Lung Cancer Care
Not including skin cancer, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and women. With new lifesaving screening and treatment options, Beaufort Memorial is committed to ending that trend in the Lowcountry communities we serve.
Beaufort Memorial has earned national recognition as a Lung Cancer Screening Center of Excellence by the Lung Cancer Alliance for offering advanced low-dose CT lung screening, the most effective early detection tool for lung cancer, right here at home.
Call 843-522-5015 today to learn more about low-dose CT lung screening at our cancer centers in Beaufort and Okatie, as well as our imaging center on Hilton Head Island.
Types of Lung Cancer
Lung cancer occurs when cancerous cells grow out of control and damage healthy lung tissue. The two main types of lung cancer are non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is much more common, grows more slowly and is more likely to be found before it spreads. SCLC progresses quickly and is likely to spread beyond the lungs.
Lung Cancer Symptoms
What makes this disease especially dangerous is that signs of lung cancer often don’t appear until the disease has reached advanced stages.
If you do experience symptoms, they are likely to include:
- Chest pain that worsens with breathing, laughing or coughing
- Chronic bronchitis or pneumonia
- Chronic fatigue
- Coughing that gets worse and won’t go away
- Coughing up blood
- Hoarseness
- Shortness of breath
- Weight loss with no known cause
- Wheezing
Early Lung Cancer Detection Saves Lives
Beaufort Memorial is proud to offer low-dose CT lung cancer screening, a groundbreaking tool to detect lung cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. Advanced lung cancer is typically harder to treat, and patients have fewer treatment options.
Compared with traditional chest X-ray, this innovative screening is four times more likely to detect a cancerous tumor, and it is fast, safe and painless. The screening is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans, so there’s no reason to put off this potentially lifesaving test.
If you are between ages 50 and 80, have a history of heavy smoking and meet additional screening criteria, don’t wait another day — ask your doctor if you need a low-dose CT lung cancer screening. A physician referral is required.
Need a primary care provider who can refer you for a lung ? These primary care providers are accepting new patients.
Lung Cancer Prevention: Support to Quit Smoking for Good
Cigarette smoke is the leading risk factor for lung cancer. Smoking causes about 80% to 90% of all lung cancer deaths in the United States.
Beaufort Memorial is committed to helping you kick the habit once and for all. Learn about the smoking cessation resources we offer, and get the support you need to succeed.
A family history of lung cancer, exposure to radon (a radioactive gas emitted by rocks and dirt that can build up in homes) and exposure to other occupational substances can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer, even if you do not smoke. The board-certified primary care providers at Beaufort Memorial can help you assess your risk and determine when and whether testing for this disease is necessary.
Lung Cancer Treatment at Beaufort Memorial
Many lung abnormalities found on low-dose CT lung screenings are benign. But if you are diagnosed with cancer, rest assured you have some of the Lowcountry’s best experts and a variety of treatment options available to you. Our team will help coordinate a fully personalized treatment plan that may include surgery, radiation therapy and other advanced modalities. We also work to find the best specialists to meet your needs.