Charleston Healthcare Community Joins American Lung Association to Advance Lung Cancer Care

On Tuesday, October 7, dozens of local healthcare providers gathered with the American Lung Association in South Carolina to discuss the latest advancements in lung cancer identification and treatment. The event, South Carolina Community Connections: Lung Cancer Patient Identification, Screening and Biomarker Testing, was held at the Queen Street Playhouse.

“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in South Carolina and across the U.S. But there is hope. Research has fueled advancements in detection and treatment in the past decade, increasing the survival rate by 44 percent,” said Michael A. Spandorfer, MD, Director of Interventional Pulmonology and Advanced Bronchoscopy at Roper St. Francis Healthcare and physician with Lowcountry Lung and Critical Care.

Dr. Spandorfer was joined by:

• Nathan Averill, MD – Palmetto Primary Care Physicians
• Brian Beaty, MD, PhD – Roper St. Francis Healthcare Physician Partners Radiation Oncology
• Mark Burbridge, DO – Lowcountry Oncology Associates
• Elizabeth Kline, MD – Roper St. Francis Physician Partners Thoracic Surgery and member of the Lung Association’s South Carolina Leadership Board
• Nicole Tanner, MD, MSCR – MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System

Lung cancer screening saves lives by detecting the disease at an earlier stage when it’s more likely to be curable. Unfortunately, too few people who are at high risk are getting screened. Visit SavedByTheScan.org to learn about low-dose CT lung cancer screening tests, and take the quiz to see if you or a loved one is eligible for a screening.

Biomarker testing, which looks for changes in the tumor's DNA, can lead to more targeted treatment options with fewer side effects because they focus on what is exactly wrong with the cancer cell, instead of killing normal, healthy cells too. People with lung cancer and their caregivers can learn more if comprehensive biomarker testing is right for them by visiting Lung.org or discuss with their healthcare provider.

South Carolina Community Connections is designed for healthcare providers in primary care, medical oncology, pulmonary, thoracic surgery, fellows and medical students. Thank you to our sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor AstraZeneca, Biodesix, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer.

In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, hundreds of community members will unite as one mighty force to stand against lung cancer. On Saturday, November 15, participants in the LUNG FORCE Run/Walk at Folly Beach County Park will raise critical funding for lifesaving research, programs and advocacy to beat lung cancer and find a cure. Learn more about the 5K fundraiser at LUNGFORCE.org/Charleston.