Stay up-to-date with the latest news and developments from across our locations. Explore our press releases to find the most recent updates, exciting announcements and key highlights from our organization.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness MonthMar 3, 2026
Dr. Varnado discusses risk factors, symptoms and screening guidelines for colon cancer with WAFB.
HPV-related throat cancers are rising in men, Louisiana doctors say. Here’s what to know.Mar 1, 2026
Michael Hamilton developed a lingering cough in June 2023 that would no go away. Hamilton, 72, knew something was wrong. He visited his ear, nose and throat doctor, Dr. Ben Walton, who said his vocal chords looked strained. Walton’s advice, according to Hamilton, was to limit talking and revisit in a months time. “It did not go away,” Hamilton said. His next appointment included a CT scan that led to a scope and a biopsy at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.
Cancer center becomes first in region to provide CAR-T cell therapy without hospital stayFeb 5, 2026
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has become the first facility in the region to offer a new blood cancer treatment in an outpatient setting, allowing patients to receive care while staying at home. The treatment, called CAR-T cell therapy, is a form of immunotherapy that has been approved by the FDA as an alternative to traditional chemotherapy for blood cancers.
Low-intensity Shockwave Therapy in Male Pelvic Health After Cancer TreatmentJan/Feb 2026
Survival after prostate, bladder, rectal, and other pelvic cancers continues to rise, creating a growing population of male survivors who live many years beyond treatment. This success brings a parallel increase in survivorship morbidity, but an emerging noninvasive tool shows promise for treating some conditions.
Community-Driven Patient Navigation: Overcoming Barriers to Care in the Heart of LouisianaJan 2026
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center (MBPCC) was founded in the late 1960s through a community-led effort to bring high-quality cancer care to the greater Baton Rouge area. Today, MBPCC has expanded into a state-of-the-art community-driven cancer care network serving patients across Louisiana and southwest Mississippi. Despite this growth, many residents in North Baton Rouge continue to experience disproportionately high cancer burdens. Elevated poverty and uninsured rates, limited access to healthcare facilities, and a reliance on public transportation all converge to create substantial barriers to timely quality cancer care.
Mary Bird Perkins expands Metairie clinic with new urologic servicesOctober 3, 2025
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has expanded its Metairie clinic to include new urologic services, providing specialized care for prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers to improve access for patients in the region.
New north Baton Rouge mural highlights importance of equal access to clinical trials September 30, 2025
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center unveiled a new mural in North Baton Rouge highlighting the importance of equal access to clinical trials and the Center’s commitment to advancing health equity.
Renovations complete at Mary Bird Perkins Gonzales facilitySeptember 22, 2025
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s Gonzales facility has completed a major renovation with a larger infusion suite, new laboratory, and additional exam rooms, significantly increasing its capacity to serve patients.
Jay Grimes and doctors talk tongue and throat cancer, preventionAugust 28, 2025
Jay Grymes and physicians at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center discuss the rising prevalence of tongue and throat cancers linked to HPV and emphasize prevention through the HPV vaccine for teens and adults up to age 45.
Mary Bird Perkins hosting ‘Barbershop Bash’ to raise prostate cancer awarenessAugust 19, 2025
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is hosting a “Barbershop Bash” at Webb’s Barbershop in Baton Rouge to provide free prostate cancer screenings and raise awareness about the importance of early detection.
Mary Bird Perkins COO Jodi Conachen shares insights on leading with clarity, purpose and compassion on the June episode of Strictly BusinessJune 5, 2025
In the latest episode of Strictly Business, the Baton Rouge Business Report sits down with Jodi Conachen, chief operating officer of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, to explore the leadership playbook behind one of Louisiana’s most renowned and rapidly growing health care institutions.
Gonzales native named program manager at Mary Bird PerkinsMay 28, 2025
Mary Bird Perkins announces DeAnna Pastorchik as the new program manager for its Gonzales location.
‘Everyone has to have a seat at the table’: New grant helping researchers at Mary Bird Perkins increase diversity in clinical trialsMay 20, 2025
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is working to bring new opportunities for diversity in cancer research and treatment with the help of a $400,000 grant.
Franklin Medical Center partners with Mary Bird Perkins to enhance cancer treatmentMay 14, 2025
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Franklin Medical Center are bringing enhanced cancer care to the Winnsboro region through a new partnership.
Live Well Baton Rouge happening this SaturdayMay 13, 2025
Mary Bird Perkins is hosting Live Well Baton Rouge this Saturday. Matt Venezia finds out what makes the event tick.
Gonzales Area Foundation raises $625,000 for Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center expansionMay 5, 2025
The Gonzales Area Foundation announced it surpassed its goal and contributed $625,000 toward the expansion of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Ascension Parish.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center to host cancer screening eventApril 24, 2025
Live Well Delta returns to Monroe.
Mary Bird Perkins hosts global conference in Baton Rouge, celebrates new cancer technologyApril 17, 2025
Elekta, a company based in Sweden, is one of the world’s leaders in developing some of the most cutting-edge cancer treatment technologies — and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has worked with them since 2008 in implementing some of these tools in Baton Rouge. Now, the two are taking their partnership to the next level.
