a state-funded LDCT scan.
The results found a lung lesion of about 0.65 cm. A follow-up six months later showed no significant change, but a third follow-up another six months later revealed the lesion had grown to 0.85 cm.
Hsieh stated that after evaluation, the patient underwent minimally invasive chest surgery to remove it. Pathology reports confirmed it was a stage IA micro-invasive adenocarcinoma in the upper right lung. Because it was discovered early, surgical removal achieved a curative effect without the need for subsequent targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy/radiotherapy. The woman has now returned to a normal life and only needs regular outpatient follow-ups.
Hsieh pointed out that LDCT does not require contrast agents, has a short examination time, and uses a low radiation dose, enabling clearer detection of minute lung lesions. The purpose of screening is for high-risk groups to discover problems earlier, not to create panic.
Doctors remind the public that the government currently provides a state-funded LDCT screening every two years for high-risk groups, including those with a family history of lung cancer and heavy smokers. People in these groups, or those experiencing warning signs like persistent cough, breathing issues, chest pain, or abnormal weight loss, should seek professional medical evaluation promptly and use precise screening to seize the golden time for treatment. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150422
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(CNA Reporter Kuan Jui-ping, Miaoli County, 22nd) A 56-year-old woman in Miaoli County whose chronic cough showed no signs of improvement sought medical help. A low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan revealed early-stage lung cancer, and she is recovering well after minimally invasive surgery. Doctors advise high-risk groups to take advantage of the state-funded LDCT screening provided by the government every two years.
Daqian General Hospital issued a press release today pointing out that lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths in Taiwan for years. Its insidious nature often makes it hard to guard against because early lung cancer lacks typical symptoms, sometimes causing no discomfort at all. Many patients only seek help when they experience chest pain, breathing difficulties, or weight loss, by which time the disease has often progressed to mid or late stages. A standard chest X-ray is a basic check but has limited capability in detecting tiny nodules.
Hsieh Wei-chung, Deputy Superintendent of Medical Affairs and Chest Medicine Physician at Daqian Hospital, shared the clinical case. The woman, a non-smoker, sought treatment for a chronic cough lasting three months. Initial X-rays showed no abnormalities, but considering her significant family history—her eldest sister had lung cancer, her second brother had nasopharyngeal cancer, and her second sister had breast cancer—the doctor arranged a state-funded LDCT scan.
The results found a lung lesion of about 0.65 cm. A follow-up six months later showed no significant change, but a third follow-up another six months later revealed the lesion had grown to 0.85 cm.
Hsieh stated that after evaluation, the patient underwent minimally invasive chest surgery to remove it. Pathology reports confirmed it was a stage IA micro-invasive adenocarcinoma in the upper right lung. Because it was discovered early, surgical removal achieved a curative effect without the need for subsequent targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy/radiotherapy. The woman has now returned to a normal life and only needs regular outpatient follow-ups.
Hsieh pointed out that LDCT does not require contrast agents, has a short examination time, and uses a low radiation dose, enabling clearer detection of minute lung lesions. The purpose of screening is for high-risk groups to discover problems earlier, not to create panic.
Doctors remind the public that the government currently provides a state-funded LDCT screening every two years for high-risk groups, including those with a family history of lung cancer and heavy smokers. People in these groups, or those experiencing warning signs like persistent cough, breathing issues, chest pain, or abnormal weight loss, should seek professional medical evaluation promptly and use precise screening to seize the golden time for treatment. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150422
Stand with the facts; every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First Hand News' APP for immediate updates.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.