Bigger than just a mural: Barbershop owner shares her cancer story
As she watched the unveiling of Mary Bird Perkins’ brand-new mural on the side of her North Baton Rouge barbershop last week, Amber Quinn kept returning to one thing: her own battle with breast cancer. Quinn, who owns Cosey’s Barbershop, is a stage 3 triple negative breast cancer survivor. When the option of having the […]
Beating the Odds: How Clinical Research Gave Earlean New Hope
Last summer, Earlean Ross was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer at just 57 years old. Her doctors in Mississippi gave her a grim prognosis, telling Earlean she likely wouldn’t survive the necessary chemotherapy and radiation treatments. “They told me I might as well enter hospice care,” she said. With her family by her side, […]
Not “settling for the same old”: Mary Bird Perkins celebrates its 100th Pluvicto treatment
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States. In recent years, a number of treatments have emerged to help treat prostate cancer – which, on average, affects one in every eight men – more effectively than ever. For advanced prostate cancer, chief among these is Pluvicto, a targeted […]
Exercise and targeted care: How Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center helps patients thrive
Herman St. Pierre is 79 years old, a kidney and prostate cancer survivor – and a workout pro. Herman and his wife Shirlene, also a cancer survivor, are regular visitors at the U-Thrive program, held at the recently-renovated Terrebonne General | Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, in Houma. U-Thrive is a free cancer wellness program […]
Early Detection Saves Lives. Here’s Proof.
For lots of folks, turning 50 represents an exciting landmark—the beginning of a new chapter, a renewed sense of self and a refreshed dedication to adventure. But among the celebrations, don’t ignore another vital milestone: getting a cancer screening. Sure, a colonoscopy doesn’t match a splurgy trip or an epic birthday party, but scheduling one […]
“It brought everything to light for me”: Covington Breast Cancer Specialist Program patient tells her story
With the launch of Mary Bird Perkins’ new Breast Cancer Specialist Program in Covington, the Cancer Center is once again bringing the best possible care to its patients, close to home. The comprehensive program is something of a one-stop-shop. Offering state-of-the-art imaging, advanced breast cancer surgeries, pre-operative education, radiation therapy, medical oncology and comprehensive follow-up […]
“I wouldn’t miss it”: cancer survivor tells his Live Well Bayou story
Last weekend’s Live Well Bayou screening event, held on the Terrebonne General campus in partnership with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and sponsored by Cenac Marine in Houma, was a tremendous success. Although the stats tell part of the story – 142 people screened, 257 total screenings provided – numbers alone don’t give a full […]
Going the extra mile leaves patient forever grateful
When you’re facing cancer, a random act of kindness from anyone can feel like you’ve won the lottery. But when the act comes straight from your doctor during the holidays, it’s even more powerful. In October 2022, Suzanne Ruch had a tumor in her breast removed, which conclusively determined she had invasive carcinoma. The married […]
Micah Davis – how Mary Bird Perkins’ new technology shaped his cancer journey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEDIUSc8ZuY In January 2021, Micah Davis was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. At first the disease was tackled through a combination of chemotherapy and surgery – however, despite initial scans showing no evidence of the disease, it returned a year later. Enter the Elekta Unity at Mary Bird Perkins, a new technology that’s only […]
A Journey of Faith and Healing: The Story of Mr. Blaise Paul
Sometimes, in the midst of life’s routines and plans unexpected events happen that reshape our paths in profound ways. Such was the case for Mr. Blaise Paul, an engineer at Shell, whose journey from a healthy and active lifestyle to a cancer diagnosis led him to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, where faith, support and […]
Art Heals: Patients Share How Creativity Helped Them Navigate Cancer
It came out of the blue. “No one in my family had cancer,” recalls artist and middle school art teacher Marie Pontti. “I’d gotten regular mammograms, and I was active and ate healthy. I thought. ‘No, this can’t be right.’” But it was. In 2022, eight months after a normal mammogram, Marie felt a gumball-sized […]
Battling Cancer On the Bayou: A Young Man’s Journey
Cancer does not discriminate. Nobody understands this better than Zachary Littleton. Originally from Montegut, a small town in rural Terrebonne Parish, Zachary was focused on what any young man in his thirties is focused on – family, friends, career and endless possibilities for the future. Like most young people his age, Zachary felt invincible. Then, […]