By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Residents of the River Parishes will have access to free cancer screenings coming up this month as part of a push to spread awareness for early detection of various types of the disease.

Specialists from the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Houma will be conducting screenings at supermarkets and government offices across the region all this month thanks to donor gifts to the hospital, said Early Detection and Education Specialist Karla Couvillion. The screenings begin today with prostate and skin cancer screenings at Matherne’s Supermarket in LaPlace. There will also be a breast cancer screening at the Gramercy Town Hall on June 22.

“Catching issues early is the key to conquering cancer,” Couvillion said. “There is no harm in getting checked out regularly. These screenings are just an easy way to do that in a place not far from home for these residents.”

Couvillion said the screenings are free and open to all residents of the region. No appointment is necessary for the prostate and skin cancer screenings, but residents who wish to have a breast cancer screening in Gramcery must call ahead to make an appointment. Residents wishing to make appointments should call the hospital at 225-215-1234 or 888-616-4687.

The prostate screening includes a blood test and a physical exam performed by a physician. The screening is available to men 45 and older who do not have a doctor or who have not been screened for prostate cancer in the past 12 months.

The skin cancer screening will be a visual exam performed by a physician and is open to anyone has not had a skin screening in the past 12 months.

Women of all ages who have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months are eligible for the breast cancer screening. Insurance providers will be billed for mammograms, but there will be no charge for women without insurance.