Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Hammond

09/27/2025

🩺 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:

📍GONZALES: Jambalaya Park, October 4 at 9 a.m. – Breast, colorectal, prostate, and skin

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

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

09/26/2025

Live Well Ascension is next week! ✨

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is proud to partner with the Gonzales Area Foundation to bring this free community health event to the Ascension Parish community.

📅 Saturday, October 4 | ⏰ 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
📍 Jambalaya Park, 1015 E Cornerview Street, Gonzales
🩺 Screenings available: Breast, Colorectal, Prostate & Skin Cancer

The event is free, but screening appointments are required. Call (225) 425-8034 or visit pogo.marybird.com to schedule your screening.

Early detection saves lives. Don’t miss this opportunity to take charge of your health! 🙌

More info: https://bit.ly/3Iy0pZK

09/25/2025

🎀✂️ A New Chapter for Cancer Care in Ascension Parish!

This week, we celebrated the ribbon-cutting of the newly expanded Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Gonzales!

Thanks to the incredible support of the Ascension Parish community, this expansion brings:
✨ New chemotherapy and infusion bays so patients can receive more treatments close to home
✨ Enhanced technology including advanced radiation systems and diagnostic imaging
✨ Additional space for patient support services and compassionate care

This milestone is more than a building, it’s a commitment to the thousands of patients and families in Ascension Parish who deserve world-class cancer care without leaving their community.

📸 Check out the photos and video highlights from this special day and learn more about what this expansion means for Ascension Parish in our latest blog:
👉https://marybird.org/blog/gonzales/in-gonzales-a-ribbon-cutting-months-in-the-making/

09/25/2025

💜 Thank you, Congresswoman Julia Letlow, for your support!

We are proud to officially offer oncology and hematology services, in partnership with Franklin Medical Center, bringing life-saving cancer care closer to home for patients in northeast Louisiana.

Through this new relationship, patients will receive care from Dr. Manish Dhawan and a dedicated oncology team, supported by Mary Bird Perkins’ multidisciplinary expertise, advanced technologies, and access to the latest research, ensuring world-class treatment is available right in Franklin Parish.

We are grateful to partner with Franklin Parish Medical Center to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer for the communities we serve.

📰 Read the full article below.

🙏 Thank you again, Congresswoman Julia Letlow, for your dedication to the people of your community and for championing access to care.

A new partnership between Franklin Parish Medical Center and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center works to enhance cancer care in Franklin Parish.

09/24/2025

💜 Make a Difference: Volunteer with Mary Bird Perkins!
At Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, volunteers are at the heart of our mission to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer. Whether you’re greeting patients, helping with events, or offering a comforting smile, your time makes a meaningful impact.

✨ Ways to Volunteer:
🔹 Core Volunteers: Provide guest services, clerical support, and a personal touch for patients (adults 18+, 4-hour weekly shift).
🔹 Event Volunteers: Help plan or assist at signature fundraising events (age 16+).
🔹 Student Volunteers: Gain service hours while supporting patients (18+, references required).
🔹 Survivor Volunteers: Share your journey to inspire and comfort others.

💻 Learn more and sign up today: marybird.org/volunteer

Together, we can create moments of comfort, hope, and healing for every patient we serve.

09/22/2025

💜 We’re proud to celebrate the incredible women leading the way in cancer care and beyond!

Recently, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, in partnership with Baton Rouge General Medical Center, hosted the Women in Medicine event. Nearly 70 female providers from across our community gathered to connect and hear from an inspiring panel of six specialists, including our own Dr. Mindy Bowie (breast surgical oncology) and Dr. Constance Blunt (hematology, medical oncology).

Members of the dynamic panel, which also featured Dr. Sarah Baker (colorectal surgery), Dr. Karalyn Bentley (bariatrics & general surgery), Dr. Shashi Gavini (cardiology), and Dr. Ayme Schmeeckle (urology), shared their journeys and insights, encouraging collaboration and empowering the next generation of women in medicine.

👏 We are grateful for Dr. Bowie, Dr. Blunt, and every provider who continues to inspire and champion better care for our patients.

09/20/2025

🩺 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:

📍HOUMA: Sam's Club, September 24 at 9 a.m. – Breast, colorectal and prostate
📍CENTREVILLE: Centreville Town Hall, September 25 at 9 a.m. – Breast, colorectal, skin and prostate
📍FRANKLINTON: Jack Brown's Food Store, September 26 at 9 a.m. – Breast, colorectal, and skin

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

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

09/19/2025

Diversity in clinical trials isn’t just a statistic, it’s essential to ensuring research findings are relevant and equitable for every patient.

At Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, we are committed to rebuilding our clinical trials program from the ground up with diverse enrollment as a core priority. Under the leadership of Victor Lin, MD, PhD, medical director of Clinical Research and Genetics, we are taking concrete steps to expand access and improve representation, supported by a $400,000 grant from the Gilead Foundation.

📖 Read more about our approach and vision for the future in this Association of Cancer Care Centers Buzz feature:
👉 https://bit.ly/4ntebwh

About 85% of current participants in cancer clinical trials are White middle-class men. This lack of diversity results in findings that are not necessarily replicable to all patients.

Leaders at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center are addressing this disparity by rebuilding their clinical trials program from the ground up, with diverse enrollment a cornerstone of their philosophy.

To learn more about Mary Bird Perkins’ approach to clinical trials and the center’s plans for their $400,000 grant from the Gilead Foundation, ACCCBuzz spoke with Victor Lin, MD, PhD, medical director of Clinical Research and Genetics.

Read more at https://hubs.li/Q03JNSkx0

09/18/2025

We're rolling out a new way to say thanks. ❤️ Introducing our online Gratitude Gram Wall!

Every day at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, we witness extraordinary moments of compassion and strength. Now, you have a way to honor those who have impacted your cancer journey by sharing a few words of appreciation.

Patients, caregivers, and loved ones are invited to post messages of thanks, whether anonymously or signed with your name. Either way, your words can uplift and inspire others along the way.

✨ Visit our Gratitude Gram page to share your message: https://marybird.org/giving/gratitude-gram-wall

We thank you for recognizing the people who make a difference and spread joy and gratitude across our community.

09/17/2025

Free cancer screenings coming soon to a community near you! ✨🎉

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center invites you to our Live Well this Fall — with free, family-friendly community health days where you can access cancer screenings and health resources.

Save your date!

📍 Live Well Ascension (Gonzales Area Foundation)
Oct. 4 • 9 AM – 1 PM • Jambalaya Park

📍 Live Well Northshore (Benjamin Blanchard Memorial Foundation)
Oct. 18 • 9 AM – 1 PM • Covington Trailhead

📍 Live Well Bayou
Nov. 1 • 9 AM – 1 PM • Terrebonne General Health System

🩺 Screenings include breast, colorectal, prostate and skin cancer. Additional health resources will be available onsite.

Appointments are required. Sign up today: pogo.marybird.com

Early detection through screenings saves lives—don’t miss your opportunity to take part in these important community events.

09/17/2025

We were proud to be out in the Opelousas community, connecting with local leaders at the Opelousas Kiwanis Club meeting to share how Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is working to expand access to early detection, education, and cancer care across Louisiana.

Special thanks to Renee Fontenot for representing Mary Bird Perkins and helping spark great conversations about how we can work together to lessen the burden of cancer in the region.

Thank you to the Opelousas Kiwanis Club for the warm welcome and for your commitment to building healthier communities. 💜

Opelousas General Health System

09/16/2025

✨ Tomorrow night in Covington: Together We Triumph Cancer Series ✨

Join us for a free evening of resources, expert insight, and community support for survivors, caregivers, and anyone impacted by cancer.

📅 TOMORROW, September 17
🍽 Dinner: 5:00 p.m. | Panel: 6:00 p.m.
📍 Greater Covington Center

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and leave empowered to thrive beyond cancer.

RSVP here ➡ https://marybird.org/covington/cancer-series/

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

06/20/2025

📣 Meet Dr. Michael Dzeda, a board-certified radiation oncologist now serving patients at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center locations in Hammond and at Baton Rouge General.

Dr. Dzeda brings decades of experience and a compassionate approach to treating head and neck, breast and skin cancers, as well as select benign conditions. We're proud to have him on the Mary Bird Perkins team, delivering expert care close to home. ❤️

06/12/2025

“They made my journey easier” – Chris Hitchens, colorectal cancer survivor, on Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s patient navigation program. From answering questions to helping coordinate care and break down barriers, our patient navigation team is 100% focused on helping cancer patients and their loved ones throughout treatment and survivorship.

To learn more, visit marybird.org/service/patient-navigation-and-social-services/.

