The Lung Bus is a mobile imaging system that allows us to take low-dose CT lung screening technology into our communities in the Sandhills region. Offering imaging services outside the hospital helps us reach individuals who may not have access or the opportunity to get this scan otherwise.
CT scans remain the gold standard for helping providers identify lung cancer at its earliest stages when there is a better chance for cure.
With the Lung Bus, we come to you with early lung cancer screening. An estimated 238,340 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023 in the United States, and it is the leading cause of cancer deaths in North Carolina.
About 90% of stage 1 cancers are completely treatable, so early screening is essential. Our Lung Bus is equipped with a 40-slice CT scanner and scans are performed by a certified technologist. The test is simple and quick, taking only about 10 minutes.
Lung Bus FAQ
Who can have a CT scan on the bus?
Criteria include:
- Being between 50 and 80 years of age
- Being a current smoker or having quit smoking in the past 15 years
- Having a 20-pack-year smoking history
- Not having a health problem that limits life expectancy or the ability to have surgery if cancer is found
- Patient has not had a chest CT in the last 12 months
What is a 20-pack-year smoking history?
To determine your pack-year smoking history, multiply how many packs of cigarettes you smoked per day by the number of years you smoked. For example, if you smoked one pack a day for 20 years, you would have a 20-pack-year smoking history. If you smoked two packs a day for 15 years, you would have a 30-pack-year smoking history.
What happens if I have an abnormal result?
Patients are referred to FirstHealth’s Chest Center, a multidisciplinary clinic in the new FirstHealth Cancer Center, specializing in the treatment of diseases of the chest. The team of board-certified specialists who focus on the treatment of lung cancer will review Lung Bus CT Scans with an abnormal result. The physicians who call the Chest Center of the Carolinas home continuously pursue ways to improve the health outcomes of patients, including participation in treatment and prevention clinical trials. A dedicated nurse navigator team works to help Chest Center patients navigate all aspects of the disease.
Where do I find the lung bus?
The Lung Bus visits communities throughout the Sandhills region and is often at local churches, senior centers and businesses.
How do I register for a screening?
For more information or to register for an upcoming screening, email LungBus@FirstHealth.org or call (910) 715-LUNG (5864).
