By Megan Ripley, RN, OCN, the specialty services manager at Sheridan Memorial Hospital and an oncology nurse at the Welch Cancer Center
We get it. Nobody circles a mammogram on the calendar with stars and hearts, counting down the days until the appointment.
If your screening mammograms have always been normal, it means another year of getting your breasts compressed between two plates — another year of the kindest mammography technologists telling you exactly where to put your shoulder, chin and breast all at once, like some medically necessary game of Twister.
If you’ve needed diagnostic mammograms or biopsies in the past, the annual appointment might feel like another stress-inducing task you’d rather avoid.
And if you’ve had breast cancer, walking into the room for another screening or follow-up exam can resurface fears you’d rather keep buried. Your palms might sweat. Your mind might race through every possible scenario.
We get it.
There are real fears surrounding mammograms and cancer screenings in general — and plenty of less dramatic reasons to put them off: work, family schedules, the usual. But here’s the thing: every reason to avoid scheduling an appointment is also a reason to do it anyway, and to build community in the process.
I know — building community around mammograms sounds a little silly. But it’s possible.
Every October, pink ribbons appear, breast cancer awareness events fill the calendar, and we’re reminded how important regular screenings truly are. Those reminders matter. But what if we reframed how we talk about mammograms and other cancer screenings — turning them into something that brings us together, rather than something we dread alone?
Build a village
You probably don’t think twice about inviting your best friend, mom, sister or work bestie to grab coffee, lunch or plan a spa day. So why not invite her to a mammogram, too? Even if you can’t get your appointments scheduled back-to-back, you can ask her to come along and make a day of it — grab a meal, catch a movie, go shopping or get outside together for a walk, hike, etc. Do something you enjoy. You might even turn it into an annual tradition.
While the mammogram itself usually happens alone — just you and the technologist — the journey many women face after a screening or diagnosis requires a village.
In my role, I often see people going through cancer treatment surrounded by loved ones. Friends and family hold hands during treatments. They bring meals or go for walks. They help take care of pets. They organize fundraisers. They show up.
The best ones show up before they’re asked. They reach out or stop by to help in big ways and small ones — and they’re the ones who make the first move. Be that friend.
Nobody likes mammograms, or other cancer screenings. For some, they bring fear and worry; for others, they’re just a necessary nuisance. Either way, no matter what you’re facing, it’s better with a village. Let’s start building that village sooner — creating space for each other in all of the moments.
This article originally appeared in The Sheridan Press on Oct. 19, 2026.