Are you trying to quit smoking in the New Year?

Lexington Medical Center will offer a series of free smoking cessation classes to members of our community who want to kick the smoking habit for good.

The 2-hour classes are offered at hospital locations around Lexington County. They meet once a week for 8 weeks. The Freedom from Smoking program is open to anyone who wants to quit smoking.

The first session begins Tuesday, January 8, from 6 - 8 pm inside Lexington Medical Center Lexington at 811 West Main Street in Lexington.

Additional sessions will begin in March in Irmo, May in Lexington, July in West Columbia and September in Lexington and Batesburg-Leesville. Tobacco cessation facilitators who have training from the American Lung Association lead the classes.

55% of people who completed the smoking cessation program through Lexington Medical Center have quit smoking. That’s significantly above the national average of 17 - 23%.

The clinicians leading the classes check on each participant at 30-, 90- and 180-day intervals for the first year.

To register, call (803) 358-6180. You must register for the class in advance.

For long-time smokers, Lexington Medical Center also offers a lung cancer screening program. Detecting lung cancer at an early stage can reduce the risk of mortality by 20%.

People who meet the following criteria should consider a lung cancer screening:

• 55-74 years old and a heavy smoker (the equivalent of a pack a day for 30 years)

• 55-74 years old and at risk because of family history, your occupation or lung disease

• Symptoms, like a continuous cough, shortness of breath or coughing up blood

The scan takes 15-20 seconds. If clinicians find a spot, the patient’s doctor may request another CT scan or biopsy to determine if the abnormality is cancer.

If the patient is still a smoker at the time of the screening, nurses will provide education and resources to help them quit.

For more information on the hospital’s lung cancer screening program or to schedule an appointment, call (803) 791-2000.