Mary Bird Perkins, BRG spreading awareness of colorectal cancerMarch 7, 2025
With March marking Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Mary Bird Perkins has teamed up with Baton Rouge General to raise awareness.
February recognized as National Cancer Prevention MonthFebruary 19, 2025
While life can become unpredictable with challenges and setbacks like a cancer diagnosis, there are many things you can do today to reduce your risk. Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s Meredith Bechac shows Matt Venezia how healthy eating can make a big difference.
Wheeling for Healing cross-country bicyclists ride to raise money, awareness for cancer researchFebruary 18, 2025
Cycling all the way from California, three cyclists stopped in Baton Rouge to make an important donation.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center gives back to its patientsDecember 19, 2024
Mary Bird Perkins staff donate care boxes for patients in need.
From cancer patient to Tai Chi healer: One woman’s journey of resilience and hopeDecember 5, 2024
After a life-changing cancer diagnosis, Shelley Ford transforms her struggle into strength, guiding fellow survivors at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center introduces breast cancer specialist program to Northshore communityNovember 17, 2024
Mary Bird Perkins launches the organization’s comprehensive Breast Cancer Specialist Program in Covington, designed to enhance detection, treatment and support options for Northshore-area residents.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Louisiana’s largest cancer center is bringing care to youOctober 29, 2024
In Louisiana, where cancer rates clock in at over 40% higher than the national average, getting screened at Prevention on the Go isn’t just innovative – it’s necessary. Too often in Louisiana, cancer is caught at an advanced stage, drastically limiting options for care and treatment.
Reducing Cancer Mortality Rates. Louisiana: the State We’re InOctober 18, 2024
Dr. Constance Blunt and Renea Duffin discuss Mary Bird Perkins’ Prevention on the Go program.
This Mary Bird Perkins clinic will get a $2.5M expansionOctober 9, 2024
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center announced that its Gonzales clinic will undergo a $2.5 million renovation and expansion. More than 6,000 square feet will be added to the existing building on La. 30, including a 2,500-square-foot infusion suite with 14 semi-private infusion bays and one private room, a chemotherapy mixing area, a retail pharmacy and a lab.
Mary Bird Perkins to host Screening event at Webb’s BarbershopAugust 22, 2024
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center hosted the “Barbershop Bash” on Saturday, August 24, allowing individuals to receive cancer screenings at no cost. Taking place at Webb’s Barbershop, the purpose of the event was to offer educational resources, early detection opportunities and screenings for prostate and colorectal cancer.
Scheduling cancer treatments with AI? This Louisiana hospital says it will help patients. May 17, 2024
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is partnering with a Canadian technology company to streamline and personalize the scheduling of appointments for its patients with the help of artificial intelligence. The cancer treatment center said this week it will be working with Gray Oncology Solutions, a Montreal-based company that helps cancer care centers book and manage appointments for patients faster and easier.
Mary Bird Perkins will become the first in the nation to use this AI technology May 16, 2024
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center on Thursday announced that it has partnered with Gray Oncology Soultions, a Canadian software company that uses AI and data science to enhance and streamline cancer care operations. Through the partnership, Mary Bird Perkins will become the first cancer care organization in the U.S. to deploy a “workload-reducing technology” developed by Gray Oncology Solutions. The software is designed to reduce wait times and administrative tasks.
Louisiana: The State We’re In – Cancer Breakthrough February 23, 2024
As the first and only organization in Louisiana offering Adaptive Radiation Therapy through the Elekta Unity treatment system, Mary Bird Perkins offers its patients an unmatched level of precision in cancer care. Recently, Louisiana Public Broadcasting visited the Cancer Center in Baton Rouge to learn more about this game-changing technology and talk to one patient, Micah Davis, who has benefited from this revolutionary program.
‘Barbershop Bashes’ Help Reduce Health Disparities Through Cancer Screening
Thanks to a three-year, $2.3 million grant partnership from the United Health Foundation, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center will expand its free cancer screening to an additional 4,500 individuals for prostate and colorectal cancer and provide nearly 10,000 people with community outreach and education about specific prostate and colorectal cancer risk factors and prevention. These screenings will take place at community events — such as Barbershop Bashes — that meet people where they are. The grant also will expand diagnosis and treatment support, and survivorship programs.
Mary Bird Perkins expands in Louisiana after buying this Shreveport cancer center January 23, 2024
Mary Bird Perkins’ expansion into central and north Louisiana marks a significant milestone in its fifty-plus year history and delivers on the organization’s mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer by providing high-quality cancer care close to home. The new partnership is poised to enhance the groundwork laid by MD Clinics by providing additional resources and services, fostering a collaborative approach to providing cancer care that aligns with the shared missions of both organizations. The partnership represents a unified effort to bring more robust cancer care to these regions.
Senior Director, Communications & Media Relations
P: (225) 215-1290 | C: (225) 978-9934 | F: (225) 215-1387smiller@marybird.com
