Women Shouldn't Need Mammogram Parties to Care About Their Breasts

on October 26, 2011 at 12:56 PM

Breast Cancer Awareness Month may be winding down, but personal breast cancer awareness continues on 24/7/365, and one medical center outside Chicago wants women to know that. In their effort to encourage women to go get their annual mammogram, they've gone so far as to invite women to a party ... a mammogram party. Supposedly, it's a new trend! The thought is that packaging the screening process as a social, fun experience will comfort women who are nervous about having a mammo.

The Joliet, Illinois medical center has been hosting the lady-bonding parties about once a month for the past year, and they make a point to seek out women who have been putting off the test ... which is definitely admirable. Still, I can't help but roll my eyes a bit.

Is this really what it takes to get some women to take their health into their own hands? To take the initiative and step up to the plate to prioritize breast cancer prevention? Pink feathered boas, champagne cocktails, manicures, and massages? It all strikes me as slightly patronizing. And I'm a little discouraged by the fact that there are actually women out there who do put the screening off, for whatever reason, and it takes this kind of teeth-pulling or bribery (or however you want to see it) to get them to take care of themselves.

On the other hand, yeah, I like the idea that it brings women together in a sort of Kumbaya, "Sisterhood of the Ya-Ya Mammogram" way. If it's getting more women to line up for ta ta-squashing that will save their lives, then of course there's nothing wrong with it. I just hope that these women who have waited years to go for the screening, who are using their busy schedules as an excuse, realize they don't need a party to take care of themselves.

What do you think about "mammogram parties"?

Image via CBS

About the author Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

Filed Under: breasts, cancer, obgyn

Comments (11)

Wish2Be

on Oct 26, 2011 at 1:49 PM

I think its lame and I cant believe its real...I mean ...geezuz I am sure there is something else they could throw a party for ? You dont see pap smear parties do ya ?

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on Oct 26, 2011 at 1:51 PM

Hey Emily....stop turning this into something about you. This isnt something bash worthy. Just an FYI I was molested too and I still thik that its a lame idea to have a mamogram party. Even if they attend the party doesnt mean they are going to actually go to the appointment.

Nonmember comment from Stacey

on Oct 26, 2011 at 7:14 PM

As a Breast Cancer Survivor I can tell you that it is important to get checked. If this is the way to get women out to be checked and it saves one woman then I say keep partying.

Stormy6669

on Oct 26, 2011 at 10:18 PM

If this helps some women, then great! I see nothing wrong with it.

KristinRox

on Oct 26, 2011 at 10:35 PM

I think if people want to get together for a mammogram party, all the power to them. I think there is so many other things I could scoff at. This is for a great cause, so I say let the party begin!

CrimsonRain

on Oct 27, 2011 at 11:25 AM

There's nothing wrong with this. Some women may be afraid of mammograms for whatever reason; this will help them shed that fear. Isn't that a good thing?