PINK RIBBON GUIDE

How to Get Involved

MAMMOGRAPHY 

MATTERS

OFFICE OF WOMEN’S HEALTH
Kaveeta P. Vasisht

Dear Friends,

Help us fight breast cancer by raising awareness about the importance of 

mammograms. Mammography is the best primary screening tool to detect breast 

cancer early when it is most treatable. For years, organizations across the country 

have helped spread the word about mammograms by joining the U.S. Food & 

Drug Administration Office of Women’s Health Pink Ribbon Sunday Mammography 

Program. 

Over the years, we have expanded our program’s outreach to connect with as 

many women as possible. I am pleased to share our updated mammography 

resource, Pink Ribbon Guide: Mammography Matters. 

This Pink Ribbon Guide aims to provide you with free resources and step-by-step 

instructions to plan, promote, launch, and evaluate Pink Ribbon mammography 

awareness events in your community. Follow the four simple steps outlined in the 

guide to communicate the importance of mammograms in fighting breast cancer. 

I invite you to educate and inspire others to respond to this critical women’s health 

issue by planning a Pink Ribbon event in your community. Your efforts can promote 

action, motivate others, and potentially save lives. 

We would like to share the success of your Pink Ribbon events on our website and 

social media channels. Please email us your event stories at OWH@fda.gov. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Kaveeta P. Vasisht, M.D., Pharm.D.

Associate Commissioner for Women’s Health

Director, Office of Women’s Health

U.S. Food & Drug Administration

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GOOD NEWS: EARLY DETECTION IS THE BEST 

PROTECTION

Many of us know someone—a friend, mother, sister, or maybe even yourself—who 

has been affected by breast cancer. Approximately one in eight women in the 

United States will get breast cancer during their lifetime.1 Each year, more than 40,000 

women die from breast cancer.2 Early detection of breast cancer can help improve a 

woman’s chance of survival. 

Although mammograms cannot prevent breast cancer, a mammogram is the best 

primary screening tool to find breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and before 

it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Women should ask their healthcare 

provider if and when a mammogram is right for them.3

Pink Ribbon events help educate women about the importance of mammograms 

and encourage them to take charge of their breast health by getting regular 

mammography screenings.

• Regular mammography screenings can help save lives.

• For female breast cancer, approximately 63% of cases are diagnosed at the 

localized stage (when the cancer is found only in the breast). The five-year survival 

rate at this stage is nearly 99%.4

• Many breast lumps are not cancerous. See your doctor right away to be sure.

• The FDA regulates the standards for mammography machines and training for 

the people who provide mammograms. Certified mammography facilities in the 

United States comply with the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA). MQSA 

inspectors inspect mammography facilities to make sure they meet high-quality 

standards.

Learn more about mammography on the next page.

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MAMMOGRAPHY MATTERS

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MAMMOGRAPHY

WHAT IS A MAMMOGRAM?

A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray image 

(picture) of the breasts. A specially trained 

technologist takes several images of your 

breasts. A radiologist then examines the 

images. 

Nearly all mammograms in the United 

States are performed using digital 

mammography equipment. Both twodimensional (2D) and three-dimensional 

(3D) digital mammography are currently 

cleared by the FDA. Women should speak 

with their healthcare provider to see what 

type of mammography is right for them.

WHY SHOULD I GET A 

MAMMOGRAM?

Mammograms are the best primary way 

to screen for breast cancer. They can find 

breast lumps that are too small for a 

woman or her healthcare provider to feel.

Mammograms cannot find all problems.

Call your healthcare provider if you 

notice any change in your breasts 

such as:

• A lump

• Thickening of skin

• Liquid leaking from the nipple

• Changes in how the nipple or skin 

looks

WHEN SHOULD I GET A 

MAMMOGRAM?

Regular screenings are important, 

and the risk of breast cancer varies by 

person. Ask your healthcare provider 

when and how often you should 

schedule a mammogram and what 

type of mammography is right for you.

Learn more at 

fda.gov/consumers/women/mammograms

WHERE CAN I GET 

A MAMMOGRAM?

Facilities that offer mammograms 

in the United States must meet the 

same high standards set by FDA.

Women with disabilities should call mammography 

facilities in the area to discuss their specific needs.

Women with breast implants should inform the 

mammography facility about their implants when 

making an appointment.

Find a certified mammography facility:

 www.fda.gov/findmammography

HOW DO I GET A MAMMOGRAM?

