Lee Hanson started smoking in 1965 during his freshman year of college. Now the Associate Vice-Chancellor for Development at Washington University in St. Louis, Hanson recalls how acceptable smoking was during that time.

"The cigarette companies gave away free cigarettes to all incoming freshman," Hanson recalls. "Smoking was acceptable, it was a sign of maturity and as a 17-year-old student I was going to do whatever was necessary to look mature."

Fast forward 40 years and smoking had taken its toll on Hanson''s health. After suffering from pneumonia in 2004, a persistent cough led to a CT scan that revealed lung cancer.

"The diagnosis was given to me by my primary care physician and it was all I could do to retain some semblance of sanity," recalls Hanson. " I went home and I was alone and devastated, I figured after smoking for 40 years that it had finally caught up with me and there was no hope."

Hanson''s primary care physician referred him to the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, where he met with Alec Patterson, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery.

"When I came to the Siteman Cancer Center and met with Dr. Patterson I immediately felt better," says Hanson. "He was very reassuring and very soothing."

Dr. Patterson removed the tumor and the surrounding lower and middle lobe of the affected lung and recommended a course of chemotherapy. Hanson turned to Siteman oncologist Ramaswamy Govindan, MD, who specializes in lung and chest cancers.

"Until a few years ago, chemotherapy wasn''t thought to extend life for people with lung cancer," says Dr. Govindan. "But recent studies show a benefit compared to those that do not receive chemotherapy. Mr. Hanson is a classic example and we hope he''ll be cancer free forever."

After a course of chemotherapy, Hanson is back at work and enjoying life. "It''s harder to breathe. It''s downright painful to cough, but it''s a constant reminder of what I do have left," says Hanson. "I consider myself very lucky to have caught it so early.

"There was never a question of going anywhere else, this is the best institution in the Midwest," says Hanson. "Everyone that I''ve met has demonstrated a level of professionalism and caring that was outstanding."