According to Dr. Constance Cole Blunt, medical oncologist and medical director of cancer prevention and outreach at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge, the best way to get people to screen for cancer is by participating in its Prevention on the Go program.
In Louisiana, where cancer rates clock in at over 40% higher than the national average, this approach isn’t just innovative – it’s necessary.
Too often in Louisiana, cancer is caught at an advanced stage, drastically limiting options for care and treatment. Breast cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in the state and has a particularly devastating impact – although Louisiana is ranked 28th in the nation for breast cancer incidence, the breast cancer mortality rate in the state is the second greatest in the country.
The factors driving these statistics are complex and interwoven with the daily struggles many Louisiana residents face in accessing medical care.