(Monroe, La.) – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and the Monroe Housing Authority, is providing free, convenient access to colorectal cancer screening kits during the month of March. Discovering cancers in their earliest stage through screenings can help lead to better outcomes, making it extremely important for the community to get screened for appropriate cancers.
Colorectal Cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Louisiana for men and women. More than 90 percent of colorectal cancers can be cured when caught in their early stages through the use of tools such as screening kits.
All kits are available to those who have not been screened for cancer in the past 12 months. Registration is required. To reserve a kit, please call Myra Akers at (318) 376-6972. All results will be returned by mail within 7-10 business days.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s Prevention on the Go program will be providing free colorectal cancer screening kits:
Wednesday, March 17 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Foster Heights Community Center at 800 Swayze St., Monroe, LA 71201.
Wednesday, March 24 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the South Point Community Center at 100 South Pointe Dr., Monroe, LA 71202.
During COVID-19, the Cancer Center has taken steps to ensure the safety of both participants and staff. A number of practices are in place to ensure the safety of everyone, such as increased frequency of our cleaning and disinfecting practices for high-touch areas and appointments for all screenings to ensure social distancing. To learn more about the precautions the Cancer Center is taking or to learn more about our community screening program, please visit marybird.org/services/get-screened.
Â
About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is a regional cancer care organization that has been fighting cancer for almost 50 years. The cancer care organization provides care at nine centers in Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Houma, Gonzales, Zachary and Natchez, Mississippi, and its service area encompasses southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi regions. For more information, please visit www.marybird.org.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation works each day to improve the health and lives of Louisianians by empowering everyday people to do extraordinary good. By building and funding coalitions of friends, families and neighbors, the Foundation hopes to build a healthier Louisiana, particularly for its children. The Foundation is funded solely by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, but is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. For more information, visit bcbslafoundation.org.