Economic DevelopmentNonprofitsHealthcare

Proactive business decisions are improving cancer treatment and early detection

April 6, 2026

Smiling female doctor encouraging patient in clinic — AT THE CENTER: Nearly 80% of Louisiana’s land is classified as rural, and for many residents in those communities a cancer diagnosis has historically carried an added burden: The nearest high-quality treatment center is hours away. The Capital Region, shaped by pockets of poverty, high rates of modifiable risk factors and long-standing gaps in access to specialist care, sits at the center of this challenge. (iSTOCK.COM/Morsa Images)

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Two of the region’s leading cancer organizations—Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Ochsner Cancer Center—are pushing deeper into underserved communities, deploying new technology and rethinking how care is delivered. The challenges of access, staffing and financing remain formidable, but the distance between patients and quality care is shrinking. Nearly 80% of Louisiana’s land is classified

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