LAPLACE – In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the staff at River Parishes Hospital is taking an active role in building awareness of breast cancer in the River Parishes community. The Radiology Department staff began selling breast cancer T-shirts to employees and visitors. Throughout October, employees are encouraged to wear their shirts to work every Monday to show their support for those individuals battling breast cancer and to pay tribute to those who have lost their battle to the disease.

So far, the staff has sold over 150 shirts, and the orders keep coming. Proceeds from the shirt sales will benefit the hospital’s teams in the 2012 St. John Parish Relay For Life event.

“Seeing so many employees wearing the ‘Hope’ shirts will make our patients and visitors aware of the prevalence of breast cancer and the importance of having yearly mammograms,” said Ann LeBlanc, radiology director and certified mammography technologist. “Also, as an added incentive to encourage our residents to have a yearly preventive screening, we give a small gift to each of our patients after their mammogram.”

For more information about the imaging capabilities at River Parishes Hospital, call the Radiology Department at 985-651-1570.