Thousands of Lexington County people were forced to delay medical screenings and care due to covid-19.

Local oncologists are encouraging them to schedule potentially lifesaving cancer screenings.

Led by national nonprofits — the Community Oncology Alliance and CancerCare — the “Time to Screen” campaign helps adults screen for 6 common cancers: breast, colorectal, cervical, prostate, lung and skin.

This lets you find information on the importance of screening and find local cancer screening locations.

Adults over the age of 40 should visit www.TimeToScreen.org for help finding free or low-cost cancer screening options.

Research has shown a big drop in cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment for older adults in 2020.

This includes an 85% decline in breast cancer screenings and 75% decline in colon cancer screenings.

Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in South Carolina, accounting for 1 in every 4 deaths.

Black adults have higher death rates than all other racial/ethnic groups for many cancer types.

Cancer is the leading cause of death for Hispanic adults. Social determinants of health including incomes, health literacy and physical access to care contribute to these disparities.

You can visit www.TimeToScreen.org or call toll-free 1-855-53-SCREEN (1-855-537-2733) to learn more about cancer screening locations.