October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Because of that, Butler Memorial Hospital will join in the fight against breast cancer by offering free mammography screenings to uninsured or under-insured women in October.

Screenings will be offered at the hospital and at several of the Outpatient Services of the hospital sites in the county.

These will be at:

Oct. 6 — Outpatient Services of BMH in East Brady

Oct. 13 — Outpatient Services of BMH in Slippery Rock

Oct. 19 — Outpatient Services of BMH in Mars

Oct. 20 and Nov. 3 — Outpatient Services of BMH at Butler Commons in Butler

Oct. 23 — Outpatient Services of BMH in Sarver

Oct. 26 — Outpatient Services of BMH in Saxonburg

Oct. 30 — Outpatient Services of BMH in Chicora.

Screenings are by appointment only and a limited number of spaces are available at each site. For an appointment, call 724-284-4000.

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

Two views are taken of each breast and interpreted by a radiologist, a physician trained to read X-ray pictures.

Mammography screenings are recommended every year for women 40 and older.

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

Since 2005, Butler Memorial has partnered with Adiago, formerly the Family Health Council, in the Health Women Program that is funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, the news letter states.

This program offers women older than 40 who are facing financial challenges the opportunity to not only have the no-cost screening mammogram but to sign up and be eligible for a clinical breast exam, a physical exam with a physician, a pap test, and any additional diagnostic testing needed up to and including surgery should that be required.