The College is working with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to promote breast cancer screening.
By Alex Utano, associate editor, ACR Bulletin
With so much divisiveness in the current political climate, it’s reassuring to see politicians — regardless of party — come together to make a positive impact in the lives of millions of Americans. This past October, the second annual Mammography Monday initiative took place. Every Monday in October, members of Congress from both parties post a message or educational material and resources about breast cancer screening and its importance. “In this world where everything is so divisive, I think it’s encouraging for people to see that both sides care about an issue that is nonpartisan,” says Ted Burnes, senior director of political affairs and RADPAC® at ACR.
Even through the federal government shutdown, members of Congress still shared messages on social media on why women should get their annual mammogram and the importance of early detection. Some also bolstered these messages with breast cancer statistics. For example, one in eight women in the U.S. will get breast cancer in their lifetime, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) pointed out.
The American College of Radiology Association (ACRA®) worked tirelessly to spearhead this effort through RADPAC, the political action committee of ACRA . RADPAC regularly meets with members of Congress to discuss radiology in the political spectrum. One example is the annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game, of which RADPAC and the ACRA are a sponsor. The 2025 event, which was attended by Amy K. Patel, MD, chair of the ACR’s Radiology Advocacy Network and RADPAC, and ACR CEO Dana H. Smetherman, MD, MPH, MBA, FACR, was an opportunity for ACR to promote the Mammography Monday effort to lawmakers.
One of the first to show interest in the initiative was U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), who enthusiastically led the charge in October 2024, the first year of the initiative. “Rep. Cammack is a friend to the house of radiology,” says Patel. “She has been pro-radiology on a lot of pieces of legislation but particularly has been passionate about breast cancer awareness. It comes down to what she can do to help those in her district — emphasizing getting screened and educating patients on the importance of early detection.”
This year, U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) ramped up her participation, visiting a radiology practice in Michigan and helping to promote Mammography Monday on her personal X account. She was one of seven representatives who participated, along with Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Lofgren, Lucy McBath (D-GA), and Andrea Salinas (D-OR). Seven participants was a significant bump in participation from the three that stepped up in 2024. As time progresses, Patel and Burnes hope to see not only increased House participation, but Senate participation as well.
I think that social media can be a great way to reach patients because almost everyone has a smartphone. We can reach patients in those rural, disparate areas where they may not have access to these facts.
Connecting with as many people as possible is the goal of Mammography Monday — and social media proved the best way to do just that. “I think that social media can be a great way to reach patients because almost everyone has a smartphone,” Patel says. “We can reach patients in those rural, disparate areas where they may not have access to these facts.” According to Patel, with some members of Congress having follower counts ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands, X and Instagram have been great platforms for participants to promote their message. Video messages have been especially helpful, as they may offer a more personal feel for viewers looking to learn more.
Burnes adds that using social media to share statistics and personal messages not only reduces misinformation and spreads encouragement to the right audience, but it can also clean up an otherwise toxic space with a message of unity that allays stress and fear. “In a day and age where everything is so negative within politics and Congress, it’s a great opportunity for our Representatives to bring positivity to this environment,” Burnes says.
ACR will continue to promote breast cancer awareness and encourage members to share information about the importance of getting an annual mammogram — even though October’s Mammography Mondays have concluded. “We would love for people to spread the message in their communities, whether it’s in their private practices or academic institutions,” Burnes says. Patel hopes more radiologists and radiation oncologists will get involved in the effort. “We would love to have our members amplify efforts with us,” she says. “It would be great to get even more radiologists and radiation oncologists participating so we can share similar messaging week by week to reach as many patients as possible.”
According to U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), “Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an important time for women to ensure they’re up to date on routine care that saves lives,” says Scholten. “I’ve been proud to champion the #MammographyMonday video series on social media and join my fellow Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues in spreading the word about routine screenings. As the first woman and mom to hold my seat in Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, I am laser-focused on ensuring that women everywhere have access to the care they need to thrive, including preventative measures such as mammography. Thank you ACR for its important work to advocate for women's healthcare."
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