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Lung cancer ranks as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., taking more lives than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. According to the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial, heavy smokers can significantly reduce their chances of dying from lung cancer with an annual low-dose CT scan. McLeod urges past and current smokers to take advantage of this special program.
The American College of Radiology has designated McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Health Dillon, McLeod Health Cheraw, McLeod Health Clarendon, McLeod Health Loris, McLeod Health Carolina Forest, and McLeod Health Seacoast as Lung Cancer Screening Centers. The ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center designation is a voluntary program that recognizes facilities that have committed to practice safe, effective diagnostic care for individuals at the highest risk for lung cancer. McLeod Health has also received designation as a Care Continuum Center of Excellence by the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer. The designation recognizes a commitment to improving outcomes for those diagnosed with lung cancer by providing patient-focused and coordinated multidisciplinary care. The GO2 Foundation formed the Care Continuum Centers of Excellence program to enable patient access to standard of care lung cancer screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship in their local community.
For information on the lung cancer screening program, please call (843) 777-5953, or if you live in the Myrtle Beach area, call (843) 366-2220.
If you are a healthcare provider and would like to schedule your patient for a lung cancer screening:
As of 2021, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends lung cancer screenings for adults who:
Talk with your primary care physician if you’re interested in scheduling a Lung Cancer Screening.
Medicare and most private insurances cover the cost of the Low-Dose CT scan if you meet the eligibility criteria for a lung cancer screening. Ages covered by Medicare are 50 to 77; most private insurance will pay for those 50 to 80. Lung Cancer Screening Scholarships, funded by the McLeod Foundation’s McLeod Men’s group and McLeod Angels, are available for those who are uninsured and/or unable to pay for a Low-Dose CT Screening. For information on the lung cancer screening program, please call (843) 777-5953. If you live in the Myrtle Beach area, call (843) 366-2220.
Special ultrasounds for the throat and chest area, as well as stents and argon laser treatments, are new tools McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research uses for lung cancer patients. Other technology lung cancer patients benefit from include PET/CT scan, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), and molecular targeted therapy.
Thanks to the McLeod Lung Cancer Screening Program, Fred Ham was diagnosed with Stage I lung cancer after undergoing low-dose lung CT scans for five years at McLeod. To read the full story of how the McLeod team places the patient at the center of lung cancer care, click here.