MUSC Hollings Cancer Center launches web data tool for South Carolina population health information

“Our goal was to share usable, understandable and accessible data in order to foster research collaboration, empower communities and advance health equity,” said project leader Kalyani Sonawane, Ph.D., Hollings Cancer Center researcher and associate professor in the MUSC Department of Public Health.

Named a “Rapid Fire Winner” by the inaugural Catchment Area Data Conference at VCU Massey Cancer Center, the free, easy-to-use tool is available to the public on the MUSC Hollings website.

The tool includes six dashboards – new cancer cases, cancer-related deaths, social determinants of health, cancer risk factors, health care access and demographics – allowing users to see what’s happening in their counties, rather than relying on aggregated national or state statistics. For example, the New Cancer Cases dashboard shows that Charleston County has a lower rate of colorectal cancer than the national average, but several counties along the I-95 corridor have higher rates of this cancer, which can be caught early with proper screening. 

All data within SC SPOT draws from national sources, including the United States National Cancer Registry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Cancer Institute.

“This is a valuable tool not only for cancer researchers and clinicians but also key stakeholders and all South Carolinians who want to better understand the impact of cancer on our state,” said Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., director of the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. “By having clear data so readily available, we can identify opportunities where we can increase access to care, develop meaningful programs and perhaps impact health care policy for the betterment of South Carolina.” 

About MUSC Hollings Cancer Center

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center is South Carolina’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center with the largest academic-based cancer research program in the state. The cancer center comprises more than 140 faculty cancer scientists and 20 academic departments. It has an annual research funding portfolio of more than $50 million and sponsors more than 200 clinical trials across the state.

Dedicated to preventing and reducing the cancer burden statewide, the Hollings Office of Community Outreach and Engagement works with community organizations to bring cancer education and prevention information to affected populations. Hollings offers state-of-the-art cancer screening, diagnostic capabilities, therapies and surgical techniques within its multidisciplinary clinics. Hollings specialists include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, psychologists and other clinical providers equipped to provide the full range of cancer care. For more information, visit hollingscancercenter.musc.edu.