Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Baton Rouge, La.

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As one of 30 sites selected for the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP), The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins is helping to create a national model for high-quality community cancer care for all people. In advancing the NCCCP goal of reducing health care disparities, the Cancer Program encourages African-Americans, Hispanics, Vietnamese and others to participate in screenings throughout the year and its efforts culminate in a comprehensive health fair annually during National Minority Cancer Awareness Week.

The health fair is held on the Saturday of Awareness Week. Nearly 500 people take advantage of free screenings for breast, colorectal, skin, prostate and oral cancers, which are available to anyone without a physician and not screened for cancer within the last 12 months. Other health screenings such as blood pressure, glucose level and vision are also offered.

Honorary chairman for the event is Kip Holden, the current and first African-American mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish. Mayor Holden annually addresses the crowd on the importance of early detection among racial-ethnic minority groups and shares the story of his own brother's fight against colorectal cancer.

Of the screening participants in 2010:

• 67 percent had never been screened for cancer.
• 92 percent had never been screened for skin cancer.
• 72 percent had never been screened for colorectal cancer.
• 48 percent had never been screened for prostate cancer.
• 9 percent had never been screened for breast cancer.

Because Hispanic and Vietnamese attendees may not speak English, staff and volunteer translators are on site throughout the day to assist. Many of the promotional and screening materials are translated into Vietnamese and Spanish.

Prior to the event, the Cancer Program utilizes radio stations with minority listening audiences, newspaper advertising, and grassroots efforts to promote the event. Outreach staff members visit churches and minority-owned businesses to gain their support as well.

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center teams with Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center to extend its healing ministry to more people throughout southeast Louisiana and Mississippi through advanced, comprehensive cancer care.