LUCAS, a first of its kind, state-of-the-art mobile lung cancer screening unit, will visit Braxton County offering low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scans.
A service of WVU Medicine-WVU Hospitals and the WVU Cancer Institute, LUCAS will be in Burnsville on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 77 Mike and Ike Plaza, Burnsville, WV
The lung cancer screenings are billed to private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare. Uninsured patients living in West Virginia who meet screening criteria can receive their lung cancer screening on LUCAS through the generosity of grant funding and donations. A physician’s order and prior authorization from insurance are required to get screened. Appointments must be made 14 or more days in advance of the visit to allow time for insurance pre-authorizations.
LUCAS, an acronym for Lung Cancer Screening, builds upon the success and infrastructure established by Bonnie’s Bus. In West Virginia, more people die of lung cancer than colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer combined. LUCAS travels to the 42 counties in the state without easy access to lung cancer screening.
Similar to mammography, regular lung cancer screening can detect cancer early, when it is easier to treat and cure. Both units are part of the WVU Cancer Institute Mobile Cancer Screening Program and work in collaboration with a statewide partnership of clinicians, public health professionals, and other community leaders to reduce the number of deaths from breast and lung cancer in West Virginia.
The WVU Cancer Institute’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, travels to 42 of West Virginia’s most rural counties to provide lung cancer screening.
The 48-foot unit is equipped with state-of-the-art lung cancer screening technology and provides lung cancer screening in a comfortable, convenient environment for women, men, and transgender and gender-diverse people with private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare.
Uninsured patients living in West Virginia, who are age 50 and older and meet lung cancer screening eligibility requirements, may receive lung cancer screening on LUCAS through the generosity of grant funding and donations. With regular lung cancer screenings, cancer may be detected earlier, when it is easier to treat and cure.
More West Virginians die from lung cancer than colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer combined. Approximately 240,000 West Virginians are eligible for lung cancer screening, but only about five percent of those eligible for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) are currently being screened. Most West Virginia counties do not currently have access to LDCT in their area.
LUCAS provides lung cancer screening and then refers patients in need of follow-up to facilities close to their home. Building upon the successful operations and infrastructure of our mobile mammography unit, Bonnie’s Bus, LUCAS is part of the WVU Cancer Institute Mobile Cancer Screening Program, which is focused on bringing cancer prevention services to underserved communities throughout the state.
LUCAS statistics: Can see up to 27 patients per day; Screened almost 2,300 since 2021; Completed over 1,050 screenings in so far in 2023; Identified at least 25 lung cancers and 5 additional cancers; Over 130 lung cancer screenings funded through grants and donations.
The WVU Cancer Institute Mobile Cancer Screening Program is coordinated by Cancer Prevention and Control, and is a partnership between the WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine-WVU Hospitals.
For more information, contact Cancer Prevention and Control at 304-293-2370 or 877-287-2272 (toll-free), or email [email protected].