It's the 25th of the month and time for your Buddy Check reminder to do your breast self-exam and remind a buddy to do theirs as well.

Beyond BSE, mammography is still considered the gold-standard for breast cancer detection. That's why five area hospitals and several other health organizations are participating in the 8th annual mammogram-a-thon.

This year's theme is squeeze a few minutes into your day and get a mammogram.

Certified Breast Health Navigator Kelly Frick said, "We are trying to put a little more fun into it. Everybody hears the horror stories about being squeezed during their mammogram. That's the part of our education this year, is to tell people that that's really not that painful and it only lasts a couple of seconds and it's well worth it in the end."

The mammogram-a-thon is Friday, October 19.

Eureka, Pekin and Proctor Hospitals, Methodist and OSF St. Francis Medical Centers along with area health departments and other organizations are offering free or discounted mammograms to qualified women that day.