Lung Health
Lung health is essential for overall well-being, as the lungs play a critical role in supplying oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide. Healthy lungs ensure that all body tissues receive the oxygen they need to function properly, supporting energy production, immune function, and brain activity.
Maintaining good lung health can help prevent chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Avoiding smoking, minimizing exposure to air pollution, exercising regularly and getting vaccinations are important steps to protect lung function.
Prioritizing lung health contributes to a longer, more active life and reduces the risk of serious respiratory complications. FirstHealth offers a robust lung health program, including lung screening and treatment of malignant and benign lung conditions.
Lung Screening
FirstHealth offers a robust lung screening program to provide those with increased risk access to low-dose CT lung screening, which can catch lung cancer early, when it is more treatable. Low-dose CT scans are available at all four FirstHealth hospitals. Download a referral form and talk with your primary care provider about this screening.
We also offer screening on the FirstHealth Lung Bus, a mobile imaging system funded in part by The Foundation of FirstHealth. The Lung Bus travels around the Sandhills to bring life-saving screening to the communities FirstHealth serves. Learn more about the Lung Bus and how you can register for a screening event.
Chest Center of the Carolinas
FirstHealth's Chest Center focuses on the treatment of lung cancer as well as esophageal and mediastinal tumors and benign diseases of the chest. The physicians who call the Chest Center of the Carolinas home continuously pursue ways to improve the outcome of patients, including participation in treatment and prevention trials.
Learn More
Pulmonology
FirstHealth offers comprehensive pulmonology care for patients dealing with respiratory or sleep-related medical conditions. We collaborate with providers at Pinehurst Medical Clinic to diagnose and treat various diseases like asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and more.
Pulmonary Rehab
Pulmonary Rehabilitation serves people with chronic lung diseases such as COPD, lung cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma who need a level of exercise training and education beyond that ordinarily covered by a physician during an office visit. The program includes medical management, education, exercise, breathing retraining and relaxation techniques in an atmosphere of shared patient emotional support with specially trained professional oversight. FirstHealth serves patients in three pulmonary rehab clinics in our region.
Other Lung Services
Our Lung Care in Action
Lung Cancer Patient
Carl's Story: More Time with Loved Ones
For Carl Ayers, 83, of Lee County, 2024 brought more time with his family—a gift he attributes to FirstHealth’s innovative care. After battling mouth cancer with chemotherapy and radiation, Ayers learned the cancer had spread to his lungs. A multidisciplinary team at the FirstHealth Cancer Center determined he was a candidate for the PEF clinical trial.
Read More
Lung Cancer Patient
Patient's Journey Defined by Miracles, Innovation
Elizabeth Speight, a 70-year-old retired nurse anesthetist and Navy veteran from Davidson County, has faced a stage 4B metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma, diagnosis with resilience and determination. Diagnosed in 2017, she was given only 100 to 120 days to live. However, through a series of innovative treatments and a Phase I clinical drug trial, she has defied the odds, celebrating seven years of life filled with family milestones and advocacy for others facing similar diagnoses.
Elizabeth's Story
Hitting the Road
FirstHealth Lung Bus
FirstHealth’s core purpose, To Care for People, emphasizes bringing preventive services to communities across the Sandhills region. The Lung Bus is the latest extension of this philosophy that allows FirstHealth to meet patients in their communities to deliver potentially lifesaving screenings.
Read More
1st in America
MRH Treats Patient in Groundbreaking Lung Cancer Trial
As the new year begins, FirstHealth of the Carolinas is celebrating medical milestones that have brought hope and precious time to patients facing lung cancer.
Learn More
We Can Help You Quit
FirstQuit
Ready to quit smoking? Let FirstHealth help. We offer in person, phone or virtual sessions with trained tobacco treatment specialists.
Read More
Lung Cancer PatientCarl Ayers
Lung Cancer PatientElizabeth Speight
Hitting the RoadLung Bus
Clinical TrialsLung Care at MRH
FirstQuitSmoking Cessation
