Mobile screenings go where the need is

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Early Bird staff members conducted free cancer screenings Saturday in their medical mobile truck at Walmart in Bayou Vista.
The staff works in conjunction with Woman’s Hospital, using its mammogram truck.
Providing mobile cancer screenings “gives a sense of awareness, accessibility, and quick convenience in neighborhoods with limited access …,” said Hope Jeff, Perkins’ Cancer Center outreach coordinator for Regions 3 and 9.
Screenings for breast cancer, colorectal cancer and skin cancer were conducted and required no health insurance.
However, if a person scheduled a breast cancer screening and has health insurance, mammogram charges were billed to the insurance, said Alyssa Avet, Perkins’ Cancer Center early detection specialist for Region 3.
October is breast cancer awareness month.
Paulette Watson, a Walmart employee, saw cancer screening flyers at work.
It had been a while since her last mammogram. She felt compelled to set up an appointment.
“One of my cousins was diagnosed with breast cancer so I needed to double check …,” said Watson. “The experience was wonderful. The staff and everybody were so nice.”
Watson brought her sister along this year to the breast cancer screening.
Melissa Michel stopped by for a skin cancer screening with Dr. Ahmad Jabbar, LSU Health Science Center second-year dermatology resident at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.
In the midst of a conversation about health insurance and screenings, Michel said her breast cancer screening last year led to a cancer diagnosis.
Michel visited a friend at University Medical Center in New Orleans. She complained to her friend about a burning sensation in one of her breasts.
Michel thought it was due to a new workout regime. Her friend advised her to get it checked out at University Medical Center.
Michel discovered she had cancer and that she was pregnant at 41.
“Me and my baby are breast cancer survivors,” Michel said.
She named her daughter Aaleyah, which means “the greatest gift of God.”
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s mission is “improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer through expert treatment, compassionate care, early detection, research and education,” according to the center’s website.
The early bird staff travels to 18 parishes conducting around 7,000 screenings per year.
As far as convenience goes, “I love it,” Watson said. “I’m going to come every year.”
They also offer screenings for prostate and oral cancer.