MORGANTOWN — LUCAS, a first of its kind, state-of-the-art mobile lung cancer screening unit, will visit Hancock County offering low-dose computed tomography scans.

LUCAS — an acronym for lung cancer screening — is a service of WVU Medicine and the WVU Cancer Institute, and has scheduled its local visit from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Hancock County Senior Center in New Cumberland. To schedule an appointment, call (304) 564-3801.

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 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 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 throughout the state, especially in rural parts with limited or no 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.

For information, visit WVUCancer.org/LUCAS.