They're the numbers no one wants to hear, but important just the same: Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer among men and women.

In Illinois, there will be an estimated 7,220 new cases diagnosed this year. Nearly 7,000 of those patients will die from the disease.

In Iowa, it's estimated 1,790 new cases will be diagnosed, with 1,700 of those people dying from lung cancer.

Unlike other cancers, there is no early detection recommended for those at high risk.

But that could change.

Genesis Medical Center is working with University of Iowa Hospitals on the National Cancer Institute's study on lung cancer screening. It's the latest study to test the newest technology in early detection of the deadliest cancer.

Doctors hope it'll have different results than the X-ray screenings conducted in the 1970's. Those early studies determined X-ray as a diagnostic tool wasn't cost effective, and didn't save lives.

But Dr. Richard Sadler says it's a new day for technology, "But times change."

Dr. Richard Sadler is on the front lines of pushing for early screening for lung cancer.

"An early lung cancer, say a one less than an inch probably has a 70 to 80 percent chance of being cured," he says.

Cure isn't a word he throws around lightly. Especially when it comes to lung cancer.

"We also use in cancer the word cured. That's a very special word to the physicians. That means when I'm telling a person they're cured, they aren't going to die of this. It's over, they can put it behind them and move on with their life."

A concept that doesn't regularly resonate with those diagnosed with lung cancer. The American Cancer Society's 2005 statistics show there will be more than 172,000 new cases of lung cancer this year. More than 163,000 of those people will die from the disease.

The numbers aren't lost on David Christy. He smoked for more than 30 years, quitting more than 7 and-a-half years ago. Now, he faces his own cancer scare. A CT scan showed a mass in his lower right lung. As Dr. Sadler goes over surgical options with him, David thinks back to his mother's losing battle with the disease.

"She had a real tough go at it. Cancer had metastasized to her brain and her bones and it was really, really tough," says David.

It's a tough fight David hopes to help others avoid by sharing his story.

"If one person will take notice, stop smoking, have a CT scan done if they've been smoking for awhile and check up on things. If it'll help one person, then it is well worth it," says David.

David allowed us into the operating room as Dr. Sadler prepared to remove the mass in David's lung. First a small piece is removed for testing. Then a surprise announcement.

"It's not cancer."

"That's it folks."

Good news for David and his family.

But still driving home the point for Dr. Sadler, early detection and screening can save lives.

"We're going to have to stop the madness someday. There's no reason to allow people to die of cancer when it's curable," says Dr. Sadler.

Since a CT scan as a screening tool is in it's infancy, there are a lot of questions about who should be screened, how often, what's involved and how much it costs.

One last statistic for you: Survival from all cancer is up to 64 percent from 1995 to 2000, compared to the 50 percent survival rate from 1974 to 1976. The American Cancer Society says the increase is due to early detection.