Mobile Breast, Lung Cancer Screenings Heading To Rural Counties

WVU Medicine will offer a series of breast and lung cancer screenings in parts of rural West Virginia next month. 

A state of the art mobile unit called “LUCAS” for lung cancer screening that will visit Clay, Lewis and Tucker counties to offer low-dose, non-invasive computed tomography scans.

“Lung cancer affects more people in West Virginia than breast, colorectal, cervical cancer combined,” said Jenny Ostien, director of the WVU Medicine mobile cancer screening program.

“West Virginia also has one of the highest, if not highest, rates of smoking in the country, and smoking is the main contributor to lung cancer,” she said.

Bonnie’s Bus will visit Mingo, Wyoming, Mercer and Monroe counties to offer 3D digital screening mammograms. 

Most of the counties where screenings will take place don’t have hospitals so routine screenings require more time off work and lengthier commutes.

“Our units travel to some of the most rural areas in the state, where people may not have access to traditional screening services,” Ostein said. “They may not have time to get off of work to go and get screened, especially if they’re feeling healthy. They may not want to use a sick day to go get a screening when they don’t feel bad.” 

But that can make a difference in the outcome of a diagnosis, because early detection generally means any issues are more treatable.

“As of 2019, the majority of lung cancers in West Virginia were found at a regional or distant state, meaning that they were more advanced,” she said. 

“If we can move that through our screening to having them at a localized stage – stage one or two – then those are typically more treatable. Outcomes are typically better, and we want to help people enjoy and have the most quality of life that we can possibly have.” 

Lung cancer screenings will be conducted through LUCAS at the following locations:

• Community Care of Big Otter in Ivydale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 17. For an appointment, call 304-317-7317.
• Family Medical Clinic of Jane Lew from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 18. For an appointment, call 304-884-7880.
• St. George Medical Clinic in Parsons from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 20. For an appointment, call 304-478-3339. 

Breast cancer screenings will be conducted through Bonnie’s Bus at the following locations: 

• Mountain Laurel Integrated Healthcare in Chattaroy from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 24. For an appointment, call 304-792-7130 ext. 2020.
• Tug River Catterson Center in Pineville from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 25. For an appointment, call 304-732-7069 ext. 4242.
• Mercer County Health Department in Bluefield from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 26. For an appointment, call 304-324-8367.
• Monroe Health Center in Peterstown from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 27. For an appointment, call 304-753-4336. 

Screenings are billed through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. For underinsured patients, screenings are covered through grants and donations.

Olstein said some patients are apprehensive about screenings so the staff works hard to put them at ease.

“I know a lot of people are afraid of getting a mammogram because they’ve heard horror stories in the past about how much it hurts. Our staff is really dedicated to the patients and making the experience as comfortable as possible,” Olstein said.

“Even with lung cancer screening, it’s non-invasive. People imagine that it’s an MRI. That they’re going to be closed in, but it’s a very open, very comfortable setting.” 

For underinsured patients, screenings are covered through grants and donations. For more information, visit our website at w-v-public-dot-org.