The “Set Your Screen” campaign is being launched by Lee Anne Pope, wife of University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope, in partnership with UK’s Markey Cancer Center.
"On the court, a good screen creates an opportunity to score. Off the court, cancer screening is a simple step that can save lives," Pope says during a psa for the "Set Your Screen" program.
Pope says the message is personal: her father died from prostate cancer at just 52, and her mother has battled breast cancer twice.
"My father wasn't diagnosed until his cancer had already advanced, yet years later, my mother's cancer was found through screening before she had any symptoms. Those experiences taught me something I believe with my whole heart: early matters," Pope said. "I wanted to help remind Kentuckians that screenings exist, that they are important, and they have the power to save lives."
Markey Cancer Center Director Dr. Mark Evers says Kentucky continues to rank among the states with some of the highest cancer rates in the nation. More than one-third of eligible Kentuckians have not received a mammogram, and screening rates for cervical, lung, and colorectal cancers also leave room for improvement.
The “Set Your Screen” campaign encourages you to talk with your health care providers about recommended screenings and follow through with setting appointments.
More information is available at Set Your Screen.
