Mayor Muriel Bowser has called on Washington, DC residents to schedule breast cancer screenings and take steps to understand their family health history during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The mayor emphasized the importance of early detection and timely care in improving outcomes for women in the District.
Dr. Ayanna Bennett, Director of DC Health, highlighted the efforts underway to improve access to screening. “Every day saved between screening and treatment is another chance to save a life,” said Dr. Bennett. “Project WISH is removing barriers and ensuring every woman in DC has access to timely, high-quality care.”
The proposed FY26 Grow DC Budget includes $290,000 dedicated to expanding breast and cervical cancer screening programs across all eight wards of the city. This funding will help bolster Project WISH, a program offering free breast and cervical cancer screenings along with patient navigation services for uninsured and underinsured residents.
According to city officials, Project WISH supported more than 1,300 women in the past year by providing free screenings and helping ensure timely follow-up after abnormal results. Patient navigators assist residents with scheduling appointments, understanding next steps, and connecting them with treatment resources. These efforts have led to improved care coordination; specifically, the median time from an abnormal mammogram result to follow-up care dropped from 76 days in 2023 to 52 days in 2024.
Project WISH collaborates with several local organizations including Breast Care for Washington, Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention, Howard University, Family Medical Counseling Services, Nueva Vida, Whitman Walker, La Clinica del Pueblo, Unity Health Care, Community of Hope, Ellaine Ellis Health Center, Planned Parenthood, and Bread for the City.
Information about Project WISH can be found at dchealth.dc.gov/service/project-wish or by contacting DC Health directly via email.
DC Health representatives will also participate in several community events this month where residents can learn more about available programs:
- Power of Pink ’25 – A Breast Cancer Awareness Fitness Fundraiser will offer screenings on Saturday, October 4 at Community of Hope (details at https://breastcaredc.org/posts/power-of-pink-25).
- New Bethel Baptist Church Fall Fitness Health Fair takes place on Saturday, October 4 at New Bethel Baptist Church (more information at https://newbetheldc.org/events/51/fall-into-fitness-health-fair).
- Whitman-Walker THRIVE FEST will be held on Saturday, October 4 at Sycamore & Oak (event details at https://whitman-walker.org/event/whitman-walker-thrive-fest).
- Washington Spirit CVS Health Day occurs Saturday, October 18 at Audi Field (ticket information available at https://washingtonspirit.com/tickets/themes).
Residents are encouraged by city leaders to use these opportunities for screening as part of ongoing efforts to detect breast cancer early and connect with necessary healthcare resources.
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