Lung cancer is the third most common cancer and the primary cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the United States. That’s why the MUSC Health Lung Cancer Screening Program, in partnership with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, offers lung screening to determine if you’re at risk and, if so, help increase your chance of survival through early detection.
Why is lung screening important?
Often lung cancer has few to no symptoms until it has spread to other parts of the body. When detected early, however, the disease is more treatable. Our program offers lung screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for high-risk adults, which has been shown by the National Lung Screening Trial to decrease their risk of dying from lung cancer. Based on recent research, you should be screened annually for as long as you meet the screening criteria. For more information about lung cancer and the treatments we offer, visit our lung cancer page.
Who should be screened for lung cancer?
You should consider getting screened for lung cancer if you have all three of these risk factors:
- 50 to 80 years old (up to 77 years old for Medicare coverage) and
- Have a 20 pack-year history of smoking (this means one pack a day for 20 years, two packs a day for ten years, etc.) and
- Are a current smoker, or have quit within the last 15 years.
Not everyone who meets the initial criteria will be eligible for screening. Our team will work with each patient to weigh the risks and benefits of screening and help determine if screening is right for each individual patient.
How is screening done?
- Your lung cancer screening appointment should take about 30 minutes to an hour and is painless.
- Screening is done using a low-dose spiral CT (LDCT) scan. This LDCT scan creates a detailed picture of your lungs.
- You’ll go to MUSC Health Radiology (X-ray) for your LDCT scan. You’ll lie on a table and raise your arms above your head. Then the table will slide into the scanner. You’ll be asked to hold your breath for about 20 seconds during the scan.
- One of our program’s dedicated thoracic radiologists will read and interpret the screening CTs.
- Afterward, the test results will be sent to your physician for follow-up, and you will be contacted with the results as well.
What is the cost?
Medicare and most private insurance plans typically offer coverage for those who qualify.
Schedule a screening
Your doctor may refer you for screening, or you may refer yourself for a consultation:
843-792-9300 (Charleston, Barnwell, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Orangeburg, West Ashley and surrounding areas)
803-416-5470 (Chester, Lancaster and surrounding areas)
843-673-7529 (Florence, Marion, Cades and surrounding areas)
803-409-7030 (Camden, Columbia, Lugoff and surrounding areas)
Lung treatment & services
Your lung cancer screening coordinator will explain the evaluation process, which includes smoking cessation counseling if you smoke. You may also be referred to clinical trials that are appropriate for your concerns or your condition. Additional services available to you include:
- MUSC Hollings Cancer Center Lung and Thoracic Cancer Program – Our experts specialize in the latest treatments for lung cancer, esophageal cancer and Barrett’s Esophagus, chest wall tumors, and mediastinal tumors.
- MUSC Health Tobacco Treatment Program – Avoiding cigarettes is the most important thing you can do to lower your chance of dying from a variety of diseases, not just lung cancer. We provide support for patients interested in quitting smoking, including educational resources.
- Clinical Trials – As the state’s only NCI-designated cancer center, Hollings offers patients groundbreaking treatment options and the latest clinical trials.
- Patient and Family Resources – Our care extends beyond the scope of medical services to resources that support our patients and their families in all areas of life.
Our Team
- Benjamin A. Toll, Ph.D., Co-Director Lung Cancer Screening Program, Tobacco Treatment
- Nichole T. Tanner, M.D., MSCR, Co-Director Lung Cancer Screening Program, Pulmonary Medicine
- Gerard Silvestri, MD, MS, Director of Statewide Lung Cancer Screening, Pulmonary Medicine
- Claudia Miller, RN, Lung & Thoracic Cancer Nurse Navigator
- Cassie Frazier, DNP, APRN, Lung Cancer Screening and Pulmonary Nodule Coordinator
- Alexandria Ingram, FNP, MSN, Nurse Practitioner (Lancaster/Chester)
- Whitney Johnson, NP, Nurse Practitioner (Florence, Marion and Cades)
- Chasity McCray, FNP, Nurse Practitioner (Columbia)
- Wesley Nobles, ADN, BSN, MSN, FNP, Nurse Practitioner (Florence, Marion and Cades)
- D'Shonda Edmondson, Program Assistant
Lung cancer screening and clinical consultations are conveniently located at various MUSC Health locations, including Charleston, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, North Charleston, Orangeburg, Chester, Columbia, Florence, Lancaster, Lexington, Lugoff, Cades, Barnwell and Mullins.
