Mega Doctor News
By Roberto Hugo González / Mega Doctor News
McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos hosted a televised discussion on lung cancer awareness with pulmonologist Juan P. Rey Mendoza and retired McAllen Police Lieutenant Joel Morales to encourage Rio Grande Valley residents to seek screening and recognize the risks of delayed diagnosis. Real Conversations is a program produced by the City of McAllen
Villalobos said lung cancer is a topic that deserves more public attention because many illnesses are associated with pain and visible symptoms, while others may develop unnoticed. “Our topic today is lung cancer, something that maybe needs to be talked about a little bit more,” Villalobos said.
Dr. Rey described lung cancer as a “silent disease” that is often diagnosed only after symptoms appear. He said patients frequently seek medical attention after developing a cough or shortness of breath, but early-stage disease may present no warning signs.
“Lung cancer screening basically is very important in the community of McAllen, a growing community,” Rey said. “Unfortunately, it’s a silent disease.”
Rey said screening is intended to identify lung cancer before symptoms emerge and emphasized the importance of early testing. He explained that primary care physicians can order low-dose CT scans for patients considered at risk, including individuals over age 50 with a history of smoking exposure.
“If they find any spots, they should be seen by a pulmonologist to assess the risk and the need or the lack of need for any procedure to get a final diagnosis,” Rey said.
Morales shared his personal experience as a lung cancer survivor, saying he initially dismissed a persistent cough as allergies or a cold and delayed seeking medical care.
“I had no real symptoms of any kind,” Morales said. “If it wasn’t for a cough, which unfortunately I dismissed as an allergy or a cold, I would have let it go. It wasn’t until later, when I did some testing, that I found out that I had lung cancer.”
Morales said his diagnosis was confirmed after medical screening and a biopsy, followed by treatment. He encouraged residents to seek medical evaluation if they notice health concerns rather than delaying care.
“If you feel anything, you should get checked out because I ignored that I should have gone to the doctor a lot sooner,” Morales said. “The earlier you catch it, the better it is.”
Rey said residents in the Rio Grande Valley have access to advanced diagnostic and treatment services locally. He noted that pulmonology services, low-dose screenings, biopsies, oncology care, and treatment options are available in McAllen without the need to travel outside the region.
“We have a team of oncologists who have state-of-the-art treatments, and the community needs to know it,” Rey said.
Villalobos concluded the discussion by encouraging residents to prioritize preventive health and consult a physician if they have concerns.
“If you feel anything, please go check yourself out, go to your primary physician, get a referral, do whatever you need to do, but RGV stay healthy,” Villalobos said.
