Back to Routine. Back to You.
August 15, 2026
As your family gets ready for school, don’t forget your own health.
Backpacks. School supplies. Sports physicals. New schedules. August has a way of turning everyone’s attention toward getting the family ready for fall.
But while you’re scheduling appointments, filling out forms and making sure everyone else has what they need, there’s one person who can easily get left off the list: you.
Preventive care is often one of the first things to be postponed when life gets busy. A mammogram that was supposed to be scheduled gets pushed another month. An annual appointment waits until things slow down. A question about family history or breast density gets saved for later.
This back-to-school season, make your own health part of the routine.
Start by knowing your personal risk factors and family health history. Talk with your healthcare provider about when you should begin breast cancer screening and how often you should be screened based on your individual risk.
If you’ve been told you have dense breasts, ask what that means for you and whether additional screening is recommended.
And if you’re due for a mammogram, put it on the calendar now. Mammograms can detect breast abnormalities before they can be seen or felt, making routine screening an important part of early detection.
When cost gets in the way
For some people, scheduling a mammogram isn’t simply a matter of finding the time. The cost of screening or additional diagnostic testing can make it difficult to take that next step.
The American Breast Cancer Foundation’s (ABCF) Breast Cancer Assistance Program (BCAP) provides financial assistance for breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for eligible individuals who are uninsured, underinsured or struggling with out-of-pocket costs.
If cost has caused you to postpone care, help may be available.
This fall, make one more addition to the family calendar: you.
