Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales

09/08/2025

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among men in Louisiana and Mississippi.

💙 The good news: if caught early, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100%.

At Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, we’re here to help men take charge of their health with free prostate cancer screenings throughout the year. Together, we can reduce the burden of prostate cancer and improve survivorship in our community.

👉 Learn more and schedule your screening today: marybird.org/cancer-types/prostate/

09/06/2025

🩺 Take the next step toward protecting your health.

Cancer is most treatable when caught early, and we’re bringing FREE SCREENINGS straight to your community to help make that possible. Whether it’s your first screening or you’re a screening pro, we’re here for you. 💛

Upcoming Screening Dates:

📍BATON ROUGE: Ralph Sellers Chevrolet, September 9 at 9 a.m. – Breast, colorectal and skin
📍TALLULAH: Beene's Pharmacy, September 11 at 9 a.m. – Breast, colorectal, skin and prostate
📍RAYVILLE: Home Hardware Parking Lot, September 12 at 9 a.m. – Breast, colorectal, skin, and prostate
📍MORGAN CITY: Skinner's Barbershop, September 13 at 9 a.m. – Colorectal and prostate

Don’t wait. Screenings are free, easy and potentially life-saving. 🎗️

🔗 Visit marybird.com/get-screened to learn more.

09/05/2025

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK... at Barbershop Bash Bayou! 💈

📍 Skinner's Barbershop in Morgan City | 🕘 Saturday, September 13, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Join us for:
✅ Free prostate & colorectal cancer screenings
✅ Biometric checks
✅ Health resources
✅ Food, music & family fun

This event is free to attend! Appointments are required and will fill up, so don’t wait to schedule your spot! 👉 Go to pogo.marybird.com to reserve yours now.

All the event details can be found here: marybird.org/barbershopbash

We can’t wait to see you there! 🎉

09/05/2025

💜 The Patient Compassion Fund is more than financial assistance, it’s peace of mind, dignity, and hope.

“At Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, we see every day how much of a difference compassion makes… It’s a lifeline, and it truly reflects the heart of what we do.” – Beth Verret, Intake Coordinator, Houma

"At times, our own team members find themselves in the position of needing care… Acts of generosity, no matter the size, never go unnoticed.” – Jessica Ashford, Program Director, Baton Rouge

Thanks to you, we’ve already surpassed our $50,000 Give Day goal, but the need continues. In these final hours, every gift keeps lifting burdens and spreading hope for more patients.

👉 Give now: https://bit.ly/4m1rylH

09/04/2025

💜 We did it, but we’re not stopping now! 💜
Thanks to your generosity, and a remarkable $10,000 gift from a grateful patient in honor of Dr. LaVie, Dr. Henkelmann, and their incredible care teams, we’ve surpassed our $50,000 Give Day goal!

This generous gift closed the gap and pushed us over the top, but the impact doesn’t end here. Every additional donation continues fueling the Patient Compassion Fund, helping even more patients with transportation, medication assistance, lodging, and everyday essentials.

⏰ There’s still time to add your support and keep the momentum going:
👉 https://bit.ly/4m1rylH

Let’s finish Give Day stronger than ever!

09/04/2025

💜 A big thank you to our friends at Northshore Oncology Associates for their generous $5,000 gift in support of the Patient Compassion Fund!

🎥 We’re proud to share a special message from our very own Dr. Saux, highlighting how this generosity makes a difference for patients.

👉 Watch the video below and join them in giving today: https://bit.ly/4m1rylH

09/04/2025

☕ Afternoon Pick Me Up!
Between 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., if 25 or more donors make a gift of any amount, our friends at Netchex will unlock a $5,000 gift for the Patient Compassion Fund! 💜

⏰ Don’t wait! Be one of the 25 and help us make every dollar go further: https://bit.ly/4m1rylH

09/04/2025

💜 Remembering Mr. Eddy

Pictured here with his favorite infusion nurse, Grant, and Debra, the financial counselor who helped guide his family through the financial aspects of treatment, Mr. Eddy was more than a patient, he was family.

A paramedic, firefighter, and small business owner, Eddy was known for his smile, his humor, and the way he uplifted everyone around him.

Through the Patient Compassion Fund, his family received support that eased financial burdens during his cancer journey. His wife, Mrs. Jo, shared:
“The Patient Compassion Fund was truly a lifeline for our family. It gave us peace of mind and allowed us to focus on what mattered most—time together.”

