Recognizing the importance of early detection of cancers, The Rapides Foundation in 2009 unveiled the Cancer Screening Project in response to its 2005 Community Health Assessment that found too many Central Louisiana residents were not getting screened for breast, cervical and colon cancers. Early screening for certain cancers can be cost-effective and promote longer, healthier lives.
The Cancer Screening Project is part of The Rapides Foundation’s Healthcare Access Initiative, which is designed to foster the establishment and expansion of primary, behavioral and quality patient-centered health services through integration with community health clinics, and address screenings, medication access and related medical manpower. CMAP administers the Cancer Screening Project.
The project seeks to increase access to important cancer screenings by bringing them to Central Louisiana parishes via a mobile cancer screening unit. The mobile unit is a partnership between The Rapides Foundation, CMAP and the Partners in Wellness Program at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center at LSU Health Shreveport. It travels to communities for two-day clinics, where patients receive digital mammograms, cervical screenings and FIT colon cancer screening take-home tests. These services are offered for free for people who meet age, income and insurance guidelines.