Ma’am in the Mirror Breast Cancer Awareness Event Urges Mobile Women to Get Screened

MOBILE, Ala. — A drumline, a survivor’s story, a panel of local health care professionals and an auction of mirror-themed art came together Sunday afternoon at Great Day Latte, where the inaugural Ma’am in the Mirror breast cancer awareness event urged women in Mobile to put prevention and early detection back at the top of their to-do lists.

The event, held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 25, was organized by India Washington, founder of the health coaching service Allygned Wellness & Health, in partnership with local businesses. Timed to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it was designed to blend education with community and creativity, giving residents a relaxed setting to learn, ask questions and meet the providers who diagnose and treat the disease.

Why Ma’am in the Mirror began

Washington told guests the idea took shape after she came across research showing that many women stopped getting regular screenings after the COVID-19 pandemic. Routine mammograms dropped sharply nationwide during 2020, when many clinics paused nonemergency care, and health officials have since warned that missed or delayed screenings can mean cancers are found at later, harder-to-treat stages.

“The way that we are proactive when it comes to our health is it starts with education and awareness,” Washington said.

She said she built the event as an outlet where people in the community could learn, connect with health care providers and bring the prevention side of health care back into the conversation.

A rally to start

The afternoon opened with a “Beat Breast Cancer Rally,” as the B.C. Rain High School drumline welcomed guests with a high-energy performance outside the coffee shop. The rally set an upbeat tone for an event that also made room for serious conversation about diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

A survivor’s story: ‘It does take a village’

The program’s centerpiece, called the Mirror Panel, began with testimony from Donna, a survivor of stage 2 breast cancer, who was identified only by her first name.

“It does take a village to get through it,” she said.

Donna described the fear and worry she felt after her diagnosis and credited friends, co-workers and doctors at USA Health Providence Hospital who communicated clearly with her as driving forces in her recovery.

Breast cancer awareness from the experts

After Donna spoke, a panel from the Infirmary Health system shared insights on prevention, warning signs and the role of lifestyle. The panel included breast surgeon Dr. Caroline McGugin, OB-GYN Dr. Brittney Laughlin and breast cancer navigator Libby Hedley.

The panelists urged women to advocate for their own health and keep up with regular screenings, stressing that it is better to be proactive than to be forced into a reactive position after a problem is found.

McGugin pointed to a healthy diet, regular exercise and limiting alcohol as factors that can lower a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States other than skin cancer, and the American Cancer Society estimates that about 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. When the disease is found early, while it is still confined to the breast, the five-year relative survival rate is very high, which is why physicians emphasize screening.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women at average risk get a screening mammogram every two years beginning at age 40. Women with a family history or other risk factors may need to start earlier or be screened more often, and anyone who notices a change in her breasts, such as a new lump, skin changes or nipple discharge, should talk with a health care provider promptly rather than waiting for a scheduled screening.

Help for women without insurance

Hedley told the audience that Mobile has resources for women who do not have health insurance. She said the local health department is a good place to start.

She also pointed to the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which can help women who need screenings, diagnostic tests and related services. The program, run by the Alabama Department of Public Health with federal support through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is aimed at uninsured and underinsured women who meet age and income guidelines.

• Start with: The Mobile County Health Department
• State program: Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, through the Alabama Department of Public Health
• Local help: Project Faith, a Mobile breast cancer advocacy organization that helps women pay for screenings

Art with a purpose

After the panel, local artists talked about the mirror-themed pieces they created for the event. The works, commissioned specifically for Ma’am in the Mirror, were auctioned to attendees, and a portion of the proceeds went directly to Project Faith to help women cover the cost of screenings.

The mirror theme ran through the whole afternoon, a reminder for women to look at their own health honestly and to take the first step toward getting checked.

Partners focused on prevention

Other partners included the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a national nonprofit that promotes preventive medicine and plant-based nutrition, and Wholistic Wellness Community, a local advocacy group focused on access and education about healthy eating and plant-based nutrition in underserved communities.

Angelia Dickinson, executive director and founder of Wholistic Wellness Community, said her group emphasizes the steps people can take to lower their risk.

“Of course no one is really exempt from breast cancer but we really highlight the prevention aspect of breast cancer using whole food plant-based nutrition, a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol,” Dickinson said. “When you know better, you can do better.”

A welcoming space at Great Day Latte

Kimberly Knight, owner of Great Day Latte, said she was happy to provide the space. The downtown coffee shop, which recently marked two years in business, regularly hosts community gatherings.

“With the different events that we do it’s a great response because a lot of people are concerned about health . . . just community as a whole, and they find Great Day Latte as a place that is actually comfortable, they feel relaxed, they feel welcomed and they don’t mind, you know, being themselves, speaking up and speaking out which, again, is one of the reasons why it was created,” Knight said.

Plans to return next year

Washington said Ma’am in the Mirror is meant to be the start of an annual tradition.

“This is not just a one-time event – this is our inaugural event and we hope that next year that sponsorship grows and our community actually comes out in larger numbers to support the cause,” she said.

Although Breast Cancer Awareness Month ends Oct. 31, health professionals stress that screening is a year-round habit. Women who are due or overdue for a mammogram can ask their primary care provider or OB-GYN for a referral, contact the Mobile County Health Department about low-cost options or reach out to Project Faith for help with costs.