St. Vincent’s Health System will be offering $99 mammograms in October in conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women 40 and older should have a yearly screening mammogram for as long as they are in good health.

Women of any age experiencing problems or women under 35 should contact their doctor for a referral.

 St. Vincent’s hopes the reduced price mammograms will encourage and enable more women to get screened for breast cancer. The reduced price is more than 50 percent off of the physician and hospital fee for a screening mammogram.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2011.  

It is also estimated that approximately 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer.  

Due to the alarming statistics and the current economy, St. Vincent’s felt that the special was vital in helping to get more women screened.  

“Early detection saves lives,” said John O’Neil, President and CEO of St. Vincent’s Health System. “Mammograms are a critical component in fighting cancer and we are pleased to offer the special in an effort to get more women screened.”

The reduced mammograms are available at St. Vincent’s Birmingham 205-939-7003, St. Vincent’s St. Clair 205-814-2124 St. Vincent’s Blount 205-274-3344, St. Vincent’s East 205-838-3134, and St. Vincent’s One Nineteen 205-408-6450 by appointment. For more information about the special and registration, visit www.stvhs.com/mammograms.