After deciding what type of mammogram is best for 

you and scheduling an appointment, keep these 

things in mind during and after your appointment:

DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT

• You will remove clothing above 

your waist and put on a gown. 

• You stand in front of the X-ray 

machine.

• Your breast is placed on a small 

platform.

• A clear plastic plate presses down 

on your breast for a few seconds.

• Some women may find pressure 

on the breast uncomfortable. 

• The technologist takes several 

X-ray images of your breast.

AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT 

A radiologist looks at the X-ray images to 

see if there is anything that might not be 

normal in your breast.

You and your healthcare provider should 

get written results within 30 days after 

your mammogram.

Call your healthcare provider if you don’t 

get your results to ensure everything is 

normal.

Ask for a copy of your mammogram 

results. Keep it to compare with 

mammograms you get later.

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Make a Difference

There are many reasons why women do not get recommended mammography 

screenings. They include fear, time, concerns about cost, lack of knowledge about 

mammography, and limited access to healthcare services.

You can help reduce some of these barriers by distributing reliable health information, 

providing emotional support, and connecting women to local resources. The Pink 

Ribbon Guide provides the information to give you the power to make a difference.

Use this guide to help inform women about the importance of mammography, to 

provide information and resources, and to plan Pink Ribbon events. In this guide, you 

will find:

• Basic facts about mammography

• A customizable flyer and postcard to promote your event

• Information on how to host an in-person or virtual event

• Resources on mammography and breast cancer

The Guide Is Easy and Fun to Implement

The steps detailed in this guide will give you the tools and resources you need to make 

your event a success. Go to www.fda.gov/pinkribbon to find additional resources.

Help promote mammography awareness. Start planning your Pink Ribbon event today!

JUST FOLLOW THESE 4 SIMPLE STEPS

Start Planning Spread the Word Launch Your Pink 

Ribbon Activity 

Follow-Up & 

Get Feedback

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STEP 1

Start Planning

Your first and most important step in planning your Pink Ribbon event is to get the 

support of your organization. You may also need the support of your community 

leaders.

• Share the facts about mammography and the importance of educating women 

in your community about mammography screening for breast cancer.

• Get members to commit to the event.

Once you have the support you need, it is time to begin planning. Start by forming a 

group of volunteers, and discuss how much time, energy, and resources to commit to 

your planned event. The planning group will need to decide the following: 

Date and time

Length of the event

Location (in-person or virtual)

Number of participants

The planning group will also need to decide if they want to conduct simple or 

advanced events.

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SIMPLE EVENTS

Simple events are easy to implement and require less time and resources. You may 

choose to do simple events if you have a limited budget.

• Use the content in this guide to customize a section about mammography 

resources on your organization’s website.

• Share messages about mammography on your organization’s social media 

channels. Find social media messages on our website at www.fda.gov/

pinkribbon. Use popular hashtags such as #Mammography #BreastCancer 

#BreastCancerAwareness #Women #WomensHealth.

• Host a chat on social media to promote your event and mammography resources. 

Encourage friends, family members, and community members to discuss their 

breast cancer and mammography screening experiences.

• Create a custom Pink Ribbon–themed profile picture frame for members to use on 

social media.

• Designate a specific month, week, or day to ask your members to wear pink 

(dresses, hats, ties, shirts) and share their selfies on social media with popular 

hashtags.

• Plan and host a virtual meeting, and invite members to share their experiences 

with breast cancer and mammography screening.

• Provide a list of programs in your area that provide free or reduced-cost 

mammograms.

• Organize transportation to drive members to their mammography appointments.

• Host a community event (e.g., virtual walk, yoga class, meet-up).

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ADVANCED EVENTS

Advanced events require more planning, volunteers, and resources. Advanced events 

may also be open to the larger community and not just your organization. You will 

need to account for more people and an increased demand for materials.

• Organize a visit from a mobile van that offers mammography screenings.

• Invite a guest speaker such as a breast cancer survivor, healthcare provider, or 

local representative from a breast cancer organization to speak in person or 

virtually.

• Partner with other local organizations to host a community-wide Pink Ribbon 

celebration.

• Conduct an outdoor community health fair, and invite local organizations and 

health centers to exhibit and provide information and screenings.

• Work with a local healthcare facility, health department, or nonprofit organization 

to hold a walk or run event to create awareness.

