Prevention & Control For 23 Years
The Shinnston News & Harrison County Journal has named Amy Reasinger Allen as September’s Citizen of the Month, a
program sponsored by Dorsey Funeral Home in Shinnston – locally owned and operated.
By DIANA BEDELL
News & Journal Staf Writer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Amy
Reasinger Allen, assistant director of Cancer Prevention
and Control at the WVU Cancer Institute has seen many
positive changes in outreach and education during her 23-
year tenure.
“October 2
nd
is WV Breast Cancer Awareness Day and a
lot of activities are planned throughout the state,” said
Allen. “There are always awareness walks and it is fun to
see how creative groups can be in acknowledging the day
in their own way,” she added.
The Bridgeport resident noted that Bonnie’s Bus program
was established in 2009 and offers cancer screenings and
mobile communication. “We have had two iterations of the
bus since that time and it is now on a different chassis in
order to better serve rural West Virginia,” she said.
Bonnie’s Bus travels to all 55 counties and since its
inception, the staff have performed 23,000 screenings and
had over 120 cases involving concerns of breast cancer.
“We work in collaboration with other groups in order to get
information out to the public regarding this state-of-the art
screening,” said Allen.
Locally, Bonnie’s Bus partners with Health Access and
makes two stops annually in the Shinnston area, including
Shinnston Healthcare.
“Typically, Bonnie’s Bus screens over 2,000 persons a
year, both females and males,” stated Allen. “Bonnie’s Bus
is on the road nine months out of the year. It’s a true
investment in West Virginia.”
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer
among women in our state and according to Allen is the
second leading cause of death in our state, second only to
lung cancer which is number one. One in eight women will
be diagnosed with breast cancer and one in 36 will die from
the disease.
“Breast cancer screenings save lives,” Allen remarked.
“Women are encouraged to talk with their doctor about
what screening schedule is best for them. It is important to
take time and get screened even during the pandemic –
don’t delay.”
Persons can access the Bonnie’s Bus calendar or learn
about the program by visiting www.wvucancer.org/bonnie
or connect with the program on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/WVUCIMobile.
“Mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer
early and lowers the risk of dying from breast cancer,”
Allen noted. “It is important to detect it early and seek
treatment. No one over the age of 40 is turned away. Grant
funds and donations are available to pay for screening
mammograms on Bonnie’s Bus for women without
insurance coverage. If a woman has no insurance or has
deductibles or copays that keep them from getting
mammograms, the West Virginia Breast and Cervical
Cancer Screening Program may be able to assist. Call the
program directly at 1-800-642-8522 to find out if you are
eligible.”
The Bonnie’s Bus program was established through a
donation from Ben and Jo Statler to honor Jo’s mother,
Bonnie Wells Wilson. The Bus is a partnership between the
WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine. Bonnie’s Bus
is a $1.25 million investment into the health of West
Virginia women.
“The bus is a 45-foot, state of the art mobile
mammography unit that travels throughout rural West
Virginia where there is limited or no access to screening
mammography,” Allen explained.
Several cancer prevention and control initiatives are
available and a full list can be accessed at
https://wvucancer.org/about-us/inside-the-institute/cancer-
prevent-and-control.
“A Facebook page was started 10 years ago and is
specific to Bonnie’s Bus, and we have podcasts, videos and
200 online webinars available,” Allen noted. “There is a lot
of power on the internet.”
For cancer survivors, Allen recommended a couple of
podcasts including Living Beyond Cancer available at
https://cancer.wvumedicine. org/about-us/podcasts/ and the
Living Beyond Cancer Free Online Support Group
available at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/livingbeyondcancer.
“Our newest mobile endeavor is LUCAS, an acronym for
LUng CAncer Screening, which is also a national pilot
project,” said Allen. “Building upon the success of
Bonnie’s Bus, LUCAS will serve patients from across the
state with visits to the 42 counties without immediate
access to lung cancer screening services. Persons over 50
that have a significant smoking history are encouraged to
talk with their health care provider about lung cancer
screenings.”
According to Allen, more West Virginians die from lung
cancer than colorectal, prostate and breast cancer
combined. “Regular lung cancer screening can detect
cancer early when it is easier to treat and cure,” she stated.
“LUCAS is the only mobile unit for lung cancer screening
in the nation that will travel statewide without the need for
facility-based power, therefore making it truly mobile,”
Allen added.
On a personal note, Allen said that lung cancer
screenings could have possibly helped diagnose her father
at an earlier stage in the disease process. He passed away
in 2014.
Allen stressed, “The WVU Cancer Institute is a great
place to work and my 28 co-workers are very supportive.
Our outreach has continued to evolve during the 23 years I
have been there. Treatments have continued to advance
over time.”
The workplace atmosphere has also offered Allen the
flexibility to balance her work life and family time. Allen
resides in Bridgeport with her husband Mark and sons
Nicholas, a student at WVU, and Reese, a senior at
Bridgeport High School.
PHOTO CUTLINE:
Citizen of the Month Amy Reasinger Allen (left) is
pictured here with Stephanie Kennedy-Rae, Director,
Cancer Prevention and Control at the WVU Cancer
Institute.
BRAD – Also attaching a photo of Bonnie’s Bus if you’d
like to use it with the jump
