Educational Seminar to Highlight the Impact of Obesity on Breast and Colorectal Cancers
BATON ROUGE, La. – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center will host its 2nd annual “Untie the Ribbons” educational event on Saturday, March 9, from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Southern University Museum of Art Cultural and Heritage Center (8320 G. Leon Netterville Drive) in Baton Rouge. This year’s theme is ‘Weight No More’ and will focus on the impact of obesity on breast and colorectal cancer in an effort to reduce mortality in African Americans.
This free event is open to the public, and African American men and women, ages 35 and older, are encouraged to attend. To register, visit marybird.org/untietheribbons/.
“In communities across Louisiana, obesity is prevalent and we must educate as many people as possible on how it is a risk factor for breast and colorectal cancers in particular and its impact on cancer treatment outcomes,” said Renea Duffin, vice president, cancer support and outreach, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “Following the success of last year’s Untie the Ribbons event, which focused on raising awareness of Triple Negative Breast Cancer among African American women, we want to again highlight cancer trends and provide education on prevention to underserved populations.”
Louisiana ranked only behind West Virginia in the percentage of its population self-reporting obesity among U.S. adults in 2022, with 40.1%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, in the most recent data[1] from the Louisiana Tumor Registry, incidence and mortality rates for obesity-related cancers are significantly higher in Louisiana than in the U.S.[2]
Constance Blunt, M.D., medical oncologist, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, will present on the impact of obesity on breast and colorectal cancers. A frequent speaker at Cancer Center events, Blunt provides attendees with engaging and educational presentations that share Mary Bird Perkins’ various health equity initiatives in Baton Rouge and other markets. Stephanie Compton, Ph.D., RD, LDN, nutrition and cancer metabolism researcher, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, will also host a conversation on obesity and cancer.
In addition to hearing from these speakers, those in attendance can participate in fitness and healthy cooking demonstrations, visit with health education vendors, and have the chance to win several door prizes.
This event is made possible with the support of CareSouth, the Southern University Museum of Art Cultural and Heritage Center and the Louisiana Department of Health.
About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is Louisiana’s largest cancer care organization and has been leading the fight against cancer for more than 50 years. Founded in Baton Rouge in 1971 by a group of community leaders, the Cancer Center now serves every region of Louisiana and communities across southwest Mississippi. With the most expansive team of highly-trained oncologists leveraging innovative therapies and technologies, Mary Bird Perkins is offering the most personalized treatment options available in the Gulf South. The Cancer Center’s emphasis on community-based care allows patients to access these resources close to home. From early detection through our innovative Prevention on the Go screening and education program, to diagnosis, treatment and life after cancer, Mary Bird Perkins offers a wide array of individualized support services to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer. For more information, visit marybird.org.
[1] 2016-2020
[2] with the exception of incidence for white women, which is not significantly different from the national rate