HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — A man from Arkansas is courageously sharing his experience after being diagnosed with two distinct forms of cancer at the same time.

Jimmie Carpenter had been aware of his enlarged prostate and diligently attended routine screenings every year. However, during one of these check-ups, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, prompting further examinations.

What Carpenter didn’t anticipate was that these tests would uncover an even more alarming issue: a spot on his lung. This discovery was particularly surprising given that Carpenter had been symptom-free.

“The most shocking part was the stereotype that smoking leads to lung cancer,” he remarked. “I’ve never smoked in my entire life, so it’s just one of those unpredictable things—perhaps genetic or environmental. It’s hard to say.”

His oncologist in Hot Springs referred Jimmie to a Thoracic Surgeon at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute in Little Rock. Dr. Nicholas Tenquist met with Jimmie, and together they developed a plan to treat what was fortunately an early-stage lung cancer. 

Dr. Tenquist said lung cancer treatments have come a long way in recent years, with some patients able to go on and live full lives.  

“We’re able to operate on things that we would never have thought possible before and totally cure some of these conditions. Fortunately, for him, it was an early stage, and we felt very confident we could treat it,” he explained.

Jimmie chose to have Dr. Tenquist remove the cancer by removing an entire lobe of Jimmie’s left lung. While it’s a major surgery, after only five days in the hospital, Jimmie, with his wife Linda, walked out and began his recovery with daily exercise.  

“Just walked out, no pain, no sickness. The only thing he wanted me to do was walk every day to build up my capacity,” he said. 

Today, both his prostate and lung cancers have been treated. Carpenter credits early detection, his UAMS care team, and above all, his wife of nearly 61 years for standing by his side.

“She’s been supportive the whole time. I couldn’t have asked for anymore,” he said. “Whatever she thought I needed, whether I needed it or not, she took care of it”. 

Jimmie has a message to share with anyone facing a new cancer diagnosis, just like he did.

“I’d just like people to know that if you’re diagnosed with cancer, it’s not the end of the world. With medicine and technology, it’s phenomenal,” he added. 

Dr. Tenquist also said that lung cancer screenings are much more effective than in years past. He believes that anyone between 50 to 80 years old, who smoked for 20 years or has quit within the last 15, is eligible for an insurance-covered low-dose CT scan.