Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC to Hold Free Prostate and Colorectal Cancer Screenings
Early Bird Mobile Medical Clinic Coming to Houma
(Houma)-- Free community-based prostate and colorectal cancer screenings will be held Thursday, September 24, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the TGMC Medical Atrium Cancer Care Resource Center, 8120 Main Street, in Houma, LA. Registration will be held in the Atrium auditorium and the prostate screenings will take place inside Mary Bird Perkins' mobile medical clinic known as "The Early Bird" in reference to its mission of early detection. Appointments are required. Please call (toll free) 1-888-616-4687 to schedule an appointment.
No appointments are necessary to pick up a take-home colorectal cancer testing kit. Staff members from Mary Bird Perkins at TGMC will be distributing these kits to those 50 and older who have not been screened in the last 12 months. Please note that take-home kits must be picked up by the user.
Explaining that cancer incidence rates for most common cancers are in line with the rest of the nation, Mary Bird Perkins' Early Detection and Education Manager Charity Gay said it is the inordinately high cancer mortality rates that are the problem. "This clearly indicates the need for early detection interventions. Screenings offer the potential to diagnose cancer at its earliest stage when the greatest chance for a cure exists."
Since 25% of Louisiana's population is uninsured, the focus of Mary Bird Perkins at TGMC is to reach those who otherwise would not have access to cancer screenings.
About Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC: Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC is nationally accredited with commendation for excellence in cancer care by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) -- the gold standard for community-based cancer care. The multidisciplinary cancer program offers immediate access to a wealth of technology and clinical expertise for the Houma community and the greater Bayou region.
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