OU Health Brings Life-saving Lung Cancer Screenings to More Oklahomans
OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center has launched a mobile lung cancer screening bus, in collaboration with the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and others, to bring critical early detection capabilities directly to communities across Oklahoma.
The state-of-the-art mobile lung screening bus is a significant advancement in fighting lung cancer, the top cause of cancer deaths and the second most common cancer in the U.S. Early detection greatly improves treatment outcomes. This mobile unit offers accessible screening, aiding early diagnosis in underserved communities.
"Bringing cancer screenings directly to Oklahomans in their home communities is crucial to improving outcomes," said Robert Mannel, M.D., director of Stephenson Cancer Center and associate vice provost for cancer programs at the University of Oklahoma. "Oklahoma ranks in the top five states for lung cancer incidence, and we know early detection saves lives. This mobile unit eliminates transportation barriers and makes potentially life-saving screenings more accessible to our communities.”
Partnership Brings Technology Across Oklahoma
The lung bus technology is part of a 10-year Value Partnership between OU Health and Siemens Healthineers, aimed at providing advanced diagnostic and therapeutic equipment throughout Oklahoma. The 40-foot-long, custom-designed lung bus includes a SOMATOM go.Up 64-slice CT scanner, using low-dose radiation and lung cancer screening protocols. A certified CT technologist and support staff ensure standard care in a comfortable setting. The technology inside the bus matches that used in OU Health's brick-and-mortar locations.
Oklahoma ranks eighth worst in the nation for overall age-adjusted cancer incidence rate and fifth worst for overall age-adjusted cancer mortality rate. Most lung cancer cases are attributed to cigarette smoking. Additionally, American Indian populations in Oklahoma face even greater challenges, with a 36% higher incidence and a 73% higher death rate from cancer compared to the general U.S. population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This underscores the urgent need for accessible screening services.
"TSET was created by voters to reduce the toll of tobacco and improve health. While the number of people smoking continues to decline, the rate of Oklahomans dying from lung cancer is still too high," said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee. "Avoiding tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke greatly reduces lung cancer risk. Early screening and detection is another way to help Oklahomans live healthier, longer lives. TSET is proud to support the Stephenson Cancer Center in bringing the lung cancer screening unit to people throughout our state."
The mobile screening initiative is part of Stephenson Cancer Center's broader commitment to expanding access to cancer care across Oklahoma. As a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center – representing the top 2% of cancer centers nationwide – Stephenson Cancer Center combines leading-edge research with comprehensive patient care. Studies show that patients treated at NCI-designated centers have a 25% higher survival rate at one year compared to those treated elsewhere.
Screening Early to Save Lives
Screening can detect lung cancer at an earlier, more manageable stage. Research indicates that patients with early-stage lung cancer have better survival rates compared to those diagnosed later. The American Cancer Society reports that the five-year survival rate for lung cancer confined to the lung is about 60%, whereas it drops to 6% if the cancer has spread outside the lungs.
The initiative also aligns with the National Institutes of Health's five-year, $17.2 million grant to the University of Oklahoma to address disparities in cancer outcomes among American Indian populations in Oklahoma.
The initiative, titled "Improving Cancer Outcomes in Native American Communities" (ICON), is led by the Native American Center for Cancer Health Excellence (NACCHE) at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, working in partnership with tribal nations to focus on cancer prevention, screening, and care coordination.
This comprehensive effort aligns with the Oklahoma Tribal, Rural, Urban Cancer Screening Trial (OK TRUST) Access Hub, creating a robust framework for cancer screening research and community outreach through collaborative partnerships dedicated to improving cancer outcomes in Oklahoma's tribal communities.
In addition to generous support from TSET awarded to the University of Oklahoma, the bus is also funded through a donation from Genentech.