Lung Cancer Has Met its Match: Screenings Coming to Meigs County

Did you know that although the leading cause of all deaths in Ohio is heart disease, in Meigs County it is cancer? And lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer deaths? According to the Meigs County Cancer Profile done by the Ohio Department of Health, cancer is the leading cause of death in Meigs County, with lung cancer being by far the deadliest, accounting for 32.1% of all cancer deaths.

Fortunately, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center/The James, in partnership with the Meigs County Cancer Initiative, Get Healthy Meigs, and the Meigs County Health Department will be providing mobile lung cancer screening for eligible residents. This screening includes a low dose computed tomography (CT) scan of the lungs, where the earliest stages of lung cancer can be found. The mobile lung cancer screening unit will be parked at 115 E. Memorial Drive in Pomeroy. This location is across from the Meigs County Health Department, on the site of the former Veteran’s Memorial Hospital. The screening dates and times will be Thursday, November 9th, from 10:00AM to 3:00PM and Tuesday, November 28^thfrom 12:00PM to 6:00PM.

For Meigs County, this is a much-needed service. This is the first-time lung cancer screening has been made available inside Meigs County to help residents increase detection of early-stage lung cancer, which can result in successful cancer treatment. According to the 2023 Meigs County Health Assessment performed by the Meigs County Health Department, 28% of all adults are smokers. It is hard to know if you have lung cancer. Early stage lung cancer, for many people, has no symptoms. Because of this, many current and former smokers may not think they have or could get lung cancer, as symptoms are often missed, ignored, or are not present at all. The screening is open to those who qualify as adults with the following risk factors:

Age 50 – 77 years;
Current smoker OR former smoker who quit within the last 15 years;
A 20 pack-year smoking history (smoke one pack/day for 20 years or two packs/day for 10 years)

Lung cancer left undiagnosed and untreated can progress to late-stage cancer, at which point there are less treatment options. However, early detection screenings can prevent this from occurring. If you have the risk factors mentioned above, you may be eligible for this screening opportunity. Registration is required. To schedule an appointment for lung cancer screening in Pomeroy on November 9^th or November 28^th, please call 614-293-6939.