Southwest Michigan residents are invited to attend Lakeland HealthCare’s free “Cancer, Health and Healing” events, scheduled for Thursday, April 22 at the Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services, St. Joseph.

To honor National Cancer Control Month this April, Lakeland HealthCare is helping community members learn the importance of adopting healthy lifestyle habits and following cancer-screening recommendations. According to the American Cancer Society, about one-third of the 500,000 cancer deaths expected to occur in the United States each year can be attributed to lifestyle factors, such as being overweight or obese, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity. Another 170,000 deaths will be caused by tobacco use alone.

As part of the “Cancer, Health and Healing” program, Lakeland will present an educational trade fair from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to talk with health care professionals about the latest advances in oncology services, including cancer research studies, robotic surgery and smoking cessation resources, among others. Community partners and support groups, such as the American Cancer Society and Berrien County Cancer Services, will be in attendance. Free colorectal cancer screening kits will be available.

A speaker series event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Speakers will discuss the most recent advances in breast, lung, urologic and colon cancer treatments, including imaging, surgery, radiation oncology and stereotactic radiosurgery. Throughout the day, project team members will give a preview of the Lakeland HealthCare Regional Cancer Center, a new medical facility that will provide a single location for nearly all of patients’ cancer care needs, including diagnostic imaging, chemotherapy, screenings and education. Lakeland will break ground on the cancer center this month.