06/06/2025

What a celebration! 💛

Thank you to everyone who joined us in honoring our incredible cancer survivors.
To our survivors, your courage and determination inspire us every day. We are grateful to walk alongside you and to continue fighting cancer together, every step of the way. 👣

🎗️ Tag a survivor you’d like to honor.

05/21/2025

🎉 Join us for a special celebration during National Cancer Survivor Month!
You're invited to our Survivorship Celebration on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Hammond (15728 Jay Smith MD Drive).

🦋 Enjoy a monarch butterfly release, cupcakes, and special guests as we honor and celebrate survivors.
Dedicate a butterfly in honor of a loved one. Purchase here: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/f/5d3q/n?vid=1joy4m

📞 RSVP encouraged: (985) 875-5325

04/23/2025

The Bourbon Raffle drawing is tomorrow! 🥃 Don't miss your chance to get tickets today: rafflecreator.com/pages/46375/bourbon-raffle-2025

DON’T WAIT – LAST CHANCE! 🥃

The Bourbon Raffle ENDS TONIGHT at 11:59 PM (April 23) – don’t miss your shot at winning rare bourbon bottles! While you're at it, you’ll also be supporting life-changing cancer care at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Covington and Hammond.

📅 Live Drawing: April 24th
🎟️ Get your tickets before it’s too late: https://bit.ly/4iYS3XN

Every ticket purchased helps enhance cancer care in our communities.❤️

03/17/2025

🎉 The 2025 Bourbon Raffle is here! 🎉
Help us reach our $120,000 goal this year—and $500,000 in five years—by purchasing your $20 ticket today! With 50+ incredible bourbon prizes up for grabs, this is your chance to win big while making a difference.
🎟️ Get your tickets now: rafflecreator.com/pages/46375/bourbon-raffle-2025?fbclid=IwY2xjawJFPvVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcmKl4D_9IhZfLSJh8xzOTskhQHC40geo-0ih6tU6i5U-B3ZaxkGKcIWTg_aem_k0ZDLpGjjxB0uzrwwTlfRw
📅 Live drawing: April 24
Every ticket goes back to support our patients, so let’s raise a glass and reach our goal together! 🥃

03/12/2025

Cheers to our amazing Sweetheart Court for their dedication and hard work in raising $10,000 to support local cancer patients! 💖 Your passion for making a difference is truly inspiring, and we are so grateful for each of you.

A special congratulations to our Queen of Hearts 2025, Jennifer Owens! 👑 Thank you all for being part of this incredible inaugural Sweetheart Court. We can't wait to see this tradition grow!

03/10/2025

Thank you to our incredible sponsors for making Gal’s Night Out such a meaningful and impactful evening! 💖 Your support helps us provide vital care for local cancer patients, and we couldn’t do it without you!

Charles Partsch, Cretin Townsend Homes, Hancock Whitney, Niagara Bottling, Picsey Photo Booth, Rebecca Davis Lee, Ross Downing Chevrolet, Star Service, Inc, Cashe Coudrain & Bass Attorneys at Law, Cate Street Seafood Station, Emery & James, Ltd. Gohres Insurance, First Bank, Streetside Market, Team Automotive Group and The Boston Restaurant

03/07/2025

Thank you to our incredible presenting sponsor, Republic Finance, for making Gal’s Night Out a night to remember! 💖 Your generosity and support help us make a meaningful impact in the lives of local cancer patients, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

We’re so grateful for your commitment to our mission!

02/27/2025

Thank you so much to everyone who made Gal's Night Out in Hammond, presented by Republic Finance, such a success! 💖

We’re honored to serve our community and help those in need. A huge thank you to Jacmel Inn Restaurant for hosting us in such a beautiful space, and to our amazing emcee, Kati Morse LeBreton, for keeping the night lively!

A special shoutout to our Sweetheart Court for their dedication to raising funds for local cancer patients. 👑 Together, we raised over $48,000 to provide life-changing care for those in need!

We’re also so grateful to our sponsors and host committee for making this event possible, to Picsey Photo Booth for adding extra fun to the night, and Modern Glow Photography for capturing every special moment. And of course, a big thank you to DJ Keaton Carter for keeping the vibes high throughout the night!

Thank you all for coming together and making a difference. We’re already excited for next year! 🎉

02/27/2025

A huge thank you to Modern Glow Photography for capturing all the special moments at Gal’s Night Out in Hammond! 📸💖 Your beautiful photos help us relive an unforgettable night. Check out all the photos in our event album!