Today, Mrs. Jo honors his legacy by advocating for this program that support families like hers. 💜

👉 Support the Patient Compassion Fund: https://bit.ly/4m1rylH

09/04/2025

🚨 Morning Challenge Alert! 🚨
If 50 donors give before 10:00 a.m., a $10,000 bonus gift from Amanda Rothrock will be unlocked for the Patient Compassion Fund! 💜

Amanda shared:
“Cancer touched my family in ways I could never have imagined. Supporting Mary Bird Perkins is my way of honoring my loved ones and ensuring that other families have access to exceptional care and life-saving resources.”

Every gift, no matter the size, helps patients focus on healing, not financial stress.

⏰ Don’t wait, make your gift now: https://bit.ly/4m1rylH
Let’s unlock this together!

09/04/2025

👏 A huge thank you to Performance Contractors, Inc. for kicking off Give Day with a $10,000 lead gift in support of the Patient Compassion Fund! 💜

Their generosity helps ensure cancer patients can focus on healing without the weight of financial stress.

You can keep the momentum going. Every gift brings us closer to our $50,000 goal.

👉 Give now: https://bit.ly/4m1rylH
Let’s do this together!

09/03/2025

💜 Tomorrow is Give Day!

Our goal: raise $50,000 in 24 hours to support the Patient Compassion Fund, helping cancer patients focus on healing, not financial stress.

You don’t have to wait until tomorrow to make a difference. Early gifts are already being accepted!

👉 Give now: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/GiveDay2025

Together, we can ease burdens and bring hope to those who need it most.

09/02/2025

Many in our community know Jay Grymes as a familiar face on Baton Rouge airwaves. Today, we’re honored to stand beside him as he shares a more personal story: his journey with tongue cancer.

In a recent feature with physicians from Mary Bird Perkins and Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Jay opened up about the importance of prevention and early detection, helping raise awareness that can make a life-saving difference for others.

🎥 Watch Jay’s story here: https://bit.ly/4p2x5et

Thank you WAFB Channel 9 and Elizabeth Vowell WAFB for helping share this important story.

Jay Grymes made a career of warning people about danger ahead.

09/02/2025

Community makes healing stronger. 💛 At Mary Bird Perkins cancer Center, our support groups and wellness classes offer a welcoming space to move, share, and connect. Together, we create moments of encouragement and strength — because no one should walk this path alone. 🎗️

Here’s what’s happening this month:

Baton Rouge
• Guided Movement for Wellness – Monday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m.
• Metastatic (Stage IV) Cancer Support Group – Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
• Cancer Support Group – Fridays at 10 a.m.

Covington
• Breast Support Group for African American Women – Mondays: Sept. 8 and Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.
• Meditation Class –Tuesdays:Sept. 2 and Sept. 16 at 9:30 a.m.
• Tai Chi Class – Tuesdays at 5 p.m.
• Facing Cancer Together – Wednesdays: Sept. 10 and Sept. 24 at 12 p.m.
• Breast Support Group – 1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 12 p.m.
• Veterans Combating Cancer – Thursdays: Sept. 4 and September 18 at 9 a.m.
• Chair Yoga & Meditation – Thursdays at 1 p.m.

Gonzales
• Healing Arts Workshop: Still Life - Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.
• Support Group – Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
• Mindful Chair Yoga – Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.

Houma
• Together We Can – 3rd Wednesday of each month

Learn more or register at marybird.org/survivorship.

08/28/2025

08/14/2025

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

08/13/2025

🩺 Welcome, Dr. Rebecca Davis!

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is proud to welcome Rebecca Davis, MD, as our newest medical oncologist.

A Louisiana and Baton Rouge native, Dr. Davis is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. She brings extensive experience and a deep connection to our community, with training from LSU in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport.

She will see patients at our Baton Rouge General Medical Center and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales locations, offering the most advanced cancer care close to home.

📖 Learn more about Dr. Davis joining Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center: https://bit.ly/4mHYT5T
👉 Visit marybird.org/doctor/davis to make an appointment.

08/11/2025

🩺 Did you know? Both boys and girls can be exposed to HPV.

The HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 9–26 and can help prevent the cancers it causes.

Protect yourself and your loved ones by talking to your doctor or visiting your pharmacy today.
American Cancer Society

08/08/2025

🚧 Expansion Update
Big things are happening here in Ascension Parish! Construction on our expanded Gonzales facility is well underway. From new walls going up to expanded treatment areas taking shape, we’re getting closer to bringing even more compassionate, high-quality cancer care to our community, right here at home.

