Free mammograms offered through Minnesota Department of Health

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month in Minnesota, and the MDH offers free mammograms.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Health is offering free breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured and underinsured women age 40 and older.

The MDH's Sage Screening Program provides the screenings year round, but hopes to make more women aware of this free program.

"We think many women are not receiving these life-saving screening tests because they have no health insurance or their insurance has deductibles or co-payments they cannot afford to pay," said Jonathan Slater, director of Cancer Control at MDH, in a statement.

Sage has a network of more than 430 statewide health care providers, according to the MDH.

This year, an estimated 3,520 Minnesota women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 640 Minnesota women will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Annual mammograms reportedly reduce breast cancer deaths in women age 40 and older by detecting the disease in its earliest stages when it is most treatable.

Women who would like to learn if they are eligible for the program or who would like to make an appointment for a free mammogram can call Sage at 1-888-6-HEALTH (1-888-643-2584). Women new to Sage are also eligible to receive $10 for getting screened through the program.

 Women whose incomes exceed Sage's guidelines can call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to learn of other free and low-cost programs.