Life-Saving Mobile Lung Cancer Screening Unit Ready to Hit the Road

TSET staff in front of the new lung cancer screening unit.

A $1.7 million TSET grant is helping OU Health Stephenson Cancer launch a mobile lung cancer screening bus. The mobile unit was launched with a celebration in February, and will help bring early cancer detection and screening to communities across Oklahoma. 

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the United States, accounting for about 22% of all cancer deaths. Although treatable if found in early stages, it is often diagnosed long after it has spread to other parts of the body.

New guidelines released in 2022 recommend annual screening for people who:

• have smoked a pack a day for 20 years or more
• are age 50 or older and still smoke or quit smoking in the past 15 years.

However, less than 5% of eligible Oklahomans screened.

Inside the screening bus, a low-dose CT scanner provides top-of-the-line imaging.

"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.”

Learn more about lung cancer screening and the mobile unit HERE.

TSET Impact Pages Show Local Health Indicators and Investment

TSET local impact pages are now available!

These downloadable pages provide a quick reference that show how local health outcomes compare to state and national rates. The pages list TSET's investment in local communities through the multiple grants and programs. Local impact pages are available for every county and all House and Senate districts.

“As a state agency and constitutional trust, we want the people of Oklahoma to know how TSET funds are being spent and the impact we are having in communities across the state,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “These tools provide local-level data and show how TSET funds are used across the state. They help fulfill our promise to voters by supporting grants and programs that improve Oklahomans' health.” — This can be cut. It repeats sentences from above and I think it's find to let the transparency goal ring out fully.”

See impact information for your community HERE.

Perspective: Julie Bisbee in the Journal Record Lung cancer screening bus expands access, supports workforce Lung cancer takes a serious toll on Oklahoma’s health and economy, but early detection can save lives. In the Journal Record, Julie Bisbee discusses how TSET’s partnership with OU Health is expanding access to screenings and reducing barriers for those most at risk. Read more here.

Want to know more about the fight against lung cancer in Oklahoma? Last September, the TSET Better Health Podcast sat down with experts from OU Health and TSET to discuss why early detection is critical and how the new mobile screening unit is making a difference. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform.

Meet the Team: Lester Brown

TSET is staffed by a dedicated and passionate group of people. This month, we would like to introduce Lester Brown. Lester Brown serves as a Partner Support Specialist for Statewide Initiatives at TSET. Prior to joining TSET, Brown served for 17 years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for 11 years in the U.S. Army and as a substitute teacher at Mid-Del Public Schools. Brown holds certifications in CompTIA Security+ and A+. He received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Oklahoma and a certification in cybersecurity. Read about the rest of the team HERE.