Cancer doesn’t wait – but thanks to UT Southwestern’s Moncrief Cancer Institute and the compassionate generosity of the McKesson Foundation and other supporters, more North Texans have access to the tools and resources to fight back.

“Cancer screening is a process, not a single event,” said Keith Argenbright, M.D., Director of Moncrief Cancer Institute and a Professor at UT Southwestern’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Expanding Moncrief’s screening efforts into the community has been a process requiring constant outreach to meet a growing need.”

This year, more than half a million new cases of breast cancer and prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed nationwide. Meanwhile, the American Cancer Society reports that colorectal cancer diagnoses nearly doubled among adults under the age of 54 compared with a decade ago.

Here in North Texas, Moncrief Cancer Institute is making a lifesaving impact, detecting 72.3% of cancers at earlier and more treatable stages versus the state average of 37%. “The results are undeniable,” Dr. Argenbright said.

Reaching communities in need

Many Texans face significant obstacles in accessing preventive care like cancer screenings, for reasons including cost, transportation challenges, limited health literacy, or language barriers. These obstacles can make it nearly impossible for individuals in underserved communities to receive early cancer screenings. With the McKesson Foundation’s support, Moncrief Cancer Institute is addressing these challenges head-on.

One of the McKesson Foundation’s goals is to reduce the burden of all forms of cancer. As such, it has recently offered a generous one-year grant to support Moncrief Cancer Institute’s cancer screening program aimed at solving the persistent riddle of prostate cancer, especially as it disproportionately affects minority patients.

Getting the tests needed to detect cancers before they have a chance to spread has proved difficult for many people in major swaths of North Texas. Among other efforts, the Foundation’s funding has supported mobile screening clinics that remove roadblocks to care and reduce the impact of cancer through early detection.

Vantrille Patterson
Colorectal cancer survivor
Uninsured, the former vocalist discovered blood in her stools. Ms. Patterson went to Moncrief Cancer Institute, where she received a free colorectal cancer screening kit. After further testing, Ms. Patterson was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Because of the resources available at Moncrief Cancer Institute, Ms. Patterson’s cancer was detected early. She is now cancer-free. “I don’t know how I would have done this without Moncrief. I didn’t have the know-how or resources to get screened for cancer, much less navigate a cancer diagnosis on my own. There is no testimony without a test, and I’m thankful for this experience. It was life-changing,” she shares.

According to McKesson Foundation President Melissa Thompson, “We found Moncrief Cancer Institute’s approach to prostate cancer screening particularly thoughtful and effective in reaching patients to provide them with screenings and, when necessary, referrals to affordable care,” she said. “Their mobile units and Saturday screening events can be the difference between low income, under, or uninsured patients getting their annual screenings or not.”

One of the most effective initiatives involved the deployment of Moncrief’s two mobile screening clinics to provide breast, cervical, and prostate screenings for underserved patients across North Texas. These state-of-the art clinics are equipped with private exam rooms and advanced 3D mammography equipment not available in some rural areas.

Over the last two years, Moncrief has screened nearly 10,000 North Texans for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer. Thanks to the addition of the second mobile clinic, funded in part by philanthropy, screening rates in Tarrant County have doubled for breast and prostate cancer, the most common cancers.

“From the beginning, the McKesson Foundation understood the need for Moncrief to increase cancer screenings in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas,” Dr. Argenbright said. “We’re tremendously grateful to have an even larger impact on the health of our community, thanks to the McKesson Foundation’s generosity.”

Innovating for early detection

Moncrief’s advanced approaches extend beyond just mobile clinics. Utilizing at-home stool test kits, Moncrief is reaching more of the population at risk for colorectal cancer, the third most common cause of cancer death in Texas.

Hector Chavarria
Prostate cancer survivor
Hector Chavarria and his wife, Milagro, both have family histories of cancer. “I’ve seen many people delay preventive screenings only to discover later they have cancer,” Mr. Chavarria said, which is why he and his wife make it a priority to get screened at Moncrief Cancer Institute each year. Without Moncrief’s free breast and prostate cancer screening programs, Hector and Milagro would face a higher risk of detecting cancer at advanced stages. “We trust Moncrief to help us take care of our health so we can be around to spend time with our grandchildren at the lake and host barbecues with our family.”

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, in 2024 nearly 13,000 Texans were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 4,500 lost their lives to it. Yet, as Dr. Argenbright noted, “the problem today is not a lack of screening methods. The problem is that as many as 40% of people between 45 and 75 years old are not up to date on their recommended screenings.” Without screenings, cancer can grow undetected, making treatment more difficult and less effective.

When it comes to colorectal cancer, colonoscopies and stool-based tests are successful at detecting early cancers.

A lifesaving partnership

Eligible residents can receive free breast and prostate cancer screenings through Moncrief’s mobile clinics, which are ADA-accessible and equipped with the latest medical technologies, including digital 3D mammography and high-speed telemedicine links to UT Southwestern’s expert oncology team. These clinics, along with the expanded efforts to provide colorectal cancer testing, are saving lives across the region.

“The cancers we’re screening for have better outcomes when they are caught early,” shared Dr. Argenbright. “Screening is the key to early detection, and the McKesson Foundation knows this.”

Thanks to the McKesson Foundation’s generosity and continued support, Moncrief Cancer Institute is breaking down barriers and bringing hope to countless families across North Texas and beyond. Together, they are proving that early detection truly is a lifesaver.