DHEC celebrates annual event to help smokers quit, get lungs screened

Nov. 18—South Carolina's top health agency is locally celebrating a national holiday to help smokers across the state kick the habit.

In honor of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout on Nov. 18, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control is amplifying education and awareness about lung cancer screening and free support for smoking cessation available from the SC Tobacco Quitline.

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of lung cancer and emphysema, as well as one of the leading causes of premature death, according to the ACS.

During the national GASO recognition, DHEC encourages residents to learn how stopping smoking can help prevent lung cancer and other diseases and how low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screenings can help identify lung cancer in its early stages.

"GASO takes place in November, which is also Lung Cancer Awareness Month," said Michael Dickey, director of DHEC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. "These two things go hand in hand. With health insurance coverage for LDCT lung cancer screening and for tobacco cessation from both private and public health insurers, South Carolinians have a better chance for a better life."

Lung cancer can be caught early with LDCT lung cancer screening, and if lung cancer is caught early or before it spreads, the likelihood of surviving five years or more improves to 59%, according to the American Lung Association.

LDCT lung cancer screening is covered by all private health insurance plans, and members of South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid also are covered for annual LDCT lung cancer screening.

Free support is available 24/7 to all South Carolinians from expert coaches at the SC Tobacco Quitline at 800-QUIT-NOW.

In addition to the free support from the SC Tobacco Quitline, South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid members have an expanded cessation benefit that covers all seven FDA-approved cessation therapies with no copay or prior authorization required.

Learn more about free quit support at quitnowsc.org. Visit the CDC website to learn more about LDCT lung cancer screening.

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