Guardant Health Partners to Boost Colon Cancer Screening in Underserved Communities
Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH), a leader in precision oncology, has announced a collaboration with Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation and Partners in Wellness, a mobile cancer screening program through LSU Health Shreveport and Ochsner LSU Health—Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, to enhance colorectal cancer screening in northern and central Louisiana.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, despite being highly treatable when caught early. In 2024, an estimated 53,000 people in the U.S. will succumb to the disease. The northern Louisiana region, in particular, faces a higher-than-average rate of colorectal cancer, with seven out of the eleven highest prevalence areas in the state located there. Colon cancer also disproportionately affects African American populations, who make up 59% of the patients served by Partners in Wellness.
Based in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Partners in Wellness program operates mobile screening vans, which travel to over 30 communities in the region, providing critical cancer screenings at no cost, regardless of a patient’s insurance status or ability to pay. Thanks to a generous donation from Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation, the mobile vans will now offer the Shield blood test, a simple blood draw that screens for colon and rectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is one of the key areas of focus for the Faith Fight Finish Foundation, founded by Dak Prescott in memory of his mother, Margaret “Peggy” Prescott, who passed away in 2013 at age 52 after battling Stage 4 colon cancer.
“Early detection of colon cancer—when it’s most treatable—can make all the difference,” Prescott said. “Now, screening can be as simple as a blood draw. I’m honored to work with Guardant Health and Partners in Wellness to make cancer screening more accessible and convenient, giving more people in Louisiana the chance to detect cancer early and spend more time with loved ones.”
Since its inception in 1999, Partners in Wellness has served more than 20,000 patients, providing over 50,000 cancer screenings at no cost. By introducing the Shield blood test, the program is expanding its ability to detect colon and rectal cancer earlier in high-risk populations.
“Screening for colorectal cancer is crucial in Louisiana, particularly in the northern region, where incidence and mortality rates are alarmingly high,” said Dr. Richard Mansour, Interim Director of Feist-Weiller Cancer Center. “We are thankful for Dak Prescott’s support, as it is enabling early screening for many individuals in underserved communities who may otherwise not have had access to these essential services.”
Screening Events for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
To mark Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, Partners in Wellness will host several mobile screening events across northern and central Louisiana. Community members eligible for colorectal cancer screening will be able to receive the Shield blood test during these events, regardless of their insurance or financial status. Test results will be available within approximately two weeks.
Screening for colorectal cancer can save lives, especially when the disease is detected early. The Shield blood test offers a non-invasive, convenient screening option for patients, significantly improving accessibility to early detection, especially for those who may not have easy access to traditional healthcare services.
For more details on screening events or to schedule an appointment, individuals can contact Partners in Wellness at 1-800-582-4523 or visit their website.
About Guardant Health
Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company with a mission to improve patient outcomes by providing critical insights into cancer. Since its founding in 2012, Guardant Health has been at the forefront of transforming patient care by offering advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data, and artificial intelligence (AI) analytics. The company’s tests play a vital role across all stages of cancer care, from early detection and monitoring recurrence in early-stage cancer to treatment selection for advanced-stage cancer. Guardant Health’s groundbreaking technology is transforming the way cancer is diagnosed and treated, giving patients more time to live without cancer.
Guardant Health’s collaboration with Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation and Partners in Wellness is part of its ongoing commitment to improve cancer care accessibility and outcomes, especially for underserved populations in high-risk regions. By providing cutting-edge screening tools like the Shield blood test, Guardant Health aims to help close the gap in cancer care access and ensure more people can benefit from early detection.
