Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Butler Memorial Hospital will offer free mammography screenings to uninsured or underinsured women. They will be offered at several of the outpatient services sites of the hospital throughout the county.

Screening appointments are being scheduled at:

• Oct. 5 — Outpatient Services in East Brady

• Oct. 11 and Nov. 7 — Outpatient Services at Butler Commons in Butler Township

• Oct. 16 — Outpatient Services in Mars

• Oct. 23 — Outpatient Services in Sarver

• Oct. 25 — Outpatient Services in Saxonburg

• Nov. 5 — Outpatient Services in Slippery Rock

• Nov. 12 — BHS WholeHealth in Cranberry Township at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA.

Screenings are only by appointment, which can be made by calling 724-284-4000.

A mammogram is a safe, low dose X-ray picture of the breast. A screening mammogram is a convenient way to detect breast cancer early, when treatment is more effective and the chance of survival is high.

Two views are taken of each breast and interpreted by a radiologist, who is a physician trained to read X-ray pictures. Mammography screenings are recommended every year for women age 40 and over.

This year's program at Butler Memorial again will include the addition of Computerized Aid Detection for the women who undergo screening mammography. CAD helps radiologists with early detection of some small abnormalities, thereby increasing the cancer detection rate.

Since 2005, the hospital has partnered with Adiago, formerly the Family Health Council, in the Health Women Program that is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure.

This program offers women over the age of 40 who have financial problems the opportunity to not only have the no-cost screening mammogram but to sign up and be eligible for a clinical breast examination, a physical examination with a physician, a pap test, and any additional diagnostic testing that is needed up to and including surgery should that be required.

This article was submitted by Butler Memorial Hospital.