‘The mammograms saved our lives’
Four sisters, four routine mammogram screenings, four breast cancer diagnoses.
For Sheri Mathis, an alumna of The University of Texas at Arlington, it was especially stunning. Her family had no history of breast cancer, and none of the sisters carry the BRCA genes that make developing breast cancer more likely.
Some may find the diagnoses unlucky, but Mathis has a more positive outlook.
“I fully believe that we are the lucky ones—the mammograms saved our lives,” said Mathis (’85 BBA). “But I’ve since learned that not everyone is quite so lucky. Too many women lack access to these basic screening mammograms.”
Even mid-treatment, Mathis—now a two-time breast cancer conqueror, as she likes to say—knew she wanted to do something about this health care disparity. Borne from a desire to help and to turn her experience into something positive and empowering, she went to work founding Mammogram Poster Girls, a reference to what she called herself and her sisters after their diagnoses.
“I have found that when something like the diagnosis happens, I have to put that energy somewhere,” Mathis said. “Obviously, I’m putting the energy into taking care of myself, but I also don’t want the focus to be so much on me. I want to take that energy and put it out into the universe.”
Since its founding in 2018, Mammogram Poster Girls has launched a number of initiatives focused on providing underserved communities access to screening and diagnostic mammograms. To date, the organization has provided over 1,500 screening and diagnostic procedures for early detection of breast cancer.
Mathis launched Mammogram Poster Girls’ signature event—Shop Eat Drink PINK!—after her second breast cancer diagnosis. An annual night of fundraising that combines shopping, food and drinks, live music, and more, it also includes an on-site mobile mammography unit to provide free mammograms to attendees.
“I felt like I had to do it for the girls,” she said. “For me, for my sisters, and for all of my nieces. I can’t stop because there are too many women out there who need access.”
Another program, Two-Fer Tuesday, was launched in collaboration with local hospitals and restaurants during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when screening and diagnostic mammograms at hospitals and clinics were only available to the highest-risk patients. On the first Tuesday of every month, Mammogram Poster Girls travels along with hospital mobile mammography units to provide free mammograms to medically underserved neighborhoods throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. Patients who show up to receive screenings also receive gift cards, purchased by Mammogram Poster Girls, to local minority- and women-owned restaurants.
“Get a mammogram, get a meal—it’s a two-fer,” Mathis said. “In this case, it helped women, but it was win-win to help the restaurants at a time when so many businesses were struggling. And we’ve continued Two-Fer Tuesday because it continues to address an important ongoing need.”
A more recent initiative, Jamie’s Light of Love, provides free screening mammograms for high-risk under/uninsured women who are under the age of 40, which is the recommended age to begin mammogram screenings. The program is named after a Mammogram Poster Girls supporter, Jamie Rodriguez, who died of breast cancer at age 37.
“There just aren’t a lot of resources out there for younger women, and they’re really having to dig in and advocate for themselves,” Mathis said. “So we’re here to help when we see that need, to address it and figure out a solution.”
To any woman out there with concerns about her breast health, Mathis’ advice is simple.
“I always tell people, ‘Just get the damn mammogram,’” she said. “Listen to your body. Listen to your gut and go get checked.”
And if you need help with access, Mammogram Poster Girls is here for you.
- Written by Amber Scott – Marketing, Messaging and Engagement