(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 April. 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. All kits are available to those who have not been screened for cancer in the past 12 months.
Appointments to pick-up free screening kits must be made by calling Myra Gatling-Akers at (318) 376-6972.
Following is the distribution schedule:
Friday, April 9, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Chauvin Pointe Senior Housing Community Room, 325 Chauvin Pointe Dr., Monroe, LA 71203.
Wednesday, April 14, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Frances Tower Senior Housing Community Room, 300 Harrison St., Monroe, LA 71201.
Friday, April 23, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., McKeen Place Senior Housing Community Room, 1500 McKeen Pl., Monroe, LA 71201.
Wednesday, April 28, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Ouachita Grand Plaza Senior Housing Community Room, 501 South Grand Ave., Monroe, LA 71201.
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.
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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.