By Teri Fontenot, Woman’s President and CEO

While you may think of Woman’s as a place to have your baby, you may not know that our roots are actually in cancer detection. In 1958, a test for cervical cancer was being developed through the use of  Pap smears. A cancer detection laboratory was established by one of our founders, and he donated the proceeds to Woman’s, thus providing one of the sources of funds to build the hospital. The Cary Dougherty Cancer Detection Laboratory, still in operation today, is one of the most respected in the nation, having processed more than one million Pap tests since its inception.

And now, by strengthening our partnership with Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, we are providing the highest quality breast and GYN cancer care in the region. For many years, Woman’s and Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center have worked together to detect breast cancer.

In spring 2018, the Breast and GYN Cancer Pavilion will open on Woman’s campus and will provide comprehensive cancer treatment, multidisciplinary care, clinical trials, survivorship programs and more. Our partnership combines our expertise in caring for women with breast or gynecologic cancer to provide the most advanced, coordinated care. Together, we will prevent, detect and fight breast and gynecologic cancers.

We call this partnership The Sisterhood; alongside your family, your friends, and your circle of support, we promise to be there for you in the fight against breast and gynecologic cancer. Together, we are your sisterhood.

I am so proud to see Woman’s come full circle – from starting with a small cancer detection lab, to now having an amazing pavilion focused solely on cancer patients, and a powerful partnership with Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center to provide comprehensive care in one location.

For more information about the Breast and GYN Cancer Pavilion and our partnership with Mary Bird Perkins-Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center, visit sisterhooodstrong.org.