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From Awareness to Action

Writer: The Aafiyah Project
The Aafiyah Project
Oct 5
6 min read

Updated: Oct 14

Turning breast cancer awareness into action, access, and care across the DMV


Written by Ridha Koirala

Edited by Dr. ‘Demi Fauziyyah Adebo-Adelaja



Every October, pink seems to show up everywhere. Pink ribbons. Pink shirts. Pink signs. Pink profile pictures. They are meaningful symbols of support, but what happens after October ends?

 

For a woman who has been putting off a mammogram because she does not have insurance, a pink ribbon alone does not solve that problem. For someone who finds a change in her breast but fears what an appointment might cost, awareness alone may not be enough. For a busy mother, student, caregiver, or working woman who keeps putting her own health at the bottom of her list, another reminder to "get screened" may be easy to scroll past.

 

That is why this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the conversation should go one step further.

 

Where can women go for help?

What can you do today?

And what happens if you cannot afford care?

 

For women across Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, there are answers to those questions.





 

Start With Something Simple: Know What Is Normal for You

Knowing your body does not mean examining yourself every day or becoming worried about every small change. It means paying attention.

 

Breasts naturally look and feel different from person to person, and they can change with age, weight, pregnancy, menstrual cycles, and medications. What matters is recognizing when something is new or unusual for you.

 

The CDC lists possible warning signs such as a new lump in the breast or underarm, thickening or swelling, skin dimpling or irritation, redness or flaky skin, nipple changes or discharge, changes in breast size or shape, and pain in any area of the breast. Having one of these symptoms does not automatically mean cancer, but a new or concerning change should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

 

Think of it less as "checking for cancer" and more as checking in with yourself. You know your body every day. If something changes, you deserve to have someone listen.

 

 

Put the Appointment on the Calendar

There is always a reason to put our health off.

 

"I'll do it after this semester."

"I'll go when work slows down."

"I'll make the appointment next month."

 

Then another month passes.

 

For women at average risk, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force currently recommends a mammogram every two years from ages 40 through 74. People at higher risk may need a different screening plan, which is why family and personal health history are worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

 

A mammogram cannot prevent breast cancer, but screening can find some cancers before symptoms appear, when they may be easier to treat. Getting mammograms on a regular schedule can also lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. If you do not know when you are supposed to start, you do not need to memorize a complicated medical guideline. At your next appointment, ask:

 

"Based on my age, family history, and personal risk, when should I get a mammogram?"

 

That one question can start the conversation.

 

 

Before Your Next Family Gathering, Ask One More Question

We usually know the funny parts of our family history. Who makes the best food. Who is always late. Who inherited grandma's personality. But what about our family's health history?

 

Ask relatives whether anyone in the family has had breast or ovarian cancer and, if they are comfortable sharing, approximately how old they were when they were diagnosed. Then write it down.

 

Family history is not something to panic about. It is information you can bring to a healthcare professional when discussing your individual breast cancer risk and screening needs. It might feel like an awkward conversation at first, but health deserves a place in family conversations too.

 

 

"I Don't Have Insurance."

This may be one of the most important parts of this article.

 

Please do not assume that being uninsured means you have to skip breast cancer screening.

 

There are programs in the DMV specifically designed to help remove financial and practical barriers.

 

 

If You Live in Maryland

The Maryland Department of Health has cancer screening programs throughout the state that may provide no-cost cancer screenings, diagnostic services, and connections to treatment for eligible Maryland residents.

 

Eligibility generally includes being a Maryland resident ages 40 to 64, having a household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, and having no insurance or insurance that does not fully cover cancer screening. The state provides a county-by-county directory, so women can find the program serving their own community.

 

That means a woman in Baltimore, Montgomery County, or Prince George's County can start with the program that serves her own community. Not sure where to start? The state's Breast and Cervical Cancer Program can connect you with the best local program for you.

 

Maryland Breast and Cervical Cancer Program: 1-800-477-9774

 


If You Live in Washington DC / DMV metropolitan area

Sometimes the mammogram itself is not the only barrier.

  1. How are you getting there?

  2. Who do you call?

  3. What happens if another test is needed?

  4. How do you navigate a healthcare system you may not understand?

 

DC Health's WISH Cancer Screening Program is especially useful because it serves eligible people with no or limited insurance who live in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.

WISH offers free breast cancer tests and additional testing when needed. The program also provides patient navigation and free rides to appointments.

 

That transportation assistance is important because access to healthcare is about more than having a clinic nearby.

 

WISH Cancer Screening Program: 202-442-5900 (Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.)

 

Save the number. Share it with someone else. You may not need it today, but someone in your community might.

 

 

If You Live in Virginia

Virginia has its own program called Every Woman's Life.

 

The program helps eligible uninsured, lower-income Virginia women access free breast and cervical cancer screening. For women ages 40 through 64 who meet the program requirements, services can include clinical breast exams, mammograms, and testing for abnormal findings. Certain women ages 18 through 39 who are considered high risk or have symptoms may also qualify for diagnostic services.

 

Women can call 1-866-EWL-4YOU (1-866-395-4968) to be connected with a screening site.

And there is another helpful detail: if you do not qualify for the program but still need help paying for services, Virginia says you can call that same number for a list of other resources in your community.

 

 

Try the "Three Women" Challenge This October

Here is one way we can make Breast Cancer Awareness Month more personal.

 

Think of three women you care about.

 

Your mother.

Your sister.

Your friend.

Your aunt.

Your coworker.

Your neighbor.

Or yourself.

 

Send a simple message:

"Hey, random question, but are you up to date on your health screenings?"

 

 

It does not need to be dramatic. You do not need to scare anyone or lecture them. Sometimes people just need a reminder from someone who cares. And if the response is, "I don't have insurance," or "I can't afford it," send them one of the resources above.

 

Now awareness has become action!

 


Make Yourself a Promise

  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month does not need to end with October.

  • Before this month ends, choose one thing you are going to do for your health.

  • Maybe you will finally schedule the appointment you have been postponing.

  • Maybe you will ask your mother about your family's health history.

  • Maybe you will save a free screening program's number in your phone.

  • Maybe you will talk to a healthcare professional about a change you have been ignoring.

  • Maybe you will send this article to someone who needs it.

  • Whatever your step is, it counts.

 

Because breast cancer awareness should not only be about knowing that breast cancer exists. It should help people understand what they can do, where they can go, and who can help them. Pink ribbons have helped start the conversation. Now it is our turn to keep it going.

 

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you notice a change in your breast, please contact a healthcare professional.

 

 

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