• Arrange for a local doctor to participate in an in-person or virtual question-andanswer session to share information about mammography and breast cancer.

Regardless of the event you choose, make sure to research the current 

mammography resources available in your community. There is a variety of 

organizations such as hospitals, health departments, and nonprofit agencies that may 

be able to help you do the following:

• Organize an in-person or virtual Pink Ribbon event.

• Join forces with one of their existing programs.

• Identify resources such as materials, free or low-cost screenings, and volunteers.

You may also want to plan your event to coincide with national health observances 

such as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) or National 

Mammography Day (third Friday in October).

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STEP 2

Spread the Word

If you are planning a Pink Ribbon event, there are different ways you can spread the 

word to your target audience. The strategy you choose will depend on the size of the 

group you want to attend. Consider if you want your event to be open to the public 

or invite-only. That will determine whether you announce your event to the entire 

community or reach out only to specific groups.

The following pages contain examples of materials that can be used to announce and 

promote your Pink Ribbon events. They are customizable materials you can use free of 

charge for your own events. You can also download these materials at 

www.fda.gov/pinkribbon.

To get your friends, family, and 

community involved, you can:

• Bulk print the flyer and postcard for 

members to distribute at local businesses 

or community centers.

• Share the flyer or postcard on your 

organization’s social media channels 

(livestreams, groups, posts, stories, videos) 

or through your organization’s newsletter.

• Write a blog post with details about your 

event, and post it on your organization’s 

website.

• Look for community groups or calendars 

on social media or local websites to 

promote your event.

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Sample Flyer

PINK RIBBON EVENT PINK RIBBON EVENT

MAMMOGRAPHY 

MATTERS

[ Event Name ]

[ Event Description ]

[ Insert Date ]

[ Insert Time ]

[ Insert Location ]

[ Insert Contact ]

[ Event Name ]

[ Event Description ]

[ Insert Date ]

[ Insert Time ]

[ Insert Location ]

[ Insert Contact ]

MAMMOGRAPHY 

MATTERS

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Sample Postcard

Schedule

your next

mammogram today. 

MAMMOGRAPHY MATTERS

DID YOU

KNOW?

Mammography facilities in the 

United States must be certified by 

the Food & Drug Administration.

Find a certified mammography 

facility in your area:

www.fda.gov/findmammography 

OFFICE OF WOMEN’S HEALTH

WWW.FDA.GOV/WOMENS

MAMMOGRAPHY 

MATTERS

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STEP 3

Launch Your Pink Ribbon Event

It is important that you start preparing in advance. The type of event you choose will 

determine the necessary preparations. Below is a timeline you can use to help prepare 

for and launch your Pink Ribbon event.

Weeks before the Event

• Get all necessary approvals for the type of event, date, time, place, and speakers. 

The announcements, flyers, and other materials should be approved.

• Estimate the number of participants expected to attend, and make sure you have 

an online platform or facility that can accommodate your event and the group size.

— For an in-person event, arrange for a podium, platform, power source, 

microphone, sound system, lighting, projector, and screen, if needed. Make sure 

the facility and equipment have been confirmed.

— For a virtual event, test the web platform prior to the event, and ensure all 

speakers and attendees have login details and all materials to be shared as 

intended. It can be helpful to set up a test a few days before the actual event. 

Encourage attendees to sign in early on the day of the event.

• Create a checklist of event tasks and responsibilities. Identify volunteers and assign 

them specific responsibilities. Have backup volunteers available in case of an 

emergency. Create a contact sheet with emails and phone numbers of volunteers 

so you can stay in touch as needed during the planning process.

• Ensure that you have mammography resources prepared for distribution. Download 

or order free materials on our website at www.fda.gov/pinkribbon.

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Days before the Event

• Review and update your checklist of event tasks and responsibilities. Confirm 

volunteers and their specific responsibilities. 

• Get approval from attendees to have their photos taken during the event and 

posted on your social media channels. Print or send a photo release form to 

attendees and guest speakers in advance and/or have the form ready when 

attendees sign in at the event.

• Have guest speakers send a copy of their presentation.

• If hosting an in-person event outdoors, check the weather a few days prior to your 

event and consider an alternate option for inclement weather.

• Confirm outside participants (e.g., healthcare providers, sponsors, mammography 

van, and media) and their roles in the event.

• Designate a person to provide information and answer questions about the event 

for attendees and media.

