Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health and Lung Cancer Initiative (LCI) are proud to announce a partnership to launch a pilot of the Screening Saves program in eastern North Carolina. This collaboration focuses on reducing lung cancer incidences by promoting awareness, education and increased accessibility to screenings for communities and health care providers across the region.
“We are honored to collaborate with Lung Cancer Initiative on this vital program,” said Phyllis DeAntonio, executive director, Cancer Service Line, ECU Health. “Together, we aim to engage our community and health care providers to break down barriers to lung cancer screening, ensuring better outcomes and healthier futures for the people of eastern North Carolina. This partnership represents a critical step in reducing lung cancer rates and improving health outcomes in the region.”
Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., accounting for one in five of all cancer deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. The incidence rate of lung cancer cases in North Carolina is much higher than the national rate at 62.9 per 100,000 compared to 53.6 per 100,000, according to the American Lung Association’s State of Lung Cancer 2024 report. While lung cancer rates are high in eastern North Carolina, over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate of lung cancer in North Carolina improved by 10 percent, which can partially be credited to an increase of lung screenings. ECU Health completed 5,274 low dose CT screenings in 2023 and 6,151 screenings in 2024.
“With lung cancer rates in eastern North Carolina surpassing state and national averages, expanding education and access to screenings is vital,” said Dr. Misbah Qadir, regional oncology medical director, ECU Health. “Early detection through programs like Screening Saves can significantly improve survival rates and empower our region to tackle this critical health challenge. By increasing the availability of low-dose CT screenings, we can detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, ensuring more timely and effective treatment for our community.”
Screening Saves is a state-wide initiative launched by Lung Cancer Initiative in 2024, which aims to raise awareness and leverage partnerships with health care providers like ECU Health to improve lung cancer screening rates through community engagement and health care provider education. The program is being piloted in eastern North Carolina to increase awareness among area residents who are at high risk. ECU Health and LCI will host community education events promoting lung screening awareness and educational sessions for primary care providers, along with additional community engagement events across eastern North Carolina.
“LCI and ECU Health share a common goal with Screening Saves—to expand access to lung cancer screenings and improve early detection rates in eastern North Carolina,” said Dr. Aundrea Oliver, thoracic surgeon and assistant professor at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, LCI board member and co-chair of the Screening Saves program. “We know early detection is crucial, as it significantly increases survival rates and allows for timely, effective treatment. Through this partnership, we can reach more individuals at high risk, break down barriers to screening and ensure that life-saving resources are readily available to our communities.”
In support of this initiative, LCI is providing a $10,000 grant to assist ECU Health with data collection, planning and other program-related activities. ECU Health will analyze lung screening data from 2023 to 2025, providing quarterly updates to monitor progress and address barriers. Regular review meetings will allow both organizations to strategize improvements and develop tailored solutions for the local community.