RRHC Hosts LUCAS

On June 1, 2022, the WVU Cancer Institute’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, visited Ritchie Regional Health Center’s Harrisville Campus. The 48-foot unit, equipped with state-of-the-art lung cancer screening technology, provides lung cancer screening and refers patients in need of a follow-up to facilities close to their home. Building upon the successful operations and infrastructure of the 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.

Screenings are available to patients 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 120,000 West Virginians are eligible for lung cancer screening, but only about two to four 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.

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 cpc@hsc.wvu.edu.

Ritchie Regional is looking forward to LUCAS' return in September when it will be providing lung cancer screenings to patients in West Union.