Day of the Event

• Take photos of the event so you can post them on social media. Make sure to 

get approval from attendees before posting their photos. Encourage those who 

attend to share their photos, experiences, and/or what they learned on their social 

media channels with popular hashtags such as #Mammography #BreastCancer 

#BreastCancerAwareness #Women #WomensHealth. Tag your organization and/or 

hosts.

• Have your checklist handy so you can stay on track. Periodically check in with 

volunteers to ensure everything is running smoothly.

• Most importantly, be excited! Your planning has paid off, and your event is 

happening.

Find sample social media messages and graphics to help promote your event on our 

website at www.fda.gov/pinkribbon. 

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STEP 4

Follow Up and Get Feedback

Follow-up after the event is important. You should take note of how attendees felt about 

the event, how smoothly the planning went, and which promotional tools and activities 

were most effective.

Conducting the appropriate follow-up can help you not only evaluate the success of 

your event but also plan, efficiently organize, and implement future events. 

Keep Track of Your Successes

• Count the number of people who attended your event. Create a sign-in sheet or 

conduct a roll call to determine the number of attendees.

• Document the number of materials you distributed.

• If hosting an online event, keep track of website, newsletter, and/or social media 

metrics. These metrics can include number of visitors, click-through rates, likes, 

retweets, and so on.

• Track how many women had a mammogram at your event if this service was offered.

• Hold a post-event meeting with the planning committee to reflect on lessons learned.

• Post photos of the event on your organization’s social media channels.

• Compile the names and contact information for guest speakers and other individuals 

who assisted with your events. They may be able to help you with future events.

• Email a recap of your event to OWH@FDA.GOV. We may want to share the success of 

your event with others.

Acknowledge attendee, volunteer, and partner participation with an electronic thank 

you note, and offer follow-up resources and information to foster sharing the Pink Ribbon 

Guide long after the event. Encourage Pink Ribbon participants to continue to have 

regular mammograms and provide support to participants who may be diagnosed with 

breast cancer.

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Provide Ongoing Support

Here are some ways you can help keep your community motivated and empowered.

• Create a carpool to help your members get to their mammogram appointments.

• Start a support group facilitated by licensed, trained professionals for women who are 

diagnosed with or have survived breast cancer.

• Create a buddy system to provide support to women undergoing breast cancer 

treatment. That could include walking their dog, going grocery shopping, or just spending 

time with them.

• Hold follow-up events throughout the year to continue to raise awareness about 

mammography.

• Include men and children in your events. Breast cancer affects the entire family, not just 

the person with the disease.
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Resources from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

It is critical that your Pink Ribbon event help point women in the right direction 

for breast cancer information and mammography services. You should identify 

local resources that can provide a wide range of materials and support, including 

managed care organizations, clinics, local hospitals, local health departments, and 

cancer centers.

• FDA-Certified Mammography Facilities: www.fda.gov/findmammography

• Mammography: What You Need to Know: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/

consumer-updates/mammography-what-you-need-know

• Frequently Asked Questions about MQSA: https://www.fda.gov/radiationemitting-products/consumer-information-mqsa/frequently-asked-questions-aboutmqsa#top

• FDA Office of Women’s Health (OWH): www.fda.gov/womens

— Download Pink Ribbon Guide flyers, outreach cards, and other resources: 

www.fda.gov/pinkribbon

— Download or order in bulk free women’s health publications in English and 

Spanish: www.fda.gov/womenshealthpubs

— Download publications in other languages: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/

free-publications-women/publications-other-languages 

Additional Resources

The following federal government agencies and organizations also provide 

information on mammography and breast cancer.

• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) – Learn about free or lowcost mammography services: www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/index.html

• National Cancer Institute (NCI) – Get information on breast cancer screening and 

treatment: www.cancer.gov/types/breast, or call 1-800-4-CANCER

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Find statistics and other 

information on breast cancer: www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast, or call 1-888-842-6355
U.S. Food & Drug Administration

Office of Women’s Health

10903 New Hampshire Avenue, WO32 2333

Silver Spring, MD 20993

301-796-9440

Email: OWH@FDA.gov

www.fda.gov/womens

References

1 https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/young_women/ bringyourbrave/breast_

cancer_young_women/index.htm

2 https://www.cancer.gov/types/common-cancers

3 https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/ screening.htm

4 https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/breast.html

 January 2022

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