Breast cancer is the second most common cancer for cisgender women in the U.S., and it is most treatable when detected early. That’s why regular screenings for people, especially over age 40, who are more susceptible to breast cancer are key.
Mammograms are typically a first line of defense. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this common procedure involves capturing X-ray images of a person’s breasts to screen for potentially cancerous tissue. It is sometimes paired with additional screening measures, such as breast ultrasounds for people with dense breasts.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) — a leading body of medical experts who issue influential guidance — currently recommends that women at an average risk for breast cancer begin getting mammograms every other year at age 40. (It’s worth noting that anyone with breast tissue, including men, transgender people, and nonbinary people, can get breast cancer. As always, consult with your healthcare provider to make an informed decision about breast cancer screenings based on your personal risk factors.)
The task force recently lowered this recommended starting age in response to a concerning rise in breast cancer cases among younger women — and the disproportionately high breast cancer mortality rate for Black women in the U.S. The message is clear: Regular mammograms have the potential to save lives. They’re not the most comfortable thing in the world (nobody likes having their breasts squished into an X-ray machine), but they’re vitally important.
Armed with this information, many celebrities have opted to share photos of themselves at the doctor’s office for their mammogram appointments, often during October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As public figures, they have sizable platforms, and we’re glad to see them use their reach to promote the importance of getting screened for breast cancer.
Below, read up on nine celebrities who have shared mammogram selfies, from Sofia Vergara, to Katie Couric, to Jonathan Bennett.
Elizabeth Hurley
Image Credit: Getty Images for BCRF Elizabeth Hurley is a longtime advocate for breast cancer prevention. For years, she has worked with brands like Estee Lauder to promote their awareness campaigns.
In 2014, the model and actress also shared a mammogram selfie with her hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter.
“After 40, you should have an annual mammogram,” she wrote. “Had mine this morning. It’s always nerve wracking but remember… Breast cancer is 95 percent curable if detected early.” We weren’t able to verify the statistic Hurley cited, but the point remains, mammograms can be life-saving.
Sofia Vergara
Image Credit: Getty Images for Anastasia Bever Sofia Vergara has used her platform to speak out about the importance of regular breast cancer screenings multiple times — first in 2016, again in 2017, and again in 2020.
“You have to do it!!!” the Modern Family star captioned her 2017 post, which depicts her dancing in a white robe in front of an imaging machine. We seriously commend her commitment to the cause.
Sarah Silverman
Image Credit: Getty Images, In an Instagram post from 2019, Sarah Silverman documented a less-than-stellar mammogram experience. The issue wasn’t the procedure; rather, it was Silverman’s male doctor, whose copious chatting while handling her breasts with his bare hands made her feel “shitty.”
“Look, I truly don’t think he was getting off on it,” she wrote. “BUT it is his job to be aware that this is vulnerable for a woman. Wear f*cking GLOVES – this isn’t a date.”
Let her anecdote serve as a reminder than no healthcare provider should ever touch you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, especially when examining your breasts. Mammograms matter, but so does your safety and bodily autonomy.
Mindy Kaling
Image Credit: Getty Images In an Instagram post from 2021, actress and writer Mindy Kaling shared a smiley mirror pic of herself “feeling cute” at the doctor’s office in her annual mammogram robe.
“Last year a lot of women missed their yearly mammogram,” she wrote, alluding to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Hopefully you can make an appointment to get checked. It’s so important.”
The Never Have I Ever creator also encouraged her millions of followers to upload mammogram selfies of their own and tag her in their posts.
Jennifer Garner
Image Credit: Getty Images Like Kaling, Jennifer Garner took a more lighthearted approach to her breast cancer awareness content. In 2019, the actress uploaded an Instagram video of herself getting a mammogram and explained how she approaches her annual screenings.
Garner said she treats it like a yearly standing “date,” albeit an uncomfortable one.
“For me, having the appointment on the books makes it routine, like the dentist,” she shared. “I know it’s scary, sisters, but just do it — the next best thing to an all clear is early detection.” Amen to that!
Kristen Bell
Image Credit: Getty Images Kristen Bell posted a mammogram selfie to her Instagram Story in 2022.
“Is it me or does this mammogram robe look chic AF?” the actress and mental health advocate wrote, transposing her question on a mirror pic from the doctor’s office.
As SurvivorNet.com noted, Bell was 41 in 2019, which was technically below the recommended screening age at the time. However, that is now in line with USPSTF guidelines. (It bears repeating: If you have questions or concerns about when to start getting screened, talk to your healthcare provider to develop an individualized plan.)
Jonathan Bennett
Image Credit: Getty Images for Hallmark Media Cisgender women aren’t the only people impacted by breast cancer, and actor Jonathan Bennett knows that personally. In 2022, the Mean Girls star shared an Instagram Reel of himself getting a mammogram in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
It’s rare, but the CDC estimates that 1 out of every 100 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in men.
“After my husband had a scare a few years ago and with cancer running in both of our families, screenings are important to us,” Bennett wrote. “Talk to your doctor about what’s right for you.”
Mayim Bialik
Image Credit: Getty Images for Los Angeles LGB Mayim Bialik didn’t just upload a mammogram selfie to social media: She made it the photo on her work ID.
“When @jeopardy asks you to send a picture for your ID and you decide to be funny and send the selfie you took in the dressing room at your first ever mammogram,” the Big Bang Theory alum wrote in an Instagram post from 2022. Bialik’s followers laughed along with her — and praised her for subtly reminding folks about the importance of mammograms.
Katie Couric
Image Credit: Getty Images for Tribeca Festiva In 2022, Katie Couric shared a photo on Instagram of herself in a mammogram robe at the doctor’s office — and revealed her diagnosis with breast cancer.
“I wanted to share my personal story with you all and encourage you to get screened and understand that you may fall into a category of women who needs more than a mammogram,” the beloved journalist captioned her heartfelt post, alluding to her breast density.
According to the CDC, having dense breasts can increase your risk for developing breast cancer. Dense tissue can also obscure cancer in mammograms, making it more difficult to detect.
“Call for your mammogram and ask if you should be getting a breast ultrasound!” Couric added in an addendum to the post. “And if someone is struggling with cancer, please reach out to them and give them the love you’ve shown me today.”