Pee Dee hospital offers program for lung cancer patients

By Kelly Gillespie
Reporter
Published: September 4, 2008

Lung cancer can often times be prevented, and it’s also one of the most difficult to detect early on.
The Carolinas Hospital System in Florence offers a free program for their lung cancer patients.
For the past two years Nurse Toni McGiboney has helped hundreds of patients that are often times battling addiction that’s manifested into cancer.
“The patients tell me it’s a surreal feeling this can’t be happening to me, I cannot be going through this,” Toni McGiboney, R.N. and coordinator for the lung cancer program at CHS, said.
Doctors said the best chance of treating lung cancer is early detection, but out of all the forms of cancer it’s the hardest to screen.
“I don’t know if it’s fair to say it can be prevented, but I do think if we could cartel the smoking that a lot of them could be stopped,” Dr. Charlie Dorn Smith said.
McGiboney said 87% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer are smokers.
“Actually one of the first things I try to do once I meet them is work through this and quit smoking,” McGiboney said.
The lung cancer program McGiboney coordinates also helps provide support, outreach and clinical management.
But, the hardest thing about her job isn’t fighting the cancer it’s the emotion that goes along with it.
“I get to know them very well and I have to learn how to handle those things. I’ve actually met some of the most wonderful people through my job here,” McGiboney said
McGiboney regrets to admit more Americans die from lung cancer each year than from breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined.
For more information on their lung cancer program call the Carolinas Hospital System at 843-687-7714.