Lung Cancer Initiative launches Screening Saves program to increase access to lung cancer screenings and save lives
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and Lung Cancer Initiative is mobilizing the healthcare community to raise awareness and prioritize lung screenings for North Carolinians.
RALEIGH, N.C. (November 19, 2024) – Lung Cancer Initiative (LCI), in cooperation with a statewide consortium of leaders and healthcare organizations, today announced the launch of Screening Saves, a comprehensive program to raise awareness and increase access to lung screenings across North Carolina. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and data from the American Lung Association show that only 17.2% of North Carolina residents at high risk get screened for lung cancer. The Screening Saves program aims to save lives by mobilizing a statewide network of healthcare providers dedicated to increasing yearly lung screenings among eligible residents.
“Lung Cancer Initiative is uniting healthcare screening navigators and their programs to share best practices and prioritize access to lung screenings,” said Paige Humble, chief executive officer of Lung Cancer Initiative. “This vital program is designed to leverage the outstanding network of care providers we have in North Carolina and to support screening centers in remote regions.”
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., accounting for one in five of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer takes as many lives as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers each year.
“Early detection before lung cancer spreads to other parts of the body is key to saving lives. If lung cancer is caught at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is five times higher,” said Dr. Aundrea Oliver, LCI board member, thoracic surgeon and assistant professor at ECU Health, and co-chair of the Screening Saves program.
An important goal of Screening Saves is to support lung screening centers and their referring primary care providers in efforts to prioritize referrals for eligible North Carolina residents. The program also aims to increase awareness among residents to compel those at high-risk to inquire about and follow through with getting screened for lung cancer on a yearly basis. Screening Saves is made possible through independent grants from Merck & Co., Inc., Eli Lilly & Company, AstraZeneca, and other healthcare organizations.
Who is eligible for screening? The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends an annual lung screening for people ages 50 to 80 years-old who smoke or have quit within the past 15 years, and who have a 20 pack-year smoking history. One pack-year is equal to smoking a pack per day for a year, or two packs per day for 10 years.
Lung Cancer Initiative has created a Screening Navigator Network made up of more than 50 lung screening centers. In tandem with this network, a Screening Saves pilot program will launch in 2025 in partnership with ECU Health. More information is available at: https://lungcancerinitiative.org/lung-cancer-screening-saves-lives/
About Lung Cancer Initiative
As a leading non-profit organization supporting lung cancer research and education, Lung Cancer Initiative specializes in connecting patients, survivors, and loved ones with the medical and research community. The organization’s mission is to advance survivorship and provide support to those affected by lung cancer through research, education, and access programs. LCI has funded more than $3.4 million in lung cancer research and assisted thousands of patients in accessing treatment and meeting their basic needs after a lung cancer diagnosis. For more information and to learn about ways to get involved, please visit: www.LungCancerInitiative.org.
Media Contact: Scott Misner, (919) 412-3886, smisner@misnercorp.com
LCI Contact: Paige Humble, CEO, Lung Cancer Initiative, (919) 784-0410, PHumble@LungCancerInitiative.org