Opening this fall, this nearly 6,000 sq. ft. expansion will allow us to serve more than double the number of patients each month and include:
✔️ New infusion suite
✔️ Additional exam rooms
✔️ On-site lab, pharmacy & more

Want to be part of this transformation?
Invest in Ascension and help bring advanced care closer to home. 100% of your gift stays local.

🔗 Learn more and give today: marybird.org/investinascension

08/07/2025

Clinical trials give patients access to promising new treatments. At Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, we believe that access should be available for everyone.

Every patient that comes through our doors is evaluated for clinical trial eligibility. This is part of our commitment to offering the highest standard of care. These trials can improve outcomes while helping us find safer, more effective therapies for the future of cancer care.

Thanks to our partnership with LSU Health Sciences Centers LSU Health Sciences Centers and the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program, we’re able to bring leading-edge clinical research to communities throughout Louisiana, reaching nearly 80% of the state’s population.

🎥 In this video, Dr. Lin shares how clinical trials are making a difference for our patients right now.

Visit marybird.org/research to learn more or see if you qualify for a trial.

You can also reach out to our Clinical Research office at (225) 215-1375 or email clinicalresearch@marybird.com.

08/01/2025

Healing is stronger with community.🤝

At Mary Bird Perkins, our support groups and wellness classes create a supportive space to connect, share, and find strength together. Whether you’re navigating cancer, caring for someone who is, or working through survivorship, you are not alone. 🎗️

Here’s what’s happening this month:

Baton Rouge
• Guided Movement for Wellness by Elena Keegan, Educator Registered Yoga Teacher – Monday, August 4 at 10 a.m. *Yoga mat, towel and water bottles are provided.
• Metastatic (Stage IV) Cancer Support Group – Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
• Cancer Support Group – Fridays at 10 a.m.

Covington
• Breast Support Group for African American Women – Mondays: August 11 & August 25 at 6 p.m.
• Meditation Class –Tuesdays: August 5 & August 19 at 9:30 a.m.
• Tai Chi Class – Tuesdays at 5 p.m.
• Facing Cancer Together – Wednesdays: August 13 & August 27 at 12 p.m.
• Veterans Combating Cancer – Thursdays: August 7 & August 21 at 9 a.m.
• Chair Yoga & Meditation – Thursdays at 1 p.m.

Gonzales
• Support Group – Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
• Mindful Chair Yoga – Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.
• Healing Arts Workshop: It’s All In The Details – August 11 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Houma
• Together We Can – 3rd Wednesday of each month

You belong here — and we’re here for you.

Learn more or register at marybird.org/survivorship.

07/31/2025

🌟 Meet Natasha Gay, our newest nurse practitioner on the Prevention on the Go team!

A Baton Rouge native, Natasha has dedicated her career to helping others, a calling inspired by her own family’s health challenges. From her grandmother’s sudden passing to her mother’s battle with gastric cancer, Natasha knows first-hand how important early detection and compassionate care can be.

Now, she’s bringing screenings and education directly to communities across Louisiana and southwest Mississippi.

Read Natasha’s inspiring story in this week’s blog: https://bit.ly/4lSJFL8

07/24/2025

💈Our Fall 2025 Barbershop Bashes are coming to a community near you!

Mary Bird Perkins is bringing free prostate and colorectal cancer screenings, biometric checks, health vendors, food, and music straight to the barbershop, because taking care of your health should be easy.

📍Fall 2025 Dates and Locations:
📅 Baton Rouge – August 23 at Webb's Barbershop
📅 Morgan City – September 13 at Skinner's Barbershop
📅 Natchez, MS – November 15 at Don and Son's Barbershop
📅 Monroe – December 6 at Cloyd's Barber School

These events are free, fun, and focused on health. Bring your crew and take charge of your wellness!

🔗 Learn more at: marybird.org/barbershopbash

07/11/2025

☀️ Summer sun is here—are you protected?

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., but it's also one of the most preventable. Learn how to safeguard yourself and your loved ones from harmful UV rays while still enjoying the outdoors.

From sunscreen tips to early warning signs, our latest blog gives you everything you need to stay safe this summer.

🔗 Read more now: https://bit.ly/3IDrtq8

Mary Bird Perkins’ Prevention On the Go (POGO) offers free skin cancer screenings in towns and cities throughout Louisiana and southwest Mississippi. Want to

06/30/2025

We are so excited about our expansion progress! To learn more about the expansion and how you can support it, visit marybird.org/investinascension ❤️