Lung cancer screenings save lives. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the United States. In South Carolina, almost 3,000 people die from the disease each year. But it's also one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers. A simple screening - a painless, low-dose CT scan - can detect the disease early, often while it is still treatable. Those who detect lung cancer early have a 60% improved likelihood of survival over those who start treatment after the disease has spread. 

Since smoking is linked to 80-90% of all lung cancers, the most effective way to prevent lung cancer is to never start smoking or to immediately quit if you currently smoke. If you're a current or former smoker over age 50, you could be at higher risk for the disease. Know early. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and insurance coverage. Use the links below to find a screening location near you.

Know Early - Be Our Ally 

To make sharing this message easy for you, we've put together a Lung Cancer Screening Awareness Kit with all the materials you need to tell those at high-risk for lung cancer how to detect the disease early.

Download the Know Early Electronic Toolkit

 

Order Campaign Materials

   

Locate a Screening Center in South Carolina
  • American College of Radiology Accredited Facilities: Use the search form on the American College of Radiology Accredited Facilities' website to locate a lung cancer screening center near you. For Modality, select "computed tomography." For Designation, select "Lung Cancer Screening Center."
  • Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Centers of Excellence: To find a lung cancer screening center near you, please visit the Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Centers of Excellence's website and select the state in which you wish to receive the screening.

 

National Resources
  • The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable: The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (NLCRT) is a consortium of public, private, and voluntary organizations that work together to fight lung cancer by engaging in research and projects that no one organization can take on alone.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: More people in the United States die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and what you can do to reduce your risk of lung cancer.
  • American Cancer Society: Learn about the three main types of lung cancer. You can also get more information on the risk factors and prevention of lung cancer.
  • Lung Cancer Alliance: Why should I consider screening for lung cancer? What are the benefits of lung cancer screening? What are the risks of lung cancer screening? Find the answers to these questions and more.
  • The United States Preventative Services Task Force: The United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends that adults between 55 and 80 years old who are at high risk for lung cancer because they are current heavy smokers or have quit within the past 15 years should be screened every year with a test called low-dose CT.
  • Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan: The University of Michigan gives easy-to-understand information about the positives and potential negatives of lung cancer screening and allows individuals to calculate their risk of lung cancer.
  • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: If you have smoked for many years, you may want to think about screening for lung cancer with low-dose CT. This decision aid will help prepare you to talk with your health care provider about whether lung cancer screening is right for you. 
  • Is Lung Cancer Screening Covered Under Your Insurance?: Select which insurance category fits your situation to determine if you qualify for coverage with lung cancer screening.

 

Local Resources
  • South Carolina Tobacco Quitline: The Quitline is a tobacco cessation service, free to any SC resident. Quit Coaches are available to talk to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to speak with a Quit Coach or learn more.
  • American Lung Association – South Carolina: The American Lung Association is dedicated to defeating lung cancer and providing support and education to individuals with lung cancer. Find an in-person support group nearby or connect with an online support community. Talk with an expert online or over the phone. Take a course to help